Quilting the Sashiko Project --post 2

Backing fabric

Goal number four on my June list was to prepare the project for quilting and to figure out the quilting. For two weeks, it hung on my design wall. I didn't hear what it wanted. One day, I decided to pick a scrap fabric for the back. I bought it for a project in the early 1990s which I gifted! Scraps from this fabric have made their way into several projects since. 

Auditioning pink

As I began to measure the scrap for piecing, it struck me that the handwork piece was too plain. I felt it needed a border. I pulled pink strips for a border. While the pink brightened the project, it overpowered it. Next, I auditioned dark strips. I even auditioned a scrap of the sheet that I''m weaving into the rug! I wasn't "sold" on my options. 

Auditioning a dark border and half square triangles

Then I remembered I had some half square triangles (HSTs) in the parts department. These finish at one inch so they were the right size. I had used pink and white fabrics. While the idea was good, the white wasn't right. Gertie, my inner squirrel, decided the project needed white.

White border added

I cut an inch strip of white fabric from my white scraps. After squaring the top, I stitched the white border to the top. I auditioned more dark strips. I decided the white would not make it obvious that I didn't have enough of the background fabric for an outer border. I also decided that a dark blue and pink HSTs in the border would be a great add. The HSTs remind me of rose thorns!

Ready to be layered

I almost cut the border strip at 3/4 of an inch; but, decided that the inch border was better. Now, I'm second guessing my decision! In person, the border looks great.

Background and curved lines around central motif

To quilt this project, I pulled silk thread for the needle and a cotton thread for the bobbin. I'm using a constant 50 weight blue cotton thread in the bobbin. I stitched around the motif in a dark blue thread.  Silk thread is wonderful. It adds texture and sheen in a subtle manner. I don't use it often because it is expensive!

I stitched a line a quarter of an inch away from the motif so that the quilting stopped before the motif. I framed the motif with three rows of stitching. I used two templates and a chalk pencil to make the placement line. It took me several tries before I had a shape that I found pleasing!

Template combination used to quilt the curved lines

I used a brighter blue thread to quilt the background around the motif with a filler stitch that resembles flowing water. I quilted pebbles around the motif to give the hand work depth. I did leave a quarter inch space between the motif and the pebbles.

Pebbles quilted around the central motif

l did quilt around the "veins" in the leaves and along the lines in the roses. I added a continuous curve to the half square triangles.

The array of threads used to quilt the project

In the border, I quilted straight lines, some horizontal and some vertical. I quilted a line in the middle of the white border. The project measured about 16 inches square. 

View of the quilting texture

The quilting provided great texture. You do need to stand close to see the texture. 

View of quilting texture on the back

The label is yet another that I picked up from the free table. The embroidery motif sure was perfect for this backing! I named it Sashiko and Rose. I bought a book, paid the class fee and purchased the class supplies. I spent about $130 to make this tiny piece! I also have about 50 hours of work into the project!

The label

I needed to piece the sleeve because I didn't have enough of a scrap to cover the width of my project. Other than the class supplies, I purchased nothing for this project. Even the batting was pieced from leftovers.

Sleeve and back of quilt

I bound the project in the fabric that I used for the outer border. I cut the binding at two inches so the binding is narrower than I usually make.

Front view

I'm loving this finish. If you missed the first post, click here. Documenting the finish was goal number five on my July list. Finishing it was goal number 2j on my annual list. I've had ten finishes this year with eight finishes from my annual list! I used half a yard of fabric to finish this piece which reduces my stash overall to 74 and 3/4 yards. I have used one yard of fabric from my stash so far this month!

Linking to: I Quilted This, Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.