Karli's Quilt - True Love

I've started piecing this quilt little over three months ago and I am happy to say its at last finished.  I don't think I've ever made a quilt with such care and attention to detail as this one.  

This is the first quilt I've made for a customer, and even though its a paying job its still a labour of love.  I have enjoyed every moment in making this quilt and by far I am most proud of this one.

This quilt's name is 'True Love', not only does the hearts symbolize love, but it also is a reminder of the love felt, even from the first moment when she learnt she was pregnant.  For this Mom to be, she is so overwhelmed with love and emotion for her unborn baby, due in September, that I think this quilt be a beautiful reminder of how she felt even before she is born. 

'Louise, I hope you 'love' this quilt, just as much I loved making it.  May you have a beautiful, healthy, strong and happy baby.  She is going to be the luckiest baby girl, having a Mom like you, and may all your hopes and dreams for her come true...  God bless '    

For this quilt I used Willow Jelly Rolls and Layer Cakes by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake and main green yardage of the same range for the backing.

Piecing and quilting was done on my Bernina.

For the free motion quilting I used Colourful Embroidery Thread no C1181, I've quilted, stippling, swirls, feathers, connected circles and pebbles.

The finished quilt measures 65 x 77 inches (165cm x 195cm)

Here are some tutorials for creating the two sided hearts, padded hearts using batting and how I hand baste my quilts.  I've also included a link to a video showing you how I've quilted the circles inside the sashing.  Just click on the images below to direct you to that blog post.

           

Pattern used for this quilt is in a local magazine 'Craftwise' issue 83 Jan/Feb 2012 called Meadow Friends.

For all other blog posts on this quilt click HERE.

Happy quilting.

Last few steps before I'm done...

The end is near, I can almost taste it!  I cant fully decide which part of making a quilt is the most fun.  By far, for me free motion quilting is the most enjoyable part, but the most exciting part of making a quilt is adding the finishing touches, hiding those last few missed thread tails, squaring up the quilt and making the binding and sewing it on.

Securing the padded hearts well before top-stitching it down on top the quilt.

Hiding thread tails between the layers.

Trimming the excess batting and backing, squaring it up.

I've used the last remaining strips from the jelly roll to make the binding strips.  I starched it really well, that way I have the best control, and while sewing it on the quilt there's hardly any shifting.

Now all that is left to do, is hand sew the binding to the back of the quilt, and I still need to make a label.  Watch this space for the big reveal... :-)

Happy quilting.

Works in progress and a tip

I've been quilting like there's no tomorrow.  I really need to get the baby quilt I'm working on finished.  Not that I'm pushed for time or anything, its just that I am so close to finishing, and it feels like its taking forever.  So every spare moment I have I am quilting.  I started piecing this quilt two months ago, and the quilting just over a month ago.  Yes, I've taken my time only because I feel that if I rush it, I might make mistakes... but I want to get it done now, and soon.  Hopefully next week I'll be able to show a finished quilt.

Another 'new' project I have on the go, is this ripple (chevron) crochet blanket.  I looked up quite a few video tutorials on youtube, but most of them failed.  If you're interested in making this one, HERE is the link. 

I mentioned I have a tip for you, well yesterday afternoon I decided to clean my machingers quilting gloves, but even after soaking and rubbing them for a while the tips were still very dirty, so I used an old toothbrush to get the tips clean.  As you can see its not completely clean, but the results if much better using the toothbrush instead of just rubbing.

Happy quilting.

Feathers

Kayleigh has been keeping me so busy these past few days that progress has been slow, but I am getting there, at a snails pace.. Or so it feels.  I guess its not all bad, if rushed I might just mess it up.  Don't you just love feathers?  I do, combined with smaller pebbles and swirls it looks even prettier. 

The next two images is from the front and back of the exact same spot quilted.  I think this time the tension is perfect, can you see how the feathers pop both on the front and back?  I was worried when adding the smaller scale quilting that puckers will form, but so far so good, its looking great!

      

Unlike when I quilted the circles inside the sashing, I am not making use of any markings when quilting the feathers.  I love the result quilting white on white, it really blends in well with the background and it really makes the design stand out.

