Wednesday, October 8, 2014

WIP: I'm Thinking

Earlier in the week I was stymied on the path forward for quilting my Vintage Ornaments Christmas Quilt. I was trying to decide between 1) sending it out, 2) renting time on a long arm, 3) FMQing it myself, or 4) just simply doing a stitch in the ditch approach with minimal quilting.

I decided on the second option and scheduled next Monday at my quasi-local quilt shop Always Quilting to rent time on their long-arm to quilt it. Now I need to decide a quilting pattern. Here are a couple options I am playing with. In the solid-colored pseudo-sashing I  think I want to do  some wavy or straight lines unevenly spaced with intermittent little bursts that I hope will look like dangling snowflakes or bows and not flower petals. I think if I keep the tips pointed and the loops skinny I can avoid the flower look. And the spikes echo the look of the pine needles. Since the solid color is discontinuous and not a true sashing, I have my fingers crossed that I can figure out a path once I am on the machine.


I am still undecided on what to do within the printed portion of the blocks. I usually just imitate the pattern in the prints in my quilts but I want to get to a skill level beyond this cheater fabric approach. Besides, each block has two different size scales of print. I paired them that way to get contrast within the block. But I had not considered that the scale of the quilting pattern to go with each. I think it would be too distracting, busy, and a logistical nightmare to quilt the center print and side bar prints differently. Most FMQ in the modern arena is on solids so this is a non-issue.

A swirl pattern is the first possibility I tried, aiming to imitate the effect of swirling snow like in Frozen. The jury is still out on this one. Even if I got really good at this pattern, there is usually not much swirling snow going on inside where vintage ornaments are typically hung. I signed up to take an online class on Craftsy by Leah Day on Free Motion Fillers. Although it is for FMQ and not longarm, I hope I get some inspiration on filler ideas to use within the printed fabrics of the blocks. This is my first time taking an online Craftsy class and so far, so good. I better learn fast and decide by Monday!

Until I come up with the quilting pattern, I've been taking my mind off it by doing little projects that I can finish in short order. I have made an alphabet cloth book for my older granddaughter complete with little animal inserts. The book is a Riley Blake panel that I bought in Oklahoma a few months ago while visiting my daughter. Details and a cute story about the purchase are in my post for March 26, 2014. I have a second one to make for my younger granddaughter in California.






A center pocket panel in the book holds the little critters. I used a fat quarter of the multi-colored polka dot fabric for the background of the pocket panel and I backed the critters with a cheery orange mini-polka dot. My California granddaughter's version will have different prints for the center panel and animal backings. I have already picked them out but am not revealing them yet.



I have also sewn the almost two-year old a pillowcases with a lion print because she really loves The Lion King. It is small, for a 12" x 16" pillow and I just shipped it off for her upcoming birthday.


I spent a good part of this week writing up my contribution for the Around the World Blog Hop which I published in my October 6, 2014 post. I has been a busy week. I am now linking up to this week's Freshly Pieced Works In Progress Wednesday.

6 comments:

  1. Ohhh...I love that cloth book with the animal inserts! So cute and fun! You'll have to read it to Vivian when you're here (if you can get her to sit in your lap long enough - she is quite the wiggle worm these days!).

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    1. I will try to complete it before we come for the christening but I need to finish Vintage Ornaments so you can have it for your holiday photo session. If I miss the October window I will certainly be thrilled to read it to her when you come up for Thanksgiving.

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  2. Lucky Grandchildren! Both projects are adorable - especially the little animals.

    I can't even begin to offer an opinion on the quilting - waaaay out of my league. :) But I'm sure it will be beautiful.

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    1. Thanks for your faith in me. I still am a bit shaky in the FMQ arena. I tried out quilting patterns this morning. The swirls have definitely been de-selected. Keep visiting. I enjoy your input.

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  3. The fabric book is lovely with the extra animals. Years ago I made a 'green' book for my godson. for year, he would spread it open on his pillow every night so he could sleep on it.

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  4. Awww. What a sweet story! Thanks for sharing it. And thanks for visiting and commenting.

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