Circling the Sun--post 2 of 3

I sandwiched this project with a piece of wool batting and then decided that I would add a piece of cotton batting too because the wool batting seemed too light. The duel layer while a challenge to quilt works well to achieve a richer quilting texture.

Two filler stitches used in the backgrounds

I did stitch in the ditch around the motifs and borders. I used a cotton thread matched to the fabric this time; but, I often use a silk thread. I decided to follow the printed pattern in the background and quilted random curvy lines in a taupe cotton thread in the taupe background. I was inspired for the times I've flown and looked down at the ground. I've seen similar random patterns like this.

I used silk thread and a small stipple to fill in the background of the leaves in the circles.  Sometimes, I'm asked why I would choose to quilt dense sections like this in my piece. The reason is that varying the scale of quilting or providing some shadow provides the eye with more interest.

If I quilted the piece in all sunshine or at the same density as the wavy lines, the piece wouldn't have as much impact. I want the viewer to see my piece across the room and "need" to come closer. My goal is for the viewer to want to be "nose" close!

My pace to quilt this piece was moving along at a great speed which is usual for me. When it was time to quilt the dark border, I drew on it. I stitched on it. I removed the stitches that I had I stitched. I repeated that process many times. I was growing frustrated because this part of the project is small!

Detail of blue border that had my stymied for awhile and the quilted facing to be

I went back to my original quilting plan and decided that 2/3 of the plan would work. So I quilted that part of it hoping a solution to the final third would materialize. When I can't decide what to quilt in a space, I divide the space. Often, making the space smaller makes it easier for me to fill it! Dividing the space worked for me this time!

I used a white pencil to mark the areas. Using a a lighter blue cotton thread, I free motion stitched with a ruler to divide the space. I haven't used a ruler in a while so it was good to scrape the rust off that skill! I liked where the quilting was going. I like to repeat shapes that are in the quilt top in the quilting. In this case, I repeated the circles. These are larger pebbles than I'm used to making. To make these shapes appear consistent, I marked a center line and then divided the remaining space into equal units.

Back of the quilt

I still found it difficult to quilt consistent looking shapes. In the end, I free hand drew the shapes and quilted them. I suppose there are quilting templates with a variety of these shapes; but, I don't own them. I don't know that I if I found one or more that I'd add them to my library.  I don't know how often I would want this look and I already have a lot of rulers I just knew that I would use and don't.

Next, I divided the space adjacent to the smaller circles and quilted that with more lines. These lines reminded me of the flight materials--maps especially, that my dad used when he flew. Now I was in the stuck spot again. I needed to fill that space.

Originally, I planned to leave it open; but, that space was telling me to fill it. I decided that I would repeat the stipple fill; but, use a darker blue cotton thread so that the lighter motifs would stand out more. I liked the result.

From the time that I pieced that outer border which I plan to turn into a facing, I knew that I wanted to quilt swirls in that section with a blue/green cotton thread. This part is only going to
show on the back. I like the variety it will give to the back when I figure out how to achieve that part!

I've included a photo of the quilt back because it is fun to see the quilting textures on the pieced back!
Next up is figuring out how to achieve that quilted facing. I was mindful to pin baste this project well. I was mindful about stitching in the ditch. I was mindful about quilting evenly across the quilt so that I didn't have a lot of easing to do.

Finished front with quilted facing

At the end of the quilting phase, the quilt lay flat. This was GREAT! I had no wave on the outside border. My blue border though is no longer straight. This was NOT great! I'm thinking that unless the project is quilted on a frame, keeping the border actually square isn't going to happen with my quilting style.

Next up. . .finishing!