Thursday, July 11, 2013

Quilting Lines

In an earlier post about this quilt, Center Light, I wrote that I wasn't sure how/where else to quilt after I finished the lines connecting the colored squares.

In a comment on that post Frances of Fabadashery said,
I tend to quilt a stage at a time, so once I had finished the lines as you are, I take another look and see if any further quilting is needed. After the hours of stitching the solution usually presents itself. It's a delicate balance. You don't want too little, but you don't want too much, but it is looking lovely so far.
Frances's approach seemed wise so I just kept quilting, block by block, all the while considering possibilities for additional quilting.

I'm not finished with all the lines between colored blocks but I knew the quilt needed more.  I finally decided to add stitching at the inside corners of the larger white/off-white blocks.  Not too much extra quilting but enough so there are no large areas left without quilting.

Do you go through a cycle of love, hate, love as you work on a quilt?  (Maybe hate is a little too strong.  Maybe it's more uncertainty or dislike.)  It seems like it happens with every quilt. 

I'm at the not-so-sure-I'm-going-to-like-this-quilt stage.  It was so smooth to begin with -- and now it's crinkly.  Which makes me wonder if I should have quilted around the edges of each block and left it at that....  I think I underestimated the effect quilting lines have on a quilt.  I'm sure -- well, almost sure -- I'll like the quilt again when it's finished.

--Nancy.
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6 comments:

  1. I need to do more of that quilting a stage at a time. I tend to quilt the amount in the hoop and then move on. Love how this is shaping up--so serene and cozy. And yes, I almost always go through the cycles of love and uncertainty with each quilt.:)

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  2. I think your post is a good description of quilting, or any long-term project. There's a fatigue that can set in, and the challenge is to push through that to get it done. I like the approach of quilting away, then seeing if more is needed. Quilting does add another dimension to a quilt, which is probably what you're seeing, but there's nothing more lovely than a hand-quilted quilt!

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  3. This is coming so nice. I like your quilting choices. I don't totally love every quilt I make but I think that's all part of learning the art. When I don't like a result or when I feel I've ruined fabric with a miscut or poor choice I tell myself that even the great artists ruined a few canvases making their masterpieces and I'm sure they didn't like the results every time they put paint to canvas.

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  4. Nancy, honestly I think it's lovely & I love the way the quilting is going with this one and you're right sometimes you just have to let the quilt speak to you & the answer comes, if you know what I mean. I've been using small quilts for practice & each one poses a stumbling block to start with.....then all of a sudden I get a light bulb moment & just quilt away.Enjoy the process & I'm sure you will love it when it's finished :)

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I appreciate your comments and look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks for stopping by.

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