I imagine a whole lot of folks don't count whole cloth quilting as real quilting, but I assure you that as long as that sandwich is in place accompanied by stitches and ties-- it counts! Both of these throws are for good, wonderful friends; one of which I've known since college and the other I've come to know and love in the last six years. They are radically different sorts of people who's tastes are near opposite of each other. For the first, I used Melody Miller's Ruby Star Spring backed with plum coloured voile and for the second I used two voiles: gingham and black (all of which I purchased at Bolt). I wrote up the details on the first over at Bolt Neighborhood, including a quick how-to in case you're wondering if you still have time to put something like this together for gift giving (you do). The second was constructed in nearly the same way and I quilted it in scattered squares using the gingham as a guide.
(The construction is a bit besides the point, as these were both exercises in hand quilting and evening distractions. I used Pearl cotton and gold eye embroidery needles for the quilting. I pinned and hand bound the quilts first, so I skipped the hoop. This was probably a mistake. Incidentally, if you hand quilt, what sort of hoop (brand/size/type) do you use?)
The quilting started out a little rocky, but it was meditative and it took longer than I had thought it might-- which was just fine. As soon as I get to sit down at the end of the day, I generally get a wicked case of restless legs. With the accompanying heartburn, I imagine I look a bit like I'm having a semi-violent seizure trying to stretch without cramping while trying to get comfortable. It is super cute. Handily enough, the symptoms nearly disappear the minute I pick up a needle and thread and begin to sew. I like the print sides of these, but that Pearl cotton makes the solid sides sing a sweet little song. And they are for people that I love which is the most important thing.
I just got one of Alicia's ornament kits to see if I can continue this whole stitch-so-I-don't-twitch thing. I also plan on tackling my 20 year battle with crappy looking french knots. BIG PLANS.
