The hand quilting on my blue churn dash quilt continues and the first churn dash row is completed.
The churn dashes are stitched in the ditch, then I'm adding curves to the sides of the HST's.
The inset triangles are quilted with a different design. It does leave a slight unquilted area along the edge but I think it looks fine. I'm not a person who thinks a quilt needs to quilted into submission.
In between the churn dash blocks are white squares. There are six squares in a row. Two of the squares have been quilted. If I quilt a square a day, this row will be finished by next Sunday.
I was asked by several commentators what do I use to mark the quilt.
The main marking was done before I put the quilt in the frame with a light silver marking pencil. Years ago, my mother gave me a box of Berol Verithin #753 silver pencils. I've used these pencils for years and they are down to the nubs. Two years ago I purchased a box of Prismacolor Verithin Agent Metallique #753 Metallic Silver pencils at an Amish fabric store. At fabric stores I do see individual silver marking pencils for sale, but it takes several pencils to mark a quilt. I don't like to stop to resharpen a pencil when I'm marking the quilt. I sharpen many pencils so I can mark the whole quilt without stopping. The silver pencils work well on dark fabric too.
After the quilt was in the frame and I had quilted the white border, I decided to add the straight lines. The same with the curves in the HST's. To mark on the white fabric, I'm using fine point, water soluble blue marking pen which was purchased at JoAnn Fabrics. I don't mark heavily with it, just a faint line is enough for me to see to quilt. After the quilting is completed, I spray the quilting with water. The blue marking disappears. The blue fabric is marked with a Sewline white chalk mechanical marking pencil. The chalk marking wears off as the quilting continues. The white marker is not good for marking a whole quilt before quilting, the marking will wear off. Trust me on this, it happened to me. I could have used the silver pencil to marked the additional lines for both the white and blue fabric, but I find it difficult to mark the quilt with the pencil when the quilt is in the frame. Most of the pictures in this post were taken when it was dark outside. Some of them are not the greatest pictures. Linking to - Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Em's Scrapbag, Love Laugh Quilt,Show & Tell Monday with Bambi, Fiber Tuesday, Esther's Wednesday WOW!, Crazy Mom Quilts
I assume you mean the white square. I didn't time myself but I estimate maybe it was an hour? I'll probably pick up some speed after I've done several of them. They are time consuming but I'm excited to be quilting feathers again. I think they just add so much to this quilt.
Thank you so much for the marking info. I always feel that I am flying by the seat of my pants when marking, but the fact that you mark before and after placing in the quilt frame and also mark with several different tools makes me more confident in my choices. I have never seen the mechanical chalk marker. I will have to look for that. Your quilting is very pretty.
Love the Churn Dash block and the quilting you are doing. Thanks for the marking info I have been looking for other methods and the silver pencil intrigues me.
I know I've seen them individually at JoAnn fabrics. Marking a quilt top isn't my favorite thing to do so when I do get started, I want to keep marking.
I'm fortunate we have so many quilting stores around in my area. I purchased several new stencils for this quilt. The one I showed today in the white square was one of them. The next row will have a different new to me stencil in it. It's fun to see how they turn out.
It must be difficult quilting in the ditch by hand or perhaps you are stitching on the high side? Clever and pretty curved quilt design on the churn dash. I completed a churn dash quilt and did plain old outline quilting. Thanks for the detailed explanation on marking the quilt; it probably benefitted others. I think I have a silver Berol pencil somewhere. It was bought a long time ago at a quilt show. Wish I had more. Best wishes for meeting your goal this week.
Stitching in the ditch while hand quilting is easy. I always stitch on the side the seam is pressed away from. When I machine quilt with my sewing machine, I do it the same way. I agree, just SID on the churn dash is boring but I wasn't sure until the block was quilted. That is why I waited to add the markings until the quilt was in the frame. Sometimes I'm not sure how it will look until it is quilted. Thanks for your comments.
I've never read such an informative blog on marking........thank you, thank you.......I have always been afraid of the blue markers but always WANT to try. Thanks for the encouragement . If you can use them on hand pieces....I can try them on my longarming!
I just mark lightly enough that I can see the marking. If you mark the whole quilt, it would probably be easier to throw the quilt in the washer to remove the markings.
OK. When is the next quilting class? LOL Beautiful Gretchen. I have a box of the pencils. Bought them from the art supply shop. Will try them. Also bought them in white. Probably take about 2 weeks before I get my frame up.
There is always something in the process we don't like. Marking the quilt is one of them. I guess I was so eager to get this quilt in the frame, the marking went fast. I had been planning for months which stencils I wanted to use.
