Seasonal Palette 7
As usual, I am putting a lot of quilting on the seasonal piece. I think it is looking good and I guess I need to think up a name for it and stop calling it “the seasonal piece!”
I finished the quilting last week; it took so long because it’s big (32 x 78” finished so I’m working at about 35 x 83”) and I was putting in a lot of stitches, but also because I used so many different threads, so was constantly changing colors and burying ends.
I blocked and trimmed it for the binding over the weekend. Trimming was tricky, as it is so long, and the size requirements are precise! Measure twice and cut once didn’t even feel safe. I measured at least four times. I was up in the air about the finishing – facing or binding? I decided on binding a little larger than usual at 3/8”. That was sewed on yesterday and since when I do the binding I always incorporate the sleeve and the documentation tag into the binding seam, I had to commit to a name for the tag. I settled on “December Dawn”. It is short and to the point.
Now all I have left to do is to finish the hand sewing on the back of the binding, the sides and bottom edges of the sleeve and two edges of the documentation tag, sign it, and it will be DONE!
Here you can see the machine stitched signature and a corner folded back to show part of the documentation tag.
Finished March 14, 2012.
Well, have you enjoyed the journey? Do you want to see what’s next?
Tags: Exhibits, finished, Machine quilting, SAQA, Seasonal Palette
November 19th, 2012 at 11:15 am
I believe this is my very favorite of all the quilts I’ve blog-viewed of yours. I do hope I’ll view it in-person some day. I’ll be with you in the morning to start your next quilt. I loved the journey. Thank you for sharing your talents and inspirations.
November 20th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Thank you loyal Loretta! My stats have tripled with this series of postings but the lack of comments is a bit disheartening. Comments are greatly appreciated! I am glad you are enjoying it.
November 20th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Ruth, I know people are reading/following your blog whether they are commenting or not, but I understand the frustration!
When I saw your threads in the above post, it prompted me to ask a question. Most or all seem to be cotton; is this your preferred type of thread? Are there situations you use poly or rayon (for the sheen)? I generally use poly or rayon but lately have noticed areas I wanted to “push into the background” with cotton, so I have tried to be more purposeful with the thread-painting and quilting.
Martha
November 21st, 2012 at 8:55 am
Ruth, the piece is absolutely stunning! I am not sure if I said so in the past, but I wanted to be sure to say so now.
November 21st, 2012 at 9:19 am
Thanks, Gloria and Martha!
I do use Sulky rayon sometimes, because I have a lot of it, having won the Sulky Challenge in the past, they sent the whole shebang. Mostly I go for color and will use any brand that gives me the color I need at the time. I love the varigated threads for machine quilting. My Bernina doesn’t seem to care what I use, so I just buy what appeals to me and hope it will work in somewhere. Any size.
November 21st, 2012 at 10:09 am
Chuckle-chuckle. What a delightful dilemma to have the whole shebang! I’ll be following the little bulldog construction with amazement, all the while wondering if I could create my beautiful cat.
Martha
November 21st, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Ruth, Spring Dawn is gorgeous. If you hadn’t gotten the copyright okay from the fabric designer, it still would have been gorgeous! Just looking at the layout you have for the Boxer makes me dizzy. You must put your brain through a lot of calisthenics to be able to keep track of all those pieces and which goes down first. Incredible work.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 21st, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Of course you could, Martha!! Thank you Jeanne, there is a method to the madness so it is not as hard as you might think.