Wednesday, July 15, 2009

quilting jitters


After procrastinating for 2 days, I finally bit the bullet and started quilting my happy go lucky quilt. I love the quilt top so much that I don't want to mess it up by quilting it. I'm doing a more relaxed version of the pebble quilting than I did on this one. Up until I hit the color blocks, the quilting reminded me of a cheap mattress pad, which is definitely NOT the look I'm going for. I think it's looking better now that I started quilting the colored blocks. Hopefully the binding helps pull it all together. I'll be holding my breath until it's done.

I made my block for Victoria's Pixie Dust Gather last night. I am going to give it to her when we meet up today. I'm so excited!!!

Also, there are still some open spots for the quilt retreat, if you are interested.

41 comments:

Cheryl Arkison said...

Okay, it looks frikken' cool! Good for you for branching out. This quilt is going to soar!
PS What are you using for the binding, curious minds want to know.

BitnByAQuiltingBug said...

I'm with Cheryl....it's awesome! I still would love to see a video of how you do that! Giggle! I gave it a try, but mine didn't look a bit like yours. That quilt is going to be amazing and I can't wait to see it finished!

Mary Jo said...

You are so funny. Mattress pad. No I don't think it could ever look like that. Its going to be beautiful. I love the pinks and green for the Pixie Dust quilt. Love your blog too!MJ

LizA. said...

If you're getting tired of the same old quilting check out Patsy Thompson. She does absolutely amazing quilting all on her sewing machine. Her videos are great and there are lots of free designs and stuff on her website. http://patsythompsondesigns.com/

Judy said...

Interested? Absolutely!!! Able to hope on a plane and come to CO, nope. Although I reeaallly would love ot go! I like the peebles, I've used them before in small areas of a quilt but never a whole quilt. Looks neat!

Jenn said...

I'm starting to wonder if the quilting jitters ever go away. My mom does beautiful free motion quilting on her regular machine and she too is always nervous to start quilting a new top. I pieced a top last week that needs quilted and it's just sitting here waiting. Because even though I do very basic straight design quilting, I too am nervous to possibly screw something up!

Skebba said...

Nothing cheap looking about that! Looks absolutely fantastic, you talented, talented person you!

Kristine Hanson said...

it is lovely!!! wish I had some of those blue sprouts! lucky girl!

Mushyhed said...

I LOVE this! I think it looks awesome! Have fun with your visit with Victoria!

Kristin said...

I really like the block you made for the Pixie Dust Gather! It's simple design shows off the beautiful colors and patterns of the fabric.

linda said...

I bet people don't understand why you still get the jitters after all the quilts you've quilted. I've been quilting professionally for almost ten years now, and I still get nervous sometimes when I get some quilts. I think it's the artist in us just wanting to make things "perfect".

Audrie said...

It looks so pretty!!! I also have to take a breath and talk myself into quilting when it's time because I'm convinced I'll do something to screw it up LOL!

susan@tickledpaisley said...

Can't wait to see that one finished! It's lookin' great!!!

Kelly O. said...

There is nothing mattress-y at all about that quilt!!!
I do love that quilting technique--how I long for free motion. I'm afraid straight stitching is about to get REALLY boring!
I wish wish WISH I could go to the retreat. It's been a tough year financially but maybe another year.

Wendy said...

Looking forward to seeing it all done!
Love that 'pebble' stitch, looks like you have it mastered.
I've been practicing it on paper...

Cheryl said...

I think it looks fine! But I do hate it when I quilt something and I don't like the way it looks.

Christine said...

Love your pebble technique. I always have jitters when I quilt, just because it takes so much love and care to finish a top, never mind quilt it.

Terrie Sandelin said...

Really, no one is harder on our quilts than our own selves! I'm pretty sure you might be the only one to look at that and think "cheap mattress"! The rest of us are going, "oh, pretty, can I touch?" Grins.

Janet said...

This quilt is going to be so cool. I finished mine and posted too. I'm excited to see all the parts come together. Have a fun time with Victoria.

Doris said...

I haven't done my Pixie Dust Gather block yet...I'm loving your's! And, I can completely understadn the concept of being afraid of "ruining" a quilt top with the quilting! Looks great, though...

sammyjo said...

i think it looks great!

heather said...

I love your block!!! I just might have to start a quilt like this. Your quilt looks nice too. Great job in branching out!

Janine B said...

i love the pinks anfd greens used in the pixie dust block. what material range are they from??

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Hey Lady! so awesome to spend the day with you! I think the kids had a blast too! Bonus all around! Love your pixiedust square! Can't wait to see more. Happy quilting my friend.
we're off to the water park!

lera said...

A cheap mattress pad??? Oh man! That made me laugh.

It's very nice and NOT cheap-mattress-paddy at all :-)

One Flew Over said...

Nothing LIKE a cheap mattress - it's going to look great :)

I am Arizona; a person, not a place. said...

A cheap mattress pad? That made me laugh out loud! It doesn't look like that at all. I really like the pebble quilting...it looks great!

Anina said...

Mattress pad. No Way! I think it's going to be very, very pretty.
I'd so be at the retreat if I lived closer.

Jessica said...

I have a quilt all ready to be quilted on the long arm right now. I think I'll try a pebble-like pattern and break away from my favorite stipple! Your pebble quilting is great.

Amy Jo said...

Love the quilting....looks fantastic!! Wish I could make it to the quilt retreat... would be so much fun. Miss you my friend. We've got to work on getting together!

Unknown said...

It looks amazing! I love the texture it adds - what sort of binding you have planned? My vote?? -- Teal/blueish like you have in those pieced bits :) Just in case you were wondering - he hee

Unknown said...

OMG...you said to practice stippling...I did that and now that I am reasonibly good at that you want me to do this?!!!!!!!!!
I think we need more instructions girl!
I love the look of it a lot and with my Janome 6600 have been thinking of doing a repetative pattern on a small quilt...yeah a video from you would be better though...

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

it looks good!! i've been wanting to try this style quilting for a while... i feel like it might be coming on soon!!

Unknown said...

The quilting looks great not like a mattress pad. Wonderful quilt!

Dresden Quilter said...

It looks fantastic and definitely not like a matress. I would not worry. Your stuff is always amazing.

Lisa said...

I'm loving it. But you cracked me up with the cheap mattress pad comment.

dotti white said...

Amandajean...trust yourself! It is looking beautiful!

Amanda Jean said...

Janine B.

the pixie dust fabrics can be found here:

http://www.pixiedustdecor.com/fabric.shtml

they are gorgeous!!!

aj

Rebekah said...

you've got me totally inspired with this pebble quilting. I really want to try it out

Philigry said...

i love that quilting! i think it looks great.

sulu-design said...

I don't care how hard you try, you'll never be able to make one of your quilts look like a cheap mattress pad! I know where you were coming from, but really, lady, your pieces are too darn gorgeous to even think that. Glad that it's shaping up nicely.