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Anyone who knows me even a little bit, knows that I love to hand quilt. I do all the planning, cutting, piecing, and basting, just to get to the hand quilting. I do not love to piece quilts...unless they are hand applique, but my love of hand quilting is strong enough that I suffer through it to get me to my goal. Years ago, Sweetheart built me a wonderful quilting frame. I had ordered a kit that came with the hardware, and he crafted the actual frame. It has been in storage for 10 years, but inspired by Karen, I asked Sweetheart to drag it out. It needed to be cleaned up, for sure!.JPG)
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Now where to put it?? There is no way it will fit in my sewing room. We decided the living room would be the best place for it. This meant I would need to rearrange the entire room to make it work. It was quite fun! 
This is the quilt I decided to put in the frame......JPG)
It is the very first quilt I made (that was not tied) and it is still a UFO. It is also hand pieced and all the hearts are quilted, and now it is just needing cross hatch...every inch.....
One of the reasons a frame has not worked for me is, I can not quilt away from myself or to the right. This requires quilting with your thumb or a paddle thimble (which is what Karen uses). Straight lines are fine, but a curve of any kind would require me to quilt in all 4 directions. I am only a "to the left" and "toward myself" quilter. Well no more! I plan to practice my thumb quilting on this quilt. If it does not work, I will order a paddle thimble.
Now this is a 3 roller frame, but since my quilt was already basted, I only needed 2 rollers. To see a quilt loaded on a 3 roller frame, (no need to baste), check out this post at Karen's blog.
I am sure the baskets will not make it onto the frame, as I will not have perfected my 4 directional quilting skills in time, but I am hoping to put the Underground Railroad Sampler on there in the beginning of the new year!In the meantime I will practice on the Irish Chain and complete the oldest UFO in history! The baskets are coming along, though I am now uncertain of the design. It is appearing VERY busy. What a mess. I need to think on it. I do know the name of it will be
"Basket Case!".JPG)
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18 comments:
Bren, your stitching is amazing. However, your patience is that of Job's. Beautiful workmanship. TY for sharing your beautiful quilts. I love looking at them. TTFN ~Marydon
Bren wow you really were serious. I'm so pleased that I helped inspire you to get your frame out. I have tried a lot of different kinds of thimbles over the years to use with my thumb besides the paddle thimble, you might want to try out these also:
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tools/ThimblePad_______________D80561.html
or
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tools/UltraThimble______________D81703.html
more are listed at the connectingthreads web site, look at thimbles and see what all pops up. I had a hard time with the adhesive sticking but it might work for you, make sure you clean off whatever finger you want to use with alcohol before sticking it on.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Basket case, how funny!
Your stitches are perfect and the quilt frame fits nicely in your living room. Looks like you have good lighting in there too, that's a plus! Now I've got to go back to see what that paddle thing is??
Basket Case! That's awesome! That quilt frame is HUGE! Thankfully you have the space! Keep us posted how your 'practicing' goes :)
Wow, what a great frame, it's huge!
I just love that you make these gorgeous quilts, you are amazing!
Bren~ What a wonderful quilt frame, may you enjoy many hours working on what I know you love to do.
Blessings,Joann
Nice quilt frame, pretty quilt and the quilting is terrific. I tried to do some hand quilting but can't quite get the hang of it. I will keep trying though.
Oh my, your quilt frame is beautiful! Have fun quilting!
I just love the name Basket Case! That is so me on many days. :0)
Wow! Your hand stitching is beautiful! I'm just the opposite - love the piecing but don't like the quilting part of it. Isn't it funny how we're all different?
Haven't heard from you in a while. Hope you'll come by and see me!
God bless you - Julie
Wow big frame...it would never fit in my little house LOL. Just seeing your stitches makes my fingers itch to quilt.
Have you tried laying the blocks out and putting that sage fabric behind to see if it calms down with the green tris? This might help.
Crispy
I had one of these frames and gave it away to my SIL. I just couldn't get the knack for loading and trying to quilt it. Nowadays, I love my PVC quilt frame and oval lap hoop. Whatever works for you is the way to go, but it doesn't hurt to try something different. Love your handquilting .... it is delightful!
I just think you're so awesome! Someday I hope to be able to this...
Wow, does that bring back memories, both the quilt and the frame!
I use a metal ring thimble stretched to fit my thumb properly since I quilt with the pad of my thumb, it works great.
I can't get my big frame out right now, but hearing about yours makes me want to get the samll one out for some of this hand quilting I have to do. It will also make it easier to quilt when the weather is warmer and/or more humid....hmmmmm.....maybe I have a project I didn't anticipate for today!
I am literally sitting here with my mouth open......about the wonderful quilting frame your hubby made for you, about your beautiful livingroom, and how the frame fits in perfectly without interrupting the lovely flow of the room, and the beautiful Irish chain quilt and your hand quilting! WOW! Your work is stupendous! I have not hand quilted and I guess the closest thing to it is I embroider...I should try hand quilting a small piece....maybe I'll try on the one I just designed (but that's not so small). Anyways, our quilt store does offer classes so maybe that's in my future!!! Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for sharing your wonderful pictures!!!!! Happy Quilting!!
How wonderful!! Not only are you working on some new-to-you skills, you were able to find a way to put that beautiful frame your husband made into your home! Sounds like a win-win situation to me. I think it's a beautiful addition to your living room, and how fun to have a current project displayed this way.
What a wonderful gift from your husband! I've not hand quilted at all. I'm amazed at your craftmanship! Gorgeous.
I really like your "Basket Case", I tend to like busy quilts. Have fun with that quilting frame. Hubby did a fantastic job in the making of your frame. I have never mastered quilting away from myself and to the right either. I don't have a place to leave my frame up, so I guess I will remain happy with quilting in a lap hoop. Have fun with your frame!
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