Last Sunday, our Sunday Afternoon Applique Group met (and once again!) Lynn dazzled and inspired us with her Aunt Millie’s Garden. Ruth Quinn from Stitching Impressions did an awesome job of machine quilting this masterpiece. You can see more of Lynn’s quilt here. Take a look!
I have been hand-quilting “Circle of Tulips” in my frame and beginning to get the hang of it. I am using two different stencils for the wreaths.
I am using the smaller stencil in the centre of the wreath of tulips……
..and the larger stencil where the secondary design magically appears.
Don’t know if you noticed, but I tilted the larger stencil on a 45 degree angle. I did this so I would not have to stitch parallel to the seam lines. So far I am liking it!
This is the stencil I have chosen for the outer border. I have my heart set on this quilt having a scalloped border. I may have to do a little bit of math to get the stencil to work out. I will worry about that when the time comes!
I love when stuff like this happens. Makes me feel really humble! I was stitching along and noticed the bias strip look a little….well…..weird. I glued it in the right place, just upside down! Oops!
Once I stopped giggling, I took it off…..
flipped it over….and now we are good!!
Til next time….
Kerry
Simple Bird Applique 
I love the wreaths! I hadn’t noticed the change in direction but what a great idea. Your quilting is gorgeous!! Funny slip up with the bias strip :0)
Ok….I’m dazzled!! I need to start collecting some stencils, I think that would help me with decisions on my hand quilting. I applaud you quilting in your frame, I still haven’t mastered stitching away from myself. I go back and forth between my frame and my hoop. Sue Garmen uses the stab stitch and can quilt in any direction that way. I have tried it some and will continue to try it.
Too funny on your bias strip!
Wow! Very talented ladies you quilt with! Love your stitching–it looks sooooo good. That upside down bias strip is the stuff that keeps us humble!.:)
Hi Kerry,
Thanks so much for mentioning my name and the business name on your most recent blog. I do appreciate it alot. As always, your blog posts are funny and informative. You are very talented in blogging and appliquing, my dear. Thanks again for the mention on your blog.
Ruth
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Kerry — please tell Lynn I am in awe of her quilt — it is just stunning…. And the quilting on yours is fantastic — you’re doing such beautiful work — an heirloom in the making. Thanks for sharing and inspiring today!
Karen
Hi Kerry,
Your tulip quilt is beautiful !! I really like the stencils you are using. I noticed you leave the tip on your leaves sticking out. Why is that?? I know you have a good reason.
Linda
I am gooing to do my next post on this exact topic!
Dazzled indeed!! Great work. Love your hand quilting – clever girl with that seam! Glad you found that oops before you stitched!
I am dazzled! I’m very interested in your marking as you go. What do you use for marking?
What a riot with your stem. I sew things to my pj,s all too often. Always cracks me up. gale in south Michigan
I can entertain myself so easily with my oopsies!
I’m dazzled, too! Thanks for the link to see more. Could you tell us how you quilt the grid around the wreaths. I’m interested in the process when I quilt one myself. Just wondering how much start and stopping there is. It looks beautiful!
Thanks! I try to do as little “starting and stopping” as possible. I find it easier to “travel”, meaning I pass the threaded needle just throught the top and batting to the next spot. Hope this helps!
Definitely dazzling! I love the marking as you go. What do you use to mark your quilts?
Thanks! I use a Frixion marker to mark my quilt tops. This is the third full-size quilt I have used this marker on and have not had a problem with it. I love it!
The marks disappear with heat (like an iron or friction). I use my steam iron and hold the iron a couple inches away from the quilt and let the steam do the work. I have heard that the marks will return when the quilt is exposed to really cold weather, or you put it in the freezer! Always test a marker first though on the fabrics you are using before marking a whole top, just to be on the safe side!
What batting are you using?There seems to be a nice loft.
Gale in so
Michigan