Columbine Quilting

I've finally managed to get some photos that show the quilting on the columbine quilt. I was going for the look of an ornate carved frame around the columbine.  To mimic molding, I used decorative stitches and varied the distance b/w the lines of stitching.  On the print sashing, I used a decorative stitch in lines that varied in width from each other.  This idea was inspired by Jacquie's posts at Tallgrass Prarie Studio.  Thanks!!!  Although now I'm wishing that I had more than a handful of stitches on my machine. 

Lap Quilting

 Here's what the quilt looks like from the top.

And here's what it looks like under the frame.

Spring Break - Update 5

Today is my 7th day in my self proclaimed Quilt marathon.  I'm going to be pretty close to meeting the goals I set out originally...though I'm down to hand-work, which goes slower than I anticipate.

The SD Ashley quilt is done, bound & washed.   I had forgotten how long it takes to sew the binding on a large quilt like this.   I think I like the "modern" side (aka "back") better than the "traditional" side.  I finally found a fabric for the binding that I like.  The blues are a perfect match for the ones in the quilt and the print makes a stripe effect that I like.  My only disappointment, is that compared to the stark white, it looks a little ivory.  Oh, and don't worry, the sides are nice and straight...the wind was blowing. (Took the photo between the snow flurries and the hail storm, when the sun was shining.)  It's quilted on the diagonal and on close inspection, the lines are a little wavy (no officer...I haven't been drinking and sewing...)

While I was working on these other projects, my friend Emily came to my rescue and pieced the colored columbine blocks together with these flying geese.  I'm so lucky to have a friend like this. ( And the cost of the bribe was well worth it.)   Now that I see this from a distance, I'm having second thoughts about the green in the corners.  We never considered red when we were test driving options, and that might complete the frame better. Otherwise, I might have to add another border outside the geese...which just means more quilting for me.  Anyway...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Emily!!!


I generally abhor anything that has to do with a sewing machine.  ( I was traumatized by a terrible machine in my teens that liked to jam and skip stitches.)  Since my current machine and I are on reasonable terms, I decided to machine quilt the black & white columbine, using the walking foot.  I borrowed an idea from Jacquie at Tallgrass Prairie Studio  who uses the decorative stitches on her machine to make wonderful, wavy line stitching.  Mine, only has 9 options, two of which work for this idea.  This didn't photograph well, but the floral sections have random width (as you can see with the white markings) lines that look like a rows of brackets {  } stacked on top of each other.  (You can see the stitching better if you double click on the photo for an enlarged version.)  Around the frame sections, I was aiming for the look of a fancy molding,  You can kind-of make that out in the top left corner...the sequence is straight, wiggly, 4 straight close together, then a squarish zig-zag.  I'm hoping this will be more obvious after it's washed.    The only glitch on this quilt, is that I couldn't bring myself to machine quilt the white sections.  I had planned on echo quilting, but realized when I was doing the framing sections, that I would go nuts trying to do so.  And since every attempt I've made at free-motion quilting on my machine has been a disaster, that wasn't an option.  This adds several hours of handwork to the list, but I know I'll be happy with the result.

So the only goal that hasn't been met yet, are 3 more blocks for the Joseph's Coat quilt along for the next cut-off point.  I am, however, making progress.  I have the center 3 petals of the final 17 blocks, basted.  Check out the group site on Flicker to see some great pictures of everyone else's progress.  BahayKoobo is finished and did a color wash version that is absolutely stunning.

Well...I'm not making any progress while sitting at the computer....I'm off to quilt.

Spring Break - Update 4

I'm well on my way to meeting my Spring Break completion goals.

I have finished the 1/2 of the NH Ashley quilt.  Here's what it looks like from the back.  (Oops, I see the flower on the lower right needs some more stitching. )  I'll work more on the other half once my other goals are met.  My green thread solution worked well.

I cut out the fabric and sewed up blocks 4 & 5 of the Pinwheel Party.  You can see all those pics on my Flicker page.  Since the pattern is for a crib-sized quilt, I'm making 2 of each of the 12 blocks, then will have to repeat or make up about 6 more in order to make it Full/Queen size for my nephew David.  It's a block per week quilt-along...and I'm currently caught up.

Next on the completion list was turning the columbine blocks into a quilt top.  Finished up before supper time and ran outside while the sun was shining (between storms) to snap this picture.  Unfortunately, the wind was still blowing which distracted me from the fact that my shadow is covering the right corner.  Oh well.  Hoped to get this done sooner, but lost the strips I'd already cut for the sashing...then found them and discovered some were the wrong size.)  I'm pleased with how fantastic the Hoffman Batik looks.  Couldn't have found a better fabric than those wildflowers!  Plan is to machine quilt this one in random width vertical stripes.  I keep changing my mind on how much detail I want to quilt into the individual blocks.

I have the bindings cut, pressed and ready to apply  for the Double Irish Chain and my daughter's purple quilt.       Was waiting to finish the piecing steps before I changed to the walking foot.   Also prepped the rest of my Josephs Coat blocks, by tracing the design on the back of each of the foundation pieces - ready for basting the last 14 blocks (OK...technically 17 b/c there are 3 from the last set I haven't finished).

Tomorrow's goals:  binding, machine quilting, baste some JC blocks.