Challenge Quilt Is Stitched in the Ditch--August OMG Achieved!!!

Outer border

Ten minutes here, 30 minutes there, an hour here, twenty minutes there was how I accomplished finishing stitching in the ditch on my string quilt. Stitching this project in the ditch was my One Monthly Goal. I'm linking to:

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - August Finish Link-up 

This month, I entered it in the Clark County Quilters guild quilt show. In spite of the rise of COVID cases, plans for an in person show are moving forward. The show is scheduled for October 21-23. It is possible to submit a photo of the entry in progress! 

Of course, then there is the pressure of actually finishing the quilt before it is due to be hung in the show! It is difficult to see the quilting from the front; but it is possible to see the texture the ditch quilting creates. It is easier to see the quilting from the back of the quilt.

I used the walking foot for the long borders and the open toe darning foot for the string piecing. I find that my hands tire quicker than they have in the past with pushing and pulling the fabric when free motion quilting with the darning foot. 

View of the back of the quilt

With the long borders, I used the walking foot. The machine pulls the fabric. Of course, I still "get" to pull the mass through the machine harp to start the next section; but that process seemed to agree better with my body! I used Superior's monofilament thread in the needle and a 60 weight black Aurafil cotton thread in the bobbin.

Next month, my goal is to add the texture quilting. Christina Cameli spoke about texture quilting at the guild a couple months ago. The day after she spoke, I looked up her texture quilting book at the local library and placed a hold to check it out. I was tenth in line when I requested it. She spoke in June. Last week, I noted that I'm first in the queue so it should be available soon. 

Ditch quilting completed

Gertie, my inner squirrel, hopes to review it before I start the fun quilting on my challenge quilt. She thinks she will be able to tell me what I should quilt in the spaces around the string piecing.  Let's see what happens!