Yesterday I started one of my 2015 new projects. Bring Me Flowers, a pattern by Jen Kingwell. My first block turned out pretty well, but not without some resewing. I had the stems positioned all wrong - they didn't even touch the "flower" motif. So I unappliqued them and resewed. They're still not perfect, but I'll get better.
My Flowering Snowball Quilt... My plan was to hand quilt this. I basted it together for hand-quilting, started quilting and decided I didn't enjoy the quilting or love the look to do the whole thing. Hand quilting for me is definitely for smaller projects. So off to the machine I went. My mistake was to leave the basting stitches in. In hindsight, I should have pin-basted it and removed the thread basting. My machine foot is annoyingly getting caught up in the threads, but I'm now more than half-way done so I'll continue. Take my advice - no thread basting for machine quilting!
So now I'm in the middle of machine quilting 2 quilts. A common mistake for me here - I quilted a motif in the squares that I didn't like at all. After 3, I ripped the stitching out and found something new. We're now on a roll...
And this project is back on track. My original plan was to make the blocks with a Heather Bailey print and a variety of solid colors. Four blocks looked great (you may have seen them on Instagram), 8 blocks looked like a chaotic mess. So back to the drawing board and I'm going with a soft look of prints and white. Liking this much better...
And just for the fun of it one night, I made this little Dresden from a Day Sail 2 1/2" pack. No problems here - I love it! Just not sure what to do with it!
Something I know for sure - changing your mind and unstitching are just part of the process. Honestly I don't even think about it much!
Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced!
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You're blocks and quilts are beautiful! I think the imperfections add character and show there was a human behind the making of it and not a machine. I found your link at Freshly Pieced. Happy sewing!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger someone was always telling me "If you liked everything, you either weren't being honest or you need better taste" - I wish I could remember who that was.... But I think disliking our work and working at it until we're satisfied with it makes it a little bit more of an art. And maybe a little bit of a better person too. :D All of these projects are lovely, and show you have MUCH more patience than I. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, it all looks great to me, as always!! Carry on!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI've been thread basting quilts for years. I cut and pull the basting threads as they get within a few inches of the needle. I figure when I'm already that close, the layers won't shift. It's worked so far.
I think that the Amish women who quilt say that no quilt is perfect because only God can make something that is indeed perfect. I think the Bring Me Flowers block is wonderful. I am planning to start that quilt soon so keep showing your blocks.
ReplyDeletePIcking quilted stitches is a royal pain, isn't it? I've been very cozy with my seam ripper lately, too! Looking forward to seeing these finishes. Cute Dresden!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear...but still, I LOVE everything you do! :)
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog. Your work is beautiful.
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