This is such a beauitful quilt Gretchen and your quilting is so beautiful to see, what an incrediable hand quilter you are, such a pleasure to watch this quilting grow, Id never tirer of seeing close ups of your work. Thanks so much for sharing, so looking forward to next week. Cheers Glenda
You are making great progress with your quilting. How long does it take to quilt a block? Thanks for the marking info. I struggle with this.
ReplyDeleteI assume you mean the white square. I didn't time myself but I estimate maybe it was an hour? I'll probably pick up some speed after I've done several of them. They are time consuming but I'm excited to be quilting feathers again. I think they just add so much to this quilt.
DeleteThank you so much for the marking info. I always feel that I am flying by the seat of my pants when marking, but the fact that you mark before and after placing in the quilt frame and also mark with several different tools makes me more confident in my choices. I have never seen the mechanical chalk marker. I will have to look for that. Your quilting is very pretty.
ReplyDeleteThere are different colors of the chalk sticks for the marker, I just stick with the white.
DeleteI haven't used the silver pencils but use the blue wash out and the white mechanical pencils all the time. Love the quilt!
ReplyDeleteLove the Churn Dash block and the quilting you are doing. Thanks for the marking info I have been looking for other methods and the silver pencil intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteI know I've seen them individually at JoAnn fabrics. Marking a quilt top isn't my favorite thing to do so when I do get started, I want to keep marking.
DeleteYour quilting is making these blocks just shine!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSuch a beautiful quilt! I love how you are quilting it. The deciding on a quilting pattern is my downfall...... I can never think of what to do.
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate we have so many quilting stores around in my area. I purchased several new stencils for this quilt. The one I showed today in the white square was one of them. The next row will have a different new to me stencil in it. It's fun to see how they turn out.
DeleteOoooo I love the design in the white blocks!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your experience with marking!
Marking a quilt for quilting is something I put off, it just isn't fun. It helps to have the right tools.
DeleteYour hand quilting is beautiful! Such perfect stitches! Thank you for sharing your marking tools.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I blog. I learn so much from other quilters. I'm glad I could give back.
DeleteBeautiful quilting!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWow, this is such a lovely, sweet quilt. You are making great progress. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I know this isn't a scrappy quilt but it's what I'm working on.
DeleteIt must be difficult quilting in the ditch by hand or perhaps you are stitching on the high side? Clever and pretty curved quilt design on the churn dash. I completed a churn dash quilt and did plain old outline quilting. Thanks for the detailed explanation on marking the quilt; it probably benefitted others. I think I have a silver Berol pencil somewhere. It was bought a long time ago at a quilt show. Wish I had more. Best wishes for meeting your goal this week.
ReplyDeleteStitching in the ditch while hand quilting is easy. I always stitch on the side the seam is pressed away from.
DeleteWhen I machine quilt with my sewing machine, I do it the same way. I agree, just SID on the churn dash is boring but I wasn't sure until the block was quilted. That is why I waited to add the markings until the quilt was in the frame. Sometimes I'm not sure how it will look until it is quilted. Thanks for your comments.
Beautiful, beautiful quilt !
ReplyDeleteLove the hand quilting... love the quilt.... please start teaching classes!!
ReplyDeleteI've never read such an informative blog on marking........thank you, thank you.......I have always been afraid of the blue markers but always WANT to try. Thanks for the encouragement . If you can use them on hand pieces....I can try them on my longarming!
ReplyDeleteI just mark lightly enough that I can see the marking. If you mark the whole quilt, it would probably be easier to throw the quilt in the washer to remove the markings.
DeleteBeautiful quilting
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOK. When is the next quilting class? LOL
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Gretchen. I have a box of the pencils. Bought them from the art supply shop. Will try them. Also bought them in white. Probably take about 2 weeks before I get my frame up.
WOW!!! Your quilting is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilting! I, too, am a hand quilter and I LOATHE marking my quilts. Unfortunately, I'm not enough of an artist to quilt without markings...
ReplyDeleteThere is always something in the process we don't like. Marking the quilt is one of them. I guess I was so eager to get this quilt in the frame, the marking went fast. I had been planning for months which stencils I wanted to use.
DeleteThis is such a beauitful quilt Gretchen and your quilting is so beautiful to see, what an incrediable hand quilter you are, such a pleasure to watch this quilting grow, Id never tirer of seeing close ups of your work. Thanks so much for sharing, so looking forward to next week. Cheers Glenda
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilting Gretchen!! I have never seen the silver pencils before. Thanks for the making info.
ReplyDeleteWhere can I purchase those Berol silver pencils? I need something to mark on dark fabrics that will wash out but not rub off like chalk does.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
Vicky