 

A big thank you to everyone's response on my Monday post.  Most of you know I reply to every comment via e-mail, unless you're a no-reply blogger, I always keep a note pad writing down questions I've received, and I will soon share some of them here on my blog.  Its sometimes a bit hard keeping track bouncing from e-mail to blogger...

If you'd like to see more of this baby quilt I'm making, click HERE.

Happy quilting.

Anything Goes Quilt and Sew #26 - My First Video Tutorial

I have made a short video tutorial, showing you how I quilted the circles/loops inside the sashing of the baby quilt I'm making, and as I was uploading the video to youtube, I realized I did not even do a little into, or explained any machine settings I use, I just jumped right in and started quilting.  

Next time I will definitely plan ahead before making a video tutorial, this is a first for me.  I guess I was so excited to show you, that I did not think it through properly, and oh boy, the state of my gloves, shame on me, very dirty.. 

I use a Bernina Artista 180.  I bought it second hand little over a year go.  I don't know how old is, if anyone knows which year it came out I am curious to know, I use it for both piecing and free motion quilting, and it runs beautifully.  

Here is the way I set up my sewing machine for free motion quilting, and a few preferences I have that I've learnt along the way.  By no means set in stone, but thus far, I know it works for me...

- Stitch length set at ZERO.

- Feed dogs are UP / engaged. 

- Presser foot no 24 called a "Free Motion Embroidery Foot"

- I prefer to use Schmetz Quilting or -Embroidery needles.  If I know the quilt I'm working on calls for a lot of travel stitching, like I've done on my Goddess quilt, I use embroidery needles. 

- I am using Little Genie Bobbin Washers.  Instead of dropping the washer inside the bobbin casing, I place the washer inside the bobbin housing.  I have written a blog post explaining why I could not use it the conventional way, you can find it HERE.

- Lastly I use machingers quilting gloves.

One thing I've recently played around with, is tension.  I have always used the standard setting which is automatically set at 4, but I noticed that I got even better top and bottom stitches when it is set at 6.

So without further a due, here is the video tutorial.  My Son helped taking the video, I think he got a bit mesmerized by the swirling motion and as he held the camera he started moving it as I quilted, LOL.  I've added text to the video hoping it would make up for the lack of planning on my part.

If the video acts funny, click HERE.

Sew now it's time for this week's linky party

It's Monday and a new week, so lets all share some of our projects, please link up any current projects you've been working on, anything at all...  This link is open for a week and will run every Monday.  Remember to come back next week, or follow my blog to get regular updates.

If you wish feel free to add any other blog posts you write during the week, since this linky stays open for a full week, I think its a great idea to share and keep sharing.

All I ask is that you either add the 'Anything Goes' blog button to your sidebar or add a text link to your blog post, and comment on a few of the other links too, share the love and make this weekly link party a fun way to connect.

<div align="center"><a href="http://marelize-ries.blogspot.com/" title="Stitch by Stitch"><img src="http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj592/MarelizeR/LinkyButton2_zps83805f35.jpg" alt="Stitch by Stitch" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy quilting.

At last...

...I can move on to quilting the borders.  Whenever I step back and look at what I've quilted so far, I am amazed.  Sure it took a bit longer than expected, but its all down hill from now.  My quilting is not perfect, but it blends into the fabric so well, that it is not even noticeable if my swirls ended up a bit wonky or is not completely even spaced, it still looks good to me.  I love this quilt!

As I removed the quilt from my machine I noticed that I've missed one block's sashing, so after I am done with that I can start quilting the borders.  I am really excited to start, I have decided on feathers, but because there are appliqued hearts I am going to keep them small, moving from one heart to the next, and filling up the space with random swirls and pebbles.  Its still a thought process, so I am sure once I get there, I'll know exactly how it will all fit in.

I recieved a comment today on Instagram from Rene Sharp at  Stamping in Sunny SA and she said:  "I want to quilt like you one day" and for me its probably the best compliment ever!  Thanks so much to everyone supporting me, reading my blog, leaving comments and following along on my progress.  It means the world to me!

If you are interested to read more about this baby quilt, click HERE.

Happy quilting.