Stitch By Stitch, The Finish--post 4

 

Lots of sort of straight lines

This project was inspired by the book: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. The book is about how one women helps her six siblings survive and thrive when their parents and older brother leave Afghanistan during the first Taliban takeover.

More diagonal lines

I began the quilting by quilting in the ditch. This is tedious; but, it is a good way to secure the layers. My goal with quilting this piece was to add texture and to keep it "modern."To that end, I quilted a lot of sort of straight lines. I used a thread that matched the background.

Oval motif for background; vertical lines on letters

I repeated quilting diagonal lines in several areas of the quilt. The diagonal lines represent how the women were "allowed" so few areas to be out in public. Of course, they had to have a male member of their family with them. If not, they were subject to being beaten.

View of the various quilted lines

Vertical lines on the letters represent the strictness of the Taliban. The oval motif in the background of the letters represent the decorative stitching the women did one the higher end dresses.

Cotton and polyester monofilament threads completed the quilting.

Thread used to quilt project

The horizontal lines in the piece represent what a women wearing a burka can see. The area is small, two and a half inches by about five inches. I can't imagine not tripping over the hem or an uneven sidewalk let alone picking out food from the market with such a narrow field of vision. 

View after completing the quilting

I made a quilted facing for this project. I used bias tape from my grandmother's stash to finish the inside edge of the facing. 

View of the back

I removed a seam from a pieced pinwheel that I didn't use on the front. I put one half of the block on each side of the label. 

Label

There was almost enough fabric for the hanging sleeve; but, not quite. I found a strip in the green chunk drawer that was large enough. This piece is 41 by 58 inches. I used four yards of fabric for this project. This brings the total net fabric used from stash to 45 yards this year.

Finished front

Previous posts were: Strings from a Scrap Bag; It's a Flimsy; Piecing the Back. Goal number six on my October list was to document the finish of this project. Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Quilting the 2021 Temperature Quilt

Goal number 12 on my February list was to make progress on quilting my 2021 Temperature Quilt.Free motion quilting in the ditch. . .boring. . .but, hard. . .and I mostly met the mark! After quilting about a third of the project in the ditch, I noticed that I had a lot of fullness in the strips at the top and bottom of each month. If I had planned ahead and quilted the more open areas first, I would have had less fullness to ease into the quilting design! 

Template circles weren't the answer

I first tried to use a template of circles because I thought repeating stitching circles that were about the same size of the appliqué circles would work. It did not. Unstitching was not fun; but, I got it done.

Free motion bubbles

I decided to free motion quilt bubbles. The bubbles worked out well though! For the other two thirds of the quilt, I quilted this section first and then stitched in the ditch between the squares denoting the week days. I had less fullness to deal with using that plan.

Stippling around the letters in each month

In the space around the month, I free motion stitched around all of the letters. I marked a line an inch on either side of the month. I stippled around the letters. To provide amore visual impact, I left a quarter inch of space after the stipple and stitched more pebbles. 

One month closer to completion

It took a lot of time to stitch all those pebbles. I also stitched around each appliquéd circle. I have a little more than a third of the project quilted. I'm using a purple thread in the bobbin. I decided to quilt a wonky shape around the circles to provide a little texture on the colored squares. I will also quilt some lines in the fabrics in the border using a color similar to the fabric. 

Wonky shape quilted around the circle

I still have the empty squares that are the spacers in the month left to determine what I'm going to quilt in those spaces. I've plenty of time to contemplate options! It is unlikely that I will finish this project this month. I am, however, making progress and I'm pleased that this project is closer to a finish than it was last month!

Linking to Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

Play--The Finish--post 3

To quilt this piece, I first stitched in the ditch in, as Cindy Needham says, "Every Stinkin' Seam!" I used a monofilament thread in the needle and a navy 50 weight thread in the bobbin. As I stitched in the ditch, I thought about the quilting I have seen on Modern quilts. There often aren't leaves, stipples or tiny hearts. There are lines. Often the lines are repeated evenly across the quilt. Some lines are straight. Some lines are curved. Sometimes there are grids and sometimes, there are bubbles. Often there are ghost blocks like nine patches, flying geese and triangles.

Getting ready to stitch bubbles

Bubbles seemed like the place to begin. I used a template from Westalee Design Starter Set that Sew Steady distributes. I liked the openness of the design. I used a light grey 50 weight cotton thread. In between the bubbles I added a few curved bumps. 

Completed bubbles

I'm coming clean here, there are even a few curved filler motifs, The variety gives the eye something to view. It was a challenge to not stitch more filler designs!

Free hand pebbles

I moved on to quilt another grey section. I like to make as few thread changes as possible so I'll often stitch with one color thread as long as I can. This time, I chose to free hand quilt large pebbles. The pebbles are a little more dense than the bubbles. I did leave a quarter inch of space around the blue X so the pebbles had a border. I also stitched down the center of the skinny grey strips I had pieced in the project.

