First off, thanks for the warm welcome back to blogging! I appreciate all of the kind comments that you left! I'm happy to be back at it. :)
After I made my
third bright birch tree quilt, I told myself that was it...I wasn't allowed to make another one, because I thought I "should" try something new rather than remaking the same quilt over and over. My resolve lasted a little over a year, apparently. In May I started another one. I couldn't help it! This pattern is such a great way to use up little scraps....at least I think so! (Pattern is available
here.) I was able to use ALL stash fabrics for the backgrounds, which is always a good thing!
It only took me a month or so to piece the top, which felt pretty fast, considering I wasn't spending all that much time sewing. I've had it basted for a few weeks now, and last week I finally started hand quilting it. (At least I'm trying out a new quilting treatment on this version!)
I decided to do some big stitch quilting echoing the lines of patchwork. It's looking better than I imagined. (Woohooo!!!! I love it when that happens!) I'm using this beautiful boxed set of threads that I've hoarded long enough. (The thread is perle cotton, size 8, designed by Anna Maria Horner for Anchor Threads. It was released several years, but I found some available
here. No affiliation.)
I've hand quilted a few quilts in my day, but it took me awhile to get back into the groove. I ripped out my first quilting line 4 times (at least!) and then it occurred to me that I should mark some guidelines first, so my quilting lines aren't quite as wobbly. I used my Hera marker and a ruler to mark the temporary lines, which made all the difference. I'm well on my way to a finish AND I'm enjoying the process! Win/win!
(As an aside....I love my
hera marker! If you don't have one, I would suggest getting one. It creates a temporary crease in the fabric rather than marking the fabric with ink, so you don't have to worry about whether or not your marking pen will come out of the fabric once your project is complete. While it works on both dark and light fabrics, I will say that it is much more visible on darker fabrics than light fabrics, but I've used it successfully on both. It's one of my favorite sewing tools ever. Again, no affiliation whatsoever.)
I am making another one. I am using a layer cake of bright Kona solids and scraps or greys, brown and blacks for the trees. Slow going. I love your handquilting on this!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! I'm so delightful to hear of you again!
ReplyDeleteYes, having a hera marker has revolutionized quilting for me. The hand quilting is a beautiful detail!
ReplyDeleteOoooo, I am loving the hand-quilting on this! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteI love your hand stitching on this one and the thread! love it. I have a herra marker but it is brand new and I haven't used it yet - so many recommend it
ReplyDeleteThe hand quilting is simply gorgeous!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I believe I pinned version no. 1. I am a YUGE fan of this quilt. Just bought some Kona solids so this might just happen after all for me ~
ReplyDeleteThis is a gorgeous quilt pattern and I can see why you love making it so much. Your quilting is just lovely x
ReplyDeleteGreat choice of quilting for that quilt! It looks great.
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda! I agree - I love my hera marker. AND welcome back to blogging. We all missed you - I hope you had a fabulous summer. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteLove love love the hand quilting. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMy hera has been a game-changer for me! Glad you had a good break - welcome back!
ReplyDeleteA very wonderful quilt, I love this pattern. Hand quilting is very elegant - this will be a masterpiece!
ReplyDeleteIt is going to look awesome hand quilted! My Bright Birch Trees quilt is hanging in my living room, and not a day goes by that I don’t stop to admire it, at least once. At the moment, I’m obsessed with your scrappy churn dashes. My collection of blocks is growing! I’m only sewing 10 to 20 minutes at a pop, so my progress on everything I’m making this summer is slow, but rewarding.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see you back at it - blogging again too - and working on such a cheery quilt! It's so good to see a work-in-progress because it's shows that you're not an assembly line, as some quilters appear to be. I can know how relaxing it is to do big stitch hand quilting (it sound enticing right now), as I love it too. Most often I use it to enhance something I've already machine quilted. Your work is beautiful! Enjoy the process!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! That really makes me want to get out my hand quilting, but it's still to hot here for that!
ReplyDeleteHand quilting for the win!👏
ReplyDeleteAnd here it is, your Bright Birches! Your big stitch hand quilting has inspired me to give it a try also. I am going to use Sulky 12wt for my project, but those perle cottons are yummy! I have yet to get a hera marker, though I have thought about it many times. Guess the time is NOW!
ReplyDeleteI bought your pattern years ago, and I really should start using up my little scraps on it. Thanks for jogging my memory banks!
ReplyDeleteI love the large stitching with the pearl cotton! I just adds another dimension to your quilt!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Missed your blogs but glad you were able to devote the time to your family. They grow sooo fast.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this! Would like to start a hand quilting project like this with pearle cotton. No judgements on how big my stitches will be! Thanks for the eye candy today
ReplyDeleteI also love this quilt design for it's beauty and use of scraps. I think you can make it so many different ways with a new color scheme that it never feels old. I made one a few years ago and now you have me thinking...hmmm. Have you ever seen one with all low volume for the background squares and color for the lines? Wouldn't that be fun too!? Well done and I can't wait to see your hand stitching when it's all done.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Your hand quilting is absolutely perfection! I love my hera marker too. "Love"
ReplyDeleteIt is such a fun and modern, great quilt pattern, so why not? Love your third version. Enjoy the quilting!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're back at blogging. I did a double take on your comment about using ALL stash for the background. I first read it as "all my stash" - can't imagine that you don't have lots left ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you back! Missed you lots!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt looks amazing!
Thanks for the tip re the Hera marker, sounds a good idea ..... must look out for one!
Barbara x
I’m making a second one, Birch trees on khaki, brown, 7 grey backgrounds. I’m having fun doing it in a different color way.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, AmandaJean. I hope you had a great summer with your kids!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the purity of your blog. Many bloggers are constantly self-promoting and selling products. Yours is so clearly different and it’s a treat. Thank you.
Oh by the way, when I was a member of your class in the RF quilt shop, you showed us how to use the Hera marker. I bought one, used it and have joyfully shown it to my quilting friends and quilting daughter. Now they all have their own. The other simple but critical thing you taught me was how to bury a knot in the quilt.
On another happy note, I’ve finally learned to stipple my own quilts. I pull out your handout on various quilting stitches both with the walking foot and free motion foot. The quilt with large squares we made in class is my favorite guide when choosing how to quilt whatever I’m working on. So again, many thanks.
I've always loved that pattern. I have a feeling skill was involved as much as the Hera marker was. Your stitches are so uniform. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBright and beautiful! Such a wonderful quilt and delightful design for using up those treasured fabric scraps. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI love these quilts. And someday, I'm going to make one with all my little snippets that I can't bear to throw away. I see nothing wrong with making the same quilt four times . . .
ReplyDelete