And the Quilting Continued. . .Temperature Quilt 2021-2022

View of the light thread quilting on the back

The quilting pattern done in 33 rows

Goal number six on my April list was to make progress quilting the 2021-2022 Temperature Quilt. I started quilting it last October on Joie, my 790 Bernina. Projects needing quilting are piling up. I needed to push myself to make progress . . .like completing the internal quilting so I could quilt the borders! This was the project that I spent time on when I returned from my London trip.

View of the black thread quilting on the back

It helped to quilt it during some Zoom sew sessions. People talking helped keep my mind off of how  challenging the quilting of this project had become. I also listened to audio books from the library. I had 33 total rows to quilt. It took me about four hours to quilt each row. Pushing and pulling the mass to get the orientation of the stitch lines the direction I had wanted took a toll on my shoulders and upper back. I spent a lot of time stretching so that I could quilt the next row!

View of a completed section on the front

Eventually, I had the rows quilted. Of course not I didn't quilt the rows before I had a tension issue and had to remove and restitch a section! Next was to quilt the border. I needed to think about how to ensure the clams end up somewhat close on each side so that when I got to the top border, there would be a continuous row of them. Gertie had some thoughts and I had some thoughts. . .although my thoughts didn't involve a purchase!

Quilting one side border

Gertie wanted me to buy a laser self leveling light. While I think the tool is cool; I thought a ruler and chalk pencil would work just as well. Using the simple tools would save me at least $139. Yes, there are cheaper laser light models; but, Gertie tends to favor products with bells and whistles! After about five rows, I abandoned the ruler and chalk. The more I tried chalk the lines, the more the rows seemed to skewt.

Checking the line up---hit and miss

In the end, I decided to stitch the sides as if I only had one side. I left a space at the top of one row so that I could adjust the row to merge it into the top border. I did a little adjusting; but, it isn't in your face evident. I was happy with the result. 

Checking the fit

The clam shell design almost fit. Adjusting the height of this row wasn't a big deal. 

Merging the clam shell quilting 

It didn't take long to finish quilting the top border. I love the end result.

The top of the clam shell border

Next month, I will bind, label and add a sleeve to this project to finish it! I'm excited to have completed the quilting which I started last October! While that is six months. . .there were many weeks that I only looked at the project and didn't work on it!

Finished quilting

Just as a reminder, this project is two years of weather. The dark line down the center represents the end of the first year. Linking to Sew & Tell and I Quilted This.