Saturday, April 21, 2018

Star Dance & Week 4, Quilting Nearly Insane

The appliqueing has started on the border of Star Dance. I just couldn't decide what to use for the vine but I finally settled on a greenish/brown/yellow batik which I had on hand.

I started sewing the stars for Star Dance in February or March 2017 for RSC. There are so many inspiring projects that quilters are making for the RSC but I want to finish Star Dance before starting another RSC project.

After a long weekend of sewing on my Baby Lock, it felt good to sit and hand quilt Nearly Insane this week. Again I was able to do a full row. And, because someone always asks the size in the comments, the blocks finish at 6".


Left border and the first block.












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Seventh block and right side border.


And a close up of the 7th block. I didn't stitch in the ditch on this block. I used a Baptist Fan design which looks more interesting. The curves are 1/2" apart. 

Linking to Scrap Happy SaturdayKathy's Slow Sunday StitchingQuilting is More Fun than Housework, Show & Tell Monday With Bambi, Em's ScrapbagLove Laugh Quilt, BOM's AwayFiber TuesdayEsther's Wednesday WOW!

23 comments:

grammajudyb said...

I am in awe of hand quilting. I just can't seem to get the hang of it. But your work keeps me coming back to look again and again. Thanks for sharing it here.

Deb A said...

Beautiful progress on your square dance and the Nearly insane. Love seeing the baptist fan stitches in that last block.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

the quilt is looking great and your quilting is perfect for these blocks

scraphappy said...

Your Nearly Insane blocks are amazing. Hand quilting is such a relaxing way to spend the day.

Julie in GA said...

I love the colors you used for the Nearly Insane blocks, and your hand quilting is the perfect finishing touch! What a great inspiration!

gayle said...

Such beautiful blocks! The quilting really makes them shine!
I love quilting by hand, but can only do a little bit each night before my wrists get grumpy with me. I keep pushing on, however - little by little I get it done!

Jo said...

Love the baptist fan block. Was it harder to quilt through all the layers rather than in the ditch.

Gretchen Weaver said...

No, the baptist fan didn't quilt harder. The seams in the block had been trimmed and the seams weren't that close together. I had thought about doing this to the block that had all the squares in it, the 5th picture down of the NI blocks. That would have quilted hard because there would have been a lot more seams.

Gretchen Weaver said...

I've been hand quilting forever. I have no memories of learning to quilt, I have memories though of being 13 or 14 and sitting at the frame quilting.

Gretchen Weaver said...

A little bit every night is better than overdoing it and developing tendonitis.

The Cozy Quilter said...

WOW! You really are nearly insane...but then again, aren’t we all? I love the way you are quilting your blocks. Hand quilting is a great way to revisit all of your blocks.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

I love the fact that each block is quilted different - The Baptist Fan is very nice - oh that 1/2" is a killer! Coming along very nice Gretchen. Star Dance will be another beauty!!! Wish hand work went faster!

CathieJ said...

Your quilting is so pretty. I love watching your progress on Nearly Insane.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Such a beautiful quilt! Your quilting adds such lovely texture to it, too.

Quilter Kathy said...

Great idea to put in a baptist fan design... looks great!

Created by Kathi said...

Love your post today!!! Love your applique decisions too... baptist fan looks great as does your other hand quilting... thanks for the close ups!!! Kathi

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Great quilting, your quilt is going to be amazing!

Aunt 'Reen said...

Congratulations on sewing an entire row this week. Your hand stitches are beautiful.
A wonderful start to the applique border of Star Dance as well.

Rebecca Grace said...

Both of your projects are beautiful! My oldest son is a junior in high school but had no interest in going to his prom this year. I hope he changes his mind next year and asks a girl to his senior prom. I feel like going to prom is something you regret if you skip out on it in high school. Also I think we should have a grownup prom, because there just are not enough opportunities like that for adults!

cocoya said...

Your quilting is so pretty. I love watching your progress on Nearly Insane.

RoyalRuby

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Love your stitching and this has become one of my favorite quilts....yellow and blue.

cocoya said...

Love your post today!!! Love your applique decisions too... baptist fan looks great as does your other hand quilting... thanks for the close ups!!! Kathi
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Sarah Craig said...

Glorious quilting, Gretchen! And I love your appliqué choices, too.