Basting Dolly Dress Quilt

Finally, the quilt top is done and I have begun hand basting the layers together as I join other kindred stitchers at Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday.

Per online classes and youtube tutorials, I have prepared the top and backing by starching. It has a nice smooth finish and the basting is going well. This is the second time using the board basting method as presented by Sharon Schamber. It is much easier on the knees! I actually find it more relaxing than boring.  It is easy on my eyes today as I have natural light coming from the window. Despite it being another cloudy day in Michigan, there is a brightness from a recent dusting of snow.

The plan is to have it all basted today and ready to machine quilt the sashing with a walking foot. Personally, the thought of free-motion quilting is intimidating, and I do not desire this fun quilt to be my practice piece. Each dress will be outlined quilted by hand which was practiced and mentioned in the previous post. The hand quilted outline makes the dress stand out better in my humble opinion. Practicing on extra panels was quite beneficial.

May you have smooth stitching this week.

 Jill

Basting Dolly Dress Quilt

Finally, the quilt top is done and I have begun hand basting the layers together as I join other kindred stitchers at Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday.

Per online classes and youtube tutorials, I have prepared the top and backing by starching. It has a nice smooth finish and the basting is going well. This is the second time using the board basting method as presented by Sharon Schamber. It is much easier on the knees! I actually find it more relaxing than boring.  It is easy on my eyes today as I have natural light coming from the window. Despite it being another cloudy day in Michigan, there is a brightness from a recent dusting of snow.

The plan is to have it all basted today and ready to machine quilt the sashing with a walking foot. Personally, the thought of free-motion quilting is intimidating, and I do not desire this fun quilt to be my practice piece. Each dress will be outlined quilted by hand which was practiced and mentioned in the previous post. The hand quilted outline makes the dress stand out better in my humble opinion. Practicing on extra panels was quite beneficial.

May you have smooth stitching this week.

 Jill

Slow Sunday Basting

Yay! I am delighted to be back with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching in 2017. Today, I hand basted a practice piece for my Dolly Dress-up quilt that was started last January.

The top has been finished for several months as I pondered on how to quilt it. Since it is a child's quilt, I considered machine quilting to be the best choice. I wanted to quilt it myself, but as a hand quilter (usually), I was not excited to learn free-motion on my home sewing machine. Thus, the top waited for me while I made up my mind.

A Holly Holderman pre-printed panel with embellishments.

I decided to do a combination of hand and straight machine quilting.  The sashing will be machine straight stitched and the background will have a gird pattern. Each dress will be outlined by hand-quilted stitches.  The practice piece will hopefully eliminate goofs. By next Sunday I would like to be working on the the actual quilt top.

Jill

Slow Sunday Basting

Yay! I am delighted to be back with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching in 2017. Today, I hand basted a practice piece for my Dolly Dress-up quilt that was started last January.

The top has been finished for several months as I pondered on how to quilt it. Since it is a child's quilt, I considered machine quilting to be the best choice. I wanted to quilt it myself, but as a hand quilter (usually), I was not excited to learn free-motion on my home sewing machine. Thus, the top waited for me while I made up my mind.

A Holly Holderman pre-printed panel with embellishments.

I decided to do a combination of hand and straight machine quilting.  The sashing will be machine straight stitched and the background will have a gird pattern. Each dress will be outlined by hand-quilted stitches.  The practice piece will hopefully eliminate goofs. By next Sunday I would like to be working on the the actual quilt top.

Jill

Crochet Fleece

Many stitchers have participated in some form of charity sewing. Unfortunately, I have not until recently being presented with an opportunity. My church has a prayer blanket ministry and all they ask is for people to add crochet edges to precut fleece. The fleece, yarn and prepunched holes are provided. Today as I join others for Slow Sunday Stitching hosted by Kathy, I will be working on a blanket.

To be honest, I had not done any crocheting for years. I went to youtube to brush up and found the Linus Project video. Easy peasy. In the past few weeks, I finished two lap-size blankets which were a great project for me to refresh my crocheting skills. It went so well that while shopping at Joann's I purchased fleece to make another one which will be donated. 

Prior to starting the blankets, I disciplined myself that I would finish my current project.  And I did!

Have a good week!

Crochet Fleece

Many stitchers have participated in some form of charity sewing. Unfortunately, I have not until recently being presented with an opportunity. My church has a prayer blanket ministry and all they ask is for people to add crochet edges to precut fleece. The fleece, yarn and prepunched holes are provided. Today as I join others for Slow Sunday Stitching hosted by Kathy, I will be working on a blanket.

To be honest, I had not done any crocheting for years. I went to youtube to brush up and found the Linus Project video. Easy peasy. In the past few weeks, I finished two lap-size blankets which were a great project for me to refresh my crocheting skills. It went so well that while shopping at Joann's I purchased fleece to make another one which will be donated. 

