Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Next Step

 With the top complete
of my Red and White sampler
 from the It Just Takes 2 blocks
it was time to move on to the next part,
the quilting.
 And in this case, the hand quilting.

 Of course, 
we know there are some steps in between. 

These are the steps that I dislike the most,
getting the backing ready,
getting the batting ready,

  and 
then basting the whole thing together.

I don't have a great place to baste a 
large quilt so I have to scramble around
on the floor.

Long ago, in ancient times when I was younger, basting was
done with thread.


Now at least, with safety pins it's quicker,
but you need to be careful not to create holes anywhere.

The quilt weighs a ton now with all those pins,
and is somewhat of a struggle to get to the middle
to start hand quilting. 

 I haven't premarked anything.
I plan to do mostly outline quilting.

The one thing I always do to same time is to 
prethread my needles.

I use the quilt dome by Clover and 
 load it up with 30 needles, 
three in each slot, and
in this case, half red and half white.

It's amazing how much time you save,
not having to stop and thread a needle
each time you empty one.

The other thing I use other than
a regular thimble are these
Thimble-Its.

I use them on my underneath fingers to save
my fingertips.  
They take a little getting use to and
as you use them they do soften up a bit.
Even with them on two of my underneath fingers,
it's easy to tell if I've pushed the needle through
all three layers.

Okay,
I'm ready to begin.
My goal is to have it done by the end
of May or sooner.

So far it seems like I'm moving at a snail's pace.
But my mantra has always been,

 "Just a hoop a day".

That may not happen.
 (Reality check)

But even if it doesn't,
every stitch gets me closer to being done.

 Until Next Time-

13 comments:

  1. Yeah!!!! and your quilting already good for you a hoop a day I like that plan.
    I think I need to buy that quilt dome looks like a handy thing to have!
    Kathie

    ReplyDelete
  2. A hoop a day is a great goal! I have the needle case but haven't tried it yet. I'll have to get that going!
    Have you ever tried basting on a table? I use my kitchen table, but you can use a banquet table or card table.
    It would kill my back and knees if I did it on the floor.
    Your top is stunning - what a heirloom quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful quilt you are creating!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's going to be beautiful Kyle!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a beautiful quilt top and your quilting is wonderful. You have an heirloom piece there! I enjoyed reading your blog---you sound like a very upbeat kind of person!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just keep stitching, just keep stitching!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! Will that quilt ever be amazing quilted by hand!! I tried using those Thimble it's and found them too stiff. Now that you say they soften up with use I will have to give them another try. A hoop a day is a great goal!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love that you are hand quilting this. With so many block patterns, you certainly won't be bored.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such a gorgeous quilt! And I really hate those steps, too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are so ambitious!! Go Kyle go!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great that you've made a goal for finishing the quilting on this - MUCH more likely to get finished that way! It's been years and years since I did any hand quilting, but I always basted with safety pins, and I never used a frame or a hoop - I remember how much I enjoyed it, so I wonder why I don't do it anymore? Hmmm.... Your quilt is already beautiful, and the quilting will just add more beauty to it.....

    ReplyDelete
  12. A hoop a day is a great idea Kyle. Congrats on making it to the end of JT2, very impressive. I need to looking for a clover dome now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. How fun to have a new finish in the hoop! I too have a dislike of basting, but you did a great job. I will consider the dome. I have thought about pre-threading - thanks for the advice.
    Stitch On!!

    ReplyDelete