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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Bird on a Branch Quilted

I went to a quilter friends' house over the weekend.  This is on the one hand fun and motivating for sewing, and on the other dangerous.  Dangerous as I get to see and use all the fun things she has sitting around in her sewing room that I have yet to try out before purchasing myself.  

Amazon was not disappointed on Monday.

I took a top with me to quilt on her Handiquilter Sweet 16.  I have two friends who have this machine and it is high up on my list of 'needs' (my husband thinks this list is the 'roll-your-eyes list', because that is what he does).

I have many tops sitting around waiting their turn to be quilted.  I don't know, I find the fun part to be the fabric choices, the design choices, and the piecing.  Quilting has not been my most favorite part of quilting, but it's hard to be a 'quilter' if you don't actually quilt.

I brought this top with me - it's been completed for over a year.  I've had the back purchased for almost as long.


A combination  of my favorite lines - Joel Dewberry Aviary and Kaffe Fassett, and some of my favorite colors.  I know when I made this top I had inspirations from a magazine photo and a Kaffe Fassett quilt in one of his books, but I didn't keep any of that with the top.  Just know, I try to give credit when I can.  

And, How was quilting on that awesome machine, you ask?  Well, one, I quilted this in one night, granted that night ended at 3 a.m., but still it was done.  Two, wow, it was wonderful to not have to stuff my quilt under a too small space while quilting.  I can really appreciate that machine.  However, it was my first time using the quilting machine, and let's just say I would rather you look at my quilting this far away.


Versus this far away.


I backed with a flannel - the first time doing that for a quilt size project, I have done that on smaller baby throws.  I thought the flannel looked like tree bark and went with the fabrics on the front.




I folded the flannel back over the edges for the binding.  That may be the first time I've done that, I can't remember doing it before, but I may have.  It worked well for the flannel.  


Now everyone in the house is all 'Hey, I want a flannel backed quilt!' Because I had to brag on how warm and comfy it was.  



Bird on a Branch

Still time to join the Postage Stamp Block Swap on Flickr!
Shipping of blocks not till January!


6 comments:

Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts said...

So LOVELY! Okay. . Amazon purchases? Oh what are you getting?

I love the quilting - and yes you are a quilter missy! Doing this all yourself. . this is my excuse too by the way!

If you get a machine can I come use it :)

heart of charnwood said...

A lady after my own heart, I really enjoy pieicng the top and making all of the design decisions, but the actual quilting rather bores me, it's just not that much fun. Oh, and you got a little mention on my blog today too, for being so lovely and letting me win those beautiful Oakshotts! Ange : )

Jo Jo said...

Mary, this is a fabulous quilt! I know what you mean though - I hate quilting and if I was a more patient person or had fingers of steel, I would rather hand quilt than stuff rolls of fabric in the not-big-enough space in my sewing machine! I settle on the happy medium of ditch stitching. Minimally!

Leanne said...

I really love this quilt, I think it is the colours - they are so vibrant without being too loud. I also think your quilting is lovely, and matches the tree bark idea for your quilt. I love the quilting part, and covet a better machine, I should look at those ones as an option that is cheaper and takes up less space than a long arm.

qwilltr said...

Okay, I am one of the friends with the HQ Sweet 16 like the one Mary quilted this little jewel on. I have to say...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this machine! I was never a huge fan of the actual quilting process but I have to admit I am now really getting into it! It does take practice but I think Mary will agree, with practice, mine seem to look better each time. And, Mary, my husband knows that same eye roll...is it a guy thing?

Nat at Made in Home said...

Love the little birds..