DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I'm trying to finish quilting my log cabin scrap quilt, but life keeps interrupting!

I'm using my go-to feathers, using the "Hooked on Feathers" method.  This time I filled in the wonky stem areas with circles.  Still a work in progress!

I still have to quilt the "light" areas, and the four different borders.  Have to get my thinking cap on and figure out my next steps....

Check out all the interesting projects shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  7.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  90.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  35.5 yards

Net used 2013  55.25 yards

I finished the quilting on my guild's BOM quilt project version 1 this week!!!  The projects are due at our next meeting on 5 June, and I've heard that there will be prizes!!

Of course, I used my favourite hooked feathers for the large final border.  The stitching was done with a Sulky cotton variegated thread called Pansy, with pinks, yellows, greens and light purple - soft colours that suited the quilt.

  Fortunately for me, DH has long arms and was able to hold this quilt by himself.  The light was coming in the patio door, but it does highlight the quilting!

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see how everyone's stash usage fared this week.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  12.875 yards

Used year to date  125.875 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  108.875 yards

Net Used 2012  17 yards

I finished the quilting on my quilt called "Half Log Blues"  yesterday afternoon.  Now if I could only enlist a second tall guy to hold my last 3 large finished projects so they could have their picture taken!

 After my thread/needle/presser foot/tension difficulties, I chose a shiny trilobal polyester thread that is actually varigated light purples and greens, as the best to show up on the blue sections of the quilt top.  From a distance, the cone of thread looks like silvery grey - not my first choice, but my best choice!

Haven't seen Judy's stash report yet, but I'm posting mine!

Got some quilting done today

I finally decided how to quilt the different areas of the pineapple blossom quilt.

 I quilted leaves and flowers in the light triangles and squares in each block.  These form a lovely diagonal line across the quilt top.
Here's a close-up:

Then I stitched feathered wreaths in the area where four blocks come together.  I like the method show in the "Hooked on Feathers" book.

 I still have a few feathered wreaths to stitch, as well as some half and quarter wreaths along the edge of the quilt top.  I still have to complete the quilting in the neutral borders, as well as some additional quilting in the pinwheel border.  More to come.

Some quilting completed

I managed to get the quilting done in the interior of the Indigo Stars quilt.  I began with some "stitch in the ditch" on the small grey-green border, then I outlined all the motifs in each block.  I chose to stitch a free-form feather design that would fill the background fabric easily, making an almost mirror-image in each area.  (Almost, as I didn't mark anything before beginning to stitch!)   I decided to stitch the binding on before finishing the quilting in the final border - that way I can centre the design.  I managed to get the hand stitching finished before I headed to my guild dinner, so today I plan to get this one finished!  I did no sewing yesterday, but I baked 4 loaves of bread, made my first batch of pesto, as there was enough basil, then baked a double batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Dinner was easy - re-heated ribs that I had slow cooked last month (freezers are wonderful), cooked some rice and green beans and dinner was on the table!

Last Section Quilted!

Finally finished the last round of feathers!  These travel between the gold and rust stars, and the blue plaid "chain" area.

Once again, I planned the route that the stem travels by tracing a pencil line on the gray-scale print out of the quilt design.

Machine quilted using my Juki with no frame.

Just the feather quilting took 14 filled bobbins of tan thread!  Now I have to spend some time checking the front and back for stray threads.  I try to do this while I am stitching, but there are always just as many "hidden" on the quilt - especially a busy quilt with a pieced plaid backing!

Now I just have to wait for a wind-free day to get a picture of the whole quilt!  This is a big one - blocks are 12 inches finished, and they are in a 7 x 9 layout.  DH wondered why I wasn't adding a border!

Plaid stars Heading to the Finish

 

I finally figured out a path for the centre area of the quilt.  The "Hooked on Feathers pattern seems to fit into almost any space with just a bit of pre-planning.

This was machine quilted on my Juki, without the use of a frame.

The end is in sight!

The first corner is completed!  Now to work on the other 3!

Then I have to figure out how to quilt the centre area!

Still doing "Hooked on Feathers", using my Juki to machine quilt.

 

Circles of Feathers

There are quite a few small yellow plaid stars in this quilt, so I decided to quilt a circle of feathers around each one.

I found a plastic bowl lid that was just the right size to mark the circle, using a hera marker (sharp edged plastic that makes a visible creased line).  Once the stem was stitched, I was able to make "Hooked on Feathers" hooks and flourishes on both sides of the stem.  Hand guided machine quilting with a Juki machine and no frame.

Stitching around a larger Plaid Star

 

More feathers with a few more flourishes.  It is like a puzzle, trying to fill all the spaces!

It is very satisfying to see a plan develop, and I still love doing the "Hooked on Feathers" method.

This was hand guided without using a frame, stitching with my Juki.

More Plaid with Feathers

 

More "Hooked on Feathers" filling the area around a small star.  This was part of a continuous loop in a corner section of the quilt.  I love the way the feathers grow and shrink to fill the spaces.

Plaid Quilt Continues....

 

I finally started the fun part - the quilting in the background!

I chose this pattern as it has lots of open space for quilting.

I've been inspired by the book "Hooked on Feathers" by Sally Terry.

I started quilting in the tiny corner areas, doing feathered hooks radiating from the centre.

You can also see the next area.  I began by stitching the stem, then quilting around one side, then the other, trying to fill in all the spaces.  I used some curliques etc. to fill in extra large spots.

My background is a darker tea coloured muslin, and I decided to quilt the feathers in a contrasting thread.

I ordered several colours of tans to browns from Superior Threads, and decided to quilt with "So Fine" #425.  It really stands out well against the muslin.