Blue X shapes

As I had finished the blue X area quilting, I had "X" on my brain. Actually, my inner squirrel, Gertie, wanted to quilt X's. She liked them in the previous modern quilt that I finiahed. I decided to use a blue polyester 40 weight thread to quilt several large X shapes in the pumpkin shaded fabric of the lower left quadrant. So the stitching stood out more, I stitched over the lines four times. No ideas were coming to mind, as to how to fill in the space around the X. When that happens, I move to another space. Often an idea or two will come to me when I'm stitching in another space. I did use a template ruler to help me make the lines appear straight.

More blue Xs

Once completed, I looked at the piece to see where I could repeat the shape, but, on a smaller scale. I settled on a pumpkin curve in the upper left quadrant. I did chalk the Xs as a way to audition my idea and to evenly disperse the motif across the area.

Stitching a grid

There were more areas to use the blue thread; but, I was out of ideas. I switched to a dark green thread and stitched a grid in the upper and lower right quadrants.

Stitching another style of X

There were some other areas in upper left quadrant that I stitched an X and then echoed the design. 

Stitching a motif on the triangle bands

I also stitched a simple shape in the dark green triangles. I echoed this shape and stitched ghost triangles into the remaining area of the curved areas.I started with the light grey band and later, I switched to the grey thread and stitched triangles in the dark green bands. Again, chalking the line allowed me to audition the shape.

Straight line quilting

Using a couple shades darker orange thread than the fabric, I moved on to quilting the lighter orange areas. I decided to quilt straight lines as often as possible. I decided that I would use straight lines to outline the blue Xs that I had stitched earlier. I decided to keep the spacing the same; but, orient the lines in different directions. Changing the line orientation gives the eye some interest.

Another area of grid quilting

Then, I decided to move on to the blue section and create another grid in that area. I used a one inch grid on the diagonal. I wanted to stitch water in the other large blue area; but, I thought it would be better to add some stitches to the lime green areas first. I've found if I distribute the quilting as I work on the piece I have less of a chance of having to ease fullness later.

Stitching flying geese and a few curves

Using the triangle shape as inspiration, stitched triangles in the green band. I was careful to stitch the shapes in the same direction so I had a sort of flying geese effect. I measured inch and a half segments and marked each segmentwith chalk. I eyeballed an chalked a line in the center of the green. From there I used a ruler template to stitch the geese.

I also switched thread and stitched a curved shape into a light orange section of the quilt. I spaced the curves apart to give the area an airier feel. While the orange thread was in the machine I stitched a few flying geese in another section. I now had geese in three of the four quadrants.

Adding a few flying geese in the orange.

In the phot above, you a see my audition of some curved lines around the dark green triangles. 

View of the various textures

I did stitch the water. I used gently curved lines. I sewed about a quarter of the lines with the polyester thread and the remaining lines with a cotton thread that read the color of the fabric. In this piece, most of the time, I chose thread that matched the fabric. My goal with the quilting was to add texture. 

Stitched some ghost triangles in blue 
polyester thread

With each piece I stitch, I hope the initial design will catch your eye from across the room and you will want to view the piece more closely. I hope the quilting will keep your eye busy so that you will stay a while!

A section of the quilting motifs

It took me days to quilt this small piece. I contemplated what I'd like to stitch. Then I'd stitch it. Sometimes, I wasn't able to capture "the look" I had in my head or the stitching was too wobbly. In those cases, I spent some time unstitching. For the amount of thread in this piece, the unstitching was minimal.

View of the "water" lines

I added a few more lines in the green arcs. This time, I curved the lines slightly.

Adding a few more lines in the green arcs

When I found myself in an area that needed something, I often added large pebbles.

Transitions between motifs and shapes

When I became stuck with what to insert in one of the green arcs, I decided to add some petal shapes with pebbles in the background.

Adding some petal shapes

When I became stuck with the large lime green space, I followed Cindy's advice of dividing the space into a smaller unit. I eye balled some triangles that I filled in with a pattern and surrounded with pebbles.

My favorite section of the quilting

On I went, stitching shapes into each section. I did make an effort to relate the quilting to another part of the project. I also made an effort to tweak the quilting so it was similar; but not a match. I made the shapes smaller or larger. I changed thread colors. I moved the lines into a different arrangement. Sometimes, I used curved lines.

Added Xs in the cream fabric

I spent a little time in a light orange section and stitched a section of match sticks.

Did a little match stick quilting

I had fun quilting this project. I used a few ruler templates--12 inch arc; four inch arc and two inch circle from Westalee Designs.

Most of the thread used

While I am pleased with the final quilting, I am now wondering if I achieved the modern vibe.

Blocking in process.

I did need to block the quilt. Once it was dry, I squared the edges and readied it for a facing.

Back

With the leftover backing, I could have either used the remainder for the sleeve or for the facing. There wasn't enough for both. I decided I would use the remaining backing for the sleeve. I picked out a red solid for the facing.

