Third Flannel Quilt Quilted--Second Finish 2nd Quarter 2021--One Monthly Goal MET!!

Some quilting motifs

Over the last week, I've been quilting the third flannel quilt that I stitched from Martha's flannel "adult" scraps. (I haven't started working with her "kid" flannel scraps.) I started stitching in the ditch with invisible thread. I used a walking foot because the flannel made it too challenging for my body to push the fabric through my machine. The flannel doesn't "glide" well because of its "cuddly" texture. With the invisible or monofilament thread, I quilted around the black triangles in the linen fabric. 

I also used the monofilament thread to free motion quilt a line in some of the larger strips of my strip piecing. In the bobbin, I used a 50 weight brown cotton thread that I've had in my stash for many years. Part of the challenge that I gave myself for quilting these scrap quilts was to use thread in my stash that has been around for awhile. I did use all the brown in this project so I've "room" for a replacement!

Half a feather motif

I used a 50 weight cotton green thread and I emptied that spool too. I did use all of a partial spool of a sage green thread to quilt the background of three of the stenciled flower blocks. I used a similar colored spool of thread to quilt the four stenciled flower block. The second thread wasn't an exact match; but, it was close enough!

Another challenge that I gave myself was to see how many templates I could use and how many different quilting methods I could use in this project. In the first photo, using brown thread in the needle, I stitched around the print in the fabric and then I used a medium sized stipple to fill in the space. I liked the effect it gave to the border. In the cream border I stitched half circles in green thread using a template. Using the circle template and the brown thread, I stitched circles in the outer border.

Templates and rulers used

I used a template to quilt the shape of a feather and then I followed up via free motion with an added line with a curved hook on the end using green thread. I don't remember using this feather template so it was good to play a bit with it. These are all Westalee rulers. I purchased the starter set a number or years ago and have since added a few other rulers/templates. I like the products. I also like that there are You Tube videos available with how to use the various rulers and templates.

In the sashings around the rectangular blocks, I stitched lines. I also stitched lines in the dark sashings. I varied the location of the lines for interest. In the center rectangular block, I also stitched lines. I used green, cream and monofilament thread. Sometimes, I used a ruler to stitch the lines. Sometimes, I used the edge of the foot as the guide for the line.

Background quilting 

Inspiration for the plain green blocks came from a book. I will reference that book in a few more paragraphs. In that book, there was a notation about how long it took for the flowers to return to a place where there was a lot of fighting. The writer talked about the soldiers fighting in muck and mud. 

Stenciled flower

I had a flower stencil that I could make the design fit the space so I selected it. I used a pounce pad to mark the design. This time, I tried the white pounce powder; but, it wasn't visible enough for me to see to quilt the design. I used the pink and sometimes, I was able to mark a clear line. Most of the time, I was not. It could be that I need more practice with the pounce pad. It could be that my pad still needs to absorb the powder. It could be that the pounce pad isn't going to be one of my go to marking techniques. I'll give it a few more tries because I so want this technique to work as there are many pros to the process!

Label

When I quilted the motif, I kept my eye on the stencil and that helped me replicate the design. I quilted the motif in green thread. I quilted the background with a combination of a stipple, some leaves and a swirl. I used a light sage colored thread for the quilting.

It always takes me longer to quilt a project than I think it will. There are always times that I don't have a clear idea of what I want to quilt in a specific area. Just as often, I start and the motif comes to me or develops. If I'm stuck, I'll take the dog for a 20 minute walk. Breathing in the air, feeling the wind, or the rain or the sun, gives my brain a break. Often, when I sit back down to the machine, I have a plan to try. Sometimes, when I'm stuck, I'll think about the inspiration behind the project.

This is a book club quilt. Last March, I read an autobiography, "Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands," by Mary Seacole. It is the story of a Jamaican/Irish nurse who funds her building of a "hotel" to doctor/nurse wounded soldiers of the Crimean War on determination, wit and a strong belief she had the skills to improve a soldier's life.

Quilt back

Many times, she was down to her last few coins or the last of the food stocks. A few times in her lifetime, she lost the building from she operated her business. The half circles represent the limited funds she had with which to work. The full circles in the outer border represent the servicemen she touched giving back to her when she reached the end of her life with little money to support herself.

Once I had completed the quilting, I washed the quilt to remove the pink chalk. I added the binding, sleeve and label. My one monthly goal for April was to finish the quilting on this project. It was goal number four in my April list. Quilting it was also goal number one on my 2nd quarter list. It is my second finish for this quarter.  It measurers about 39 inches wide by 62 inches high.

I used about four and half yards of scraps in this project. I have now used about 8 1/4 yards of my stash in quilting projects this year. The entire project is scraps. The backing is pieced as is the batting! The binding is a leftover batik fabric that I made into a shirt for my younger brother many years ago. The thread to stitch it was from my stash. Most of that thread had been hanging around for many years. I emptied three spools of thread into this project and cleared a couple of bobbins in the process.

Quilt front

I named the quilt 'Tailings" because of all the leftover bits in it. It takes a lot of time to to piece little bits into bigger bits; but, it is worth the effort! The first post that I wrote about the project is here, should you want to read it.

I was asked why I note the hours spent and the money used to create the project. I loosely track the hours I spend on a project because too often quilt recipients have no clue about the length of time it takes to create a quilt. It generally takes more than a weekend to create a quilt! 

People also have no clue as to the amount of money one can get into a project. A project involves more than fabric and a pattern! Making a quilt isn't a cheap process. Truly, I bought nothing for this project; but, if I had purchased materials, the amount listed would get me in the neighborhood to recreating another quilt of similar size.  I'm linking to One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts. I'm also linking to Oh Scrap at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework. 

This project will end up as someone's birthday present next year. Martha would be happy that I created a useable item out of her bits and that the bits didn't end up in the landfill. Now, I'm off to do a happy dance as it feels GREAT to have met my monthly goal!!!!