Back to quilty things. I've actually been doing quite a bit of machine quilting these past couple weeks (when at home.)
Remember the elf quilt that our group was making for the hospital? And how I was agonizing over how to quilt it? The colored blocks were easy to do but then I got stuck on the "sky" part with all the stars. Actually I sort of thought that there weren't enough stars in the sky and I attempted some random stars intermixed with stippling. WHICH I DID NOT LIKE!!! The stars weren't visible at all and the stippling was a mess (I really need to improve my stippling skills). So I spent an hour or so ripping out all the stippling I'd done and put the quilt away for a few days.
When I got back to this quilt I decided to take someone's advice and shadow stitch around the yellow stars. That was some improvement but there was an awful lot of blank space that needed something. I got the idea to quilt in more stars in various sizes AND various colors and slowly the quilting evolved.
As a last touch I decorated all the stars with "bead" stitching within the shadow stitching. It would have been easier to do a zig-zag stitch in the shadow lines and I even tried a practice star on some leftover fabric but the beading sang to me and that was the way I went. On my practice sandwich the zig-zag is on the left side and the beading circle stitching is on the right...
Those circles aren't really that difficult to do if the lines are narrow... just around one direction and then around the other direction...
Did I get carried away? Maybe... There's a lot more quilting on the top of the quilt than on the bottom...
Here are some of the elves star gazing.
Done! And Mrs. Furui was satisfied so that's all that counts.
Mrs. Furui took the quilt to the hospital last Thursday and put it up in the waiting room. Does anything look out of place to you? There is ONE block that has a red center there... That is sort of a thorn in the group's side because fabric packets had been sent home and one experienced quilter decided that Log Cabin quilts had to have red centers so she replaced the provided fabric with her own red fabric. Oh well... It doesn't bother me, but it sure bothers some people.
Here we all are just trying to cheer up a few patients and their families, but I guess we all have our own ways... I doubt that most people will notice...
Dear Tanya - I love the bead quilting around the stars. That is an awesome touch. I've heard that the Amish will put in a "mistake" on purpose for people to find? or because only God can be perfect? The quilt looks lovely and would make me happy if I were in that hospital and saw it. :)
ReplyDeleteWe learned that the center square in the log cabin was the "hearth" and, therefore, should glow (red). Maybe you can think of it as the beginning, the genesis, the first step for the elves on their journey to the stars. They left home and went aloft. Yes, I'm silly. Yes, I love the quilt. Maybe the red center is your quilt's "humility block", as the Amish call it? Okay, I'll stop now. But it IS a very nice quilt and I like the little red square which I wouldn't have noticed, really, if you hadn't mentioned it. (How many times have people said that to me? Countless, I think.)
ReplyDeleteI actually like the "unexpectant" in quilts. Years from now just think how many quilters will wonder "why" the red square. What fun! You did a great job!
ReplyDeleteIt is just a superb quilt and I love your quilted stars. It looks grand in the waiting room. Applause to your whole committee...
ReplyDeleteJoanne in PA
It is a wonderful design, and one red centre, maybe that has some significance for the hospital, ( I'm sure someone will find a reason) the elves, and starry stitching , beautiful all over.
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt and the quilting. Like you, I prefer the beads. On the wall, the quilt is both comforting and hopeful. I would never have noticed that the block with the red center was different from the others, but now that you point it out, I still think it looks great, especially where it was placed. There, it fits in with the "flow" of the design. There is a lot of movement in this quilt. It really fits in with its location, which is not so surprising when one remembers that it was designed for that spot. Good work, everyone!
ReplyDeleteI think the red centre looks fine, it balances the reds elsewhere in the quilt. It looks lovely hanging up, I'm sure it will give pleasure to everyone who passes. Well done to all of you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilt and you did a great job with the quilting! We are all individuals and some stick out of the crowd more than others so the red square is perfect, I think.
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! I think the extra quilting in the sky visually balances the weightier steps. It will be fun for those waiting to take a lengthy look and discover all the detail.
ReplyDeleteSandy in the UK
It is gorgeous and I had to search to find the red center. Your quilting is wonderful and the beads are perfect. Looks very difficult to me. How wonderful that the patients has something that lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is really awesome! It is amazing how it all came together. In the beginning, it just looked ok - nothing spectacular. The quilting is what made it awesome. Love the beads around the stars. Were those done individually free hand or is it a stitch on your machine? I even like the log cabin block with the red center and as another lady mentioned, it is perfect in that location. Love the layout and everything. You are very talented and creative! What a cheerful display for the hospital.
ReplyDeleteI like the starry sky and have no problem with the blocks. What a nice greeting to those who pass that way.
ReplyDeleteThe beading around the stars are so effective! Great quilt and it sure brightens up that corner.
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilt made with love
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt, and your quilting is beyond amazing - I LOVE the beads around the stars - the quilting is absolutely inspired!
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