I have long admired the beautiful effect of hand quilting. I’ve even attempted it before, but it didn’t turn out quite as I hoped. Something about burying my threads and keeping the stitches even made it oh so unfulfilling.
Next week I’m going to be taking a hand quilting class (I need all the help I can get!) so I thought I’d share a photo of the fabric and thread I selected. The supply list calls for 1 yard of material and 5 spools of coordinating size 8 Perle thread. I can’t decide between these two Anna Maria Horner prints, one in blue and one in pink, so I’m bringing them both and hoping to make a decision once I get there. Of course I’m also hoping that some day I’ll finish both coordinating pillows. A girl can dream, right?
Have you seen this Perle thread before? I’ve purchased mine from Quilt Taffy, Pink Chalk Fabrics, and even at Joann’s. Do you have a favorite brand of needle to use? I have a feeling that having the right needle will make the stitching so much easier. But just like learning to sew, figuring out what works for hand quilting will be a process.
Here is what this photo shoot really looked like! There are always two cats helping.
And if I’m inside the house, I am lucky enough to have a bird assistant, too!
Happy Friday!
I've not perfected either kind of quilting, but I enjoy handquilting the most. Enjoy your class.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I love handquilting, and I love the fabrics and colors you've picked! Lovely! Can't wait to see the finished product! :)
ReplyDeleteI love hand quilting. I find I have to suspend my self criticism of my work while doing hand quilting. While the finished product is gorgeous it is easy to start listing the imperfections when it is up close so much of the time.
ReplyDeleteI hand quilted my very first quilt. The quilting is really awful but I love those stitches so much. Don't put too much pressure on yourself about being perfect, just enjoy the process. You'll find big stitch quilting with perle really fun to do and addictive too!! Great to see you have lots of helpers.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous thread colors and divine fabric choices
ReplyDeleteLovely fabric! I also love the behind the scenes pictures!
ReplyDeleteWhen I started quilting (in a country with no quilting history) I stupidly believed every quilt _had_ to be handquilted! So my first quilt took about a year (and was just finished after the major quilting part was done by my mom). My sewing part of this quilt is really really bad -so many seams and corners just don´t mach- but because of my mom´s beautiful quilting I still treasure that quilt.
Oh I love cat helpers, aren't they the best!
ReplyDeleteI do admire you going on a hand quilting course, I couldn't think of anything I want to do less, it would take way more time than I am ever happy on a project, probably because there's always more waiting to be done.
Godd luck, Jules x
I am so glad you're taking a hand quilting class. I think you will love it! Machine quilting seems so stressful to me, with your shoulders tensing up and the pressure to keep the correct pattern going at breakneck speed- at least that's how I imagine it. I've never tried it :)
ReplyDeleteFor big-stitch quilting with perle cotton, I use Jeanna Kimball's Straw Needles, size 8. They are long enough that you can load several big stitches. For smaller quilting stitches and for hand applique and bindings I like Roxanne needles.