Prior to starting the blankets, I disciplined myself that I would finish my current project.  And I did!

Have a good week!

Slow Knitting

This is an applicable post to rejoin kindred hand stitchers at Slow Sunday Stitching hosted by Kathy. I have been very slooow on hand stitching and blogging since the warm months.  Upon the return to cooler months (in North America) and hand stitching, I am determined to complete what was previously started.

I decided it was okay to finish the bunny in Autumn as the emphasis is on a finish.  On and off I have been refreshing my knitting skills on a knitted bunny pattern by Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits. I viewed knitting videos both on youtube and Craftsy which was beneficial. Progress was accomplished last week when I completed the bunny.

Today, I am knitting the bunny's pink dress.

Visit the others at Slow Sunday Stitching to view hand stitched projects.

Slow Knitting

This is an applicable post to rejoin kindred hand stitchers at Slow Sunday Stitching hosted by Kathy. I have been very slooow on hand stitching and blogging since the warm months.  Upon the return to cooler months (in North America) and hand stitching, I am determined to complete what was previously started.

I decided it was okay to finish the bunny in Autumn as the emphasis is on a finish.  On and off I have been refreshing my knitting skills on a knitted bunny pattern by Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits. I viewed knitting videos both on youtube and Craftsy which was beneficial. Progress was accomplished last week when I completed the bunny.

Today, I am knitting the bunny's pink dress.

Visit the others at Slow Sunday Stitching to view hand stitched projects.

Quilt Sale & Quilt Show

Recently I participated in my guild's 'quilter-to-quilter' sale which was similar to a 'mom-to-mom' sale.  Members were able to rent a table for cheap and sell whatever was in their quilting stash. I had vintage quilts, fabric, books, etc. Shoppers paid a nominal fee to attend and buy bargains.  It was a good spring fundraiser for the guild.

For the third consecutive year, I drove south to Ohio to attend the Sauder Village Quilt Show.  It was wonderful.

My timing was good as I met Debbie Wick while she was standing at her award-winning wall hanging. Exquisite workmanship and a well-deserved ribbon. 300+ dime-size (or smaller) hand applique circles and oh those hexies!  Click here to view her blog.

At last year's show, I also got lucky and met up with Teresa Rawson from Fabric Therapy who unfortunately was unable to attend this year.  Teresa takes the best and most photos of the SV show.

If you are within driving distance and it fits you schedule, I highly recommend planning a trip next year.  Hundreds of quilts attractively displayed. Sauder Village Quilt Show is not commercialized; it's all about the individual quilts.

After being inspired by viewing awesome quilts and selling some of my stash, I am motivated to reorganize my sewing space.  My sewing machine is moving up from the basement to the first floor near a window.  I enjoy sewing more with natural light and it is easier on my eyes.  

Still working on other UFO's Dolly Dress-up Quilt and the Knitted Bunny which unfortunately did not make the Easter basket in a timely fashion  :-(  Their progress will now be posted going forward here on Sew Bliss.

Hope you enjoyed the few quilt photos. There were at least 100 more quilts.

Quilt Sale & Quilt Show

Recently I participated in my guild's 'quilter-to-quilter' sale which was similar to a 'mom-to-mom' sale.  Members were able to rent a table for cheap and sell whatever was in their quilting stash. I had vintage quilts, fabric, books, etc. Shoppers paid a nominal fee to attend and buy bargains.  It was a good spring fundraiser for the guild.

For the third consecutive year, I drove south to Ohio to attend the Sauder Village Quilt Show.  It was wonderful.

My timing was good as I met Debbie Wick while she was standing at her award-winning wall hanging. Exquisite workmanship and a well-deserved ribbon. 300+ dime-size (or smaller) hand applique circles and oh those hexies!  Click here to view her blog.

At last year's show, I also got lucky and met up with Teresa Rawson from Fabric Therapy who unfortunately was unable to attend this year.  Teresa takes the best and most photos of the SV show.

If you are within driving distance and it fits you schedule, I highly recommend planning a trip next year.  Hundreds of quilts attractively displayed. Sauder Village Quilt Show is not commercialized; it's all about the individual quilts.

After being inspired by viewing awesome quilts and selling some of my stash, I am motivated to reorganize my sewing space.  My sewing machine is moving up from the basement to the first floor near a window.  I enjoy sewing more with natural light and it is easier on my eyes.  

Still working on other UFO's Dolly Dress-up Quilt and the Knitted Bunny which unfortunately did not make the Easter basket in a timely fashion  :-(  Their progress will now be posted going forward here on Sew Bliss.

Hope you enjoyed the few quilt photos. There were at least 100 more quilts.