Label

I used a leader/ender block I made during the process as the label. I estimate I used 3.75 yards of fabric from stash. To date, I've used four yards of fabric from stash. Total fabric purchased since my February fabric ban is 16 yards. I need to continue with the finishes to be able to count the fabric I've been using from my stash! This project finished at 37 inches wide by 34 inches high.

Front

Finishing this project was goal number 12 on my July list. If you missed the previous two posts on this subject, the links are: Post 1; Post 2 It is my entry for the small group modern challenge which was to take a traditional block and modernize it. It is also my entry for the book, "Prayers for Sale" by Sandra Dallas.

I'm linking to: Carol at To Do Tuesday; Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilting.

A Baby Quilt

Laying out the scraps

As a treat, I enjoy a Starbucks iced Carmel Macchiato with almond milk. I limit myself to one or two each month. It is disappointing when I order one and it doesn't taste just right. Sometimes, there is a grainy feel to the drink or it doesn't taste like there is any coffee in it. I've sampled that same order from a variety of Starbucks shops in my area.

Two prints that I purchased

The Starbucks located on Civic Drive in Gresham, Oregon provides the most consistent order. This is the location that my husband frequents after a workout at a gym located a few blocks away. Since I've gushed over drinks made there, my husband let me know that Kaylee was the barista who often made my drink. I learned that she recently married. A little later, I learned she was pregnant! Kaylee had a boy in February.

I decided that I would make her a baby quilt out of Martha's flannel scraps to gift her by the end of November. That was at the end of August. In September, I was sidelined after being rear ended in a car accident. In October, my friend Pat, shared a lap size quilt she had made using the pattern "The Tessa Quilt" by Erica Jackman of Kitchen Table Quilting. I could envision Martha's flannel scraps in that pattern for a baby sized quilt. Pat leant me the pattern.

Sashing attached; rows assembled

For at least another three weeks, I only looked at the flannel scraps. Then one afternoon, I decided that I would try working on the project. (This project took me on a trip to the fabric store for two flannel prints that read "boy" and more yardage for the sashing. I'm sure I would have made progress faster had I used yardage.)

Top assembled; ready to trim and baste

I pulled the larger chunks of the scraps and cut the largest size I could. I'm trying to use up the flannel; not bring more into the stash! NOTE: After my purchase,  Martha's flannel scrap box is fuller than it was when I started the project! I see another flannel scrap project at some point!

Some of the textures quilted in the spaces

It took me four afternoons to cut all the pieces. After the car accident, cutting is challenging. Pushing on the rotary cutter is hard. My arm tires and I have tremors so I have to take many breaks. I made a cutting error but didn't realize it
until I was sewing rows together. It was a case of cutting the pieces too wide which was not a hard error to remedy.

I enjoyed stitching again. I found that I could stitch a seam and stand up and press it. I could stitch about four to six seams and then I needed to take a long break.

Thread and rulers used in the quilting

Once I had the top finished, I had to trim the sides. I was apprehensive about cutting; but, that process went okay. Then I layered and pin basted the project which took me an afternoon. I'd pin a little, walk a little, rest a little and repeat. I used the dots on the yellow background for the backing.

Label

Then the project sat for another week. I decided that I would quilt in the ditch with my walking foot to see how that process affected my back. I quilted with a monofilament thread. It took me four sessions to quilt in the ditch. My body managed better than I thought that it would.

The day after I had finished the ditch quilting, I decided to start adding texture to the rectangles in the project. I opened an audiobook and started stitching. Every time that I switched thread, I would get up and walk around for a few minutes. I'd also do a few stretches. An hour passed, then another. I lasted three hours before the pain in my neck and back forced me to stop. I also was having tremors in my arms and hands. I was ecstatic because I hadn't been able to stitch this long since the accident.

Finished quilt

I didn't stitch again for about a week. I had over done it and I had several days of work ahead of me. When I returned, I continued to add more texture to the rectangles. Most of the time, I chose cotton thread in the same color of the rectangle. I quilted swirls, stars, circles, straight lines and a stipple in the rectangles. I chose to quilt straight lines in the white sashing. To quilt the circles and the straight lines, I used a ruler.

I had a t-shirt label so I added it when I stitched the binding to the quilt. I left a space for the mama to add her son's name and birthdate to the quilt. I even contributed the pigma pen to do the writing. The quilt measured 39 inches wide by 45 inches long.

Ready for gifting

I wrote a note about the quilt and the reason behind making it. I rolled it up with the label visible. I tied the roll with a piece of a selvage. My husband delivered it at the end of November. 

She was so surprised to be gifted a quilt and she loved it!

Recipient and the delivery man

Before the accident, I would have been able to finish the quilt in a week. I worked on it over a five week period. I used 6.5 yards of fabric; but, I also purchased fabric so in the end, I used as much as I purchased! I do need to begin piecing the leftover strings together to make a bigger dent in the scrap box. If my friend Martha could see this quilt, she would approve of how I used her scraps. She loved making baby quilts! 

This was goal number ten on my March list.