Grandma's Embroidered Blocks

Grandma's embroidered blocks quilt is completely finished!

I love the texture the circle quilting adds.

A view of the back.

This is a view of the circles I free handed in the center of the lilac block. Actually that's not too bad!

Of course I added a label.

After the photo shoot, I washed the quilt then partially dried in the dryer. I took it out before it was completely dry then spread it on a sheet upstairs to finish drying.

It has the lovely texture of an antique quilt.

Before quilting, the flimsy measured 68" square, now she measures 64 1/2" square.

And here she is hanging on the wall in the bedroom. Finally, after at least 60 years, these blocks are a finish!

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Oh Scrap, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Almost Finished

I've finished the quilting on row 5 of Grandmother's Embroidered blocks. I also stitched the sashing between the top of the row and the outside border.

You can see the border in the top of the picture.

Lovely daffodils.

Another unknown flower, any ideas?

I was unable to mark the center circle in the lilac block so I just did a free hand circle.

When the quilt is out of the frame, I'll show you the back so you an see how crazy my freehand circle looks.

This tulip is a cutie!

These are Chinese Lanterns.

Last Sunday I said I had a project that was top priority for the week. That project is completed and here's a photo to show you. (I've blocked out the personal information.)

This is a counted cross stitch wallhanging to celebrate the birth of a friend's first grandchild. She did the stitching but didn't want it framed so she asked if I would finish it for her. 

She ok'd the fabrics I pulled and this is what I came up with. I'm very pleased, so was she! It measures 15" by 18".

I've made great progress with the new blogger format. One thing I haven't learned is how to delete a photo from the post. Open for answers here!

 Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi, Bella, Daisy, Connie, Monica and 

Sherrie

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Sunday Stitching Grandma's Embroidered Blocks

We started baling 2nd cutting of hay last week and I wanted to get Modern Amish into the flimsy stage. Hand quilting Grandma's embroidered blocks was not the top priority, the 5th row is not completed. The bottom half of the row is finished, then I rolled after taking the photos.

I'm not pressuring myself to get the quilt finished this week, just have to wait and see how farm work goes. I also have a small project to make for a friend which is my main sewing priority.

Since I have several weekday posts written ahead, I'm going to take the plunge and try out the new blogger format. Hopefully I'll be able to find the post button and post the prepared posts.

Since I can't write posts ahead about my hand quilting, next Sunday will be the premiere post using the new blogger format. If there is no post, then you know the transition isn't going smoothly for me.

It has been interesting to read about the varying experiences with the new blogger. The experiences have ranged from "IT'S A DISASTER!" to "No Problem". I'll let you know which type I am.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Slow Sunday Stitching Progress

Row 4 is finished! I knew Grandma's Embroidered blocks quilt would quilt fast but I'm speeding along faster than I anticipated.

Here are row 4's blocks.

I've had several questions about the circles I'm quilting in the embroidered blocks. I purchased the circle stencil several years ago at the One Stop Shop Hop in Kokomo, Indiana. The vendor was from Ohio but I have no idea where in Ohio.

The information on my stencil says BS177 Circle Echo, 12-1/2" - 32cm. Barbara Siedlecki by QCI, Inc. I googled Barbara's name and it took me to a website. I have no way of knowing if this is the same Barbara or not and I couldn't find any information about quilting stencils.

So I went to The Stencil Company and perused through their stencils. Under Modern stencils I found two circle stencils, a 10" and a 14". Scroll down to the Circles.

Some people asked if it was a spiral, no, I'm quilting a circle but if you scroll down farther, you will find 2 spiral stencils, again in 10" and 14" sizes. I've order the 14" one. 

These are stencils I use in hand quilting, I don't know how they would work in machine quilting. They're a good quality plastic and last for years if taken care of. As you've seen, I hand mine on the wall.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Row 3 Quilted

Last week I showed you the finished row 2. I had finished quilting row 2 earlier in the week, so I rolled and started in on row 3.

Even though this week has been extremely busy with baling hay, I got a lot of hand quilting in. Since my sewing project is a scrappy start and stop project, I don't feel pressured to keep at it. That means more time for hand quilting.

I finished row 3 this week and here are the blocks.

This pansy is so cute!

I don't know what these flowers are.

I especially like this tiger lily.

Are these canterbury bells?

Not sure what these flowers are.

I've rolled and have started quilting on row 4. Since there are 5 rows in this quilt, I'm more than half way finished!!

Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi, Bella, Daisy, Connie, Monica and 

Sherrie

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Still Hand Quilting

The second row of Grandma's Embroidered blocks is completed.

Recently I was asked how I store my quilting stencils so I'm showing you. They're hanging in the to be quilted closet.

I live in a old farm house which has large closets. Most of the closets are wallpapered. 

As you can see, I'm not one to spend time matching seams in a closet and in this closet I used whatever wallpaper was leftover from other wallpapering adventures.

I just pounded nails into a strip of wood and that was good enough. If you do this, make sure you use headless or small headed nails. 

I didn't take a picture of the larger stencils which hang on the wall behind the to be quilted flimsies. 

They are organized by size and whether they're for an individual block or a border.

The circle stencil would ordinarily hang with the large stencils but it's next to the door in case I need it while quilting Grandma's blocks. And I did need it, I missed a circle while marking.

Also stored in this closet is batting but I'm not going to show you that.

Linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Patchwork & Quilts, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday

Another Week of Hand Quilting

Here's the progress on Grandma's Embroidered blocks. I quilted across the row.

Did you see where I missed marking a circle? That is very easy to do. That circle is now quilted and I've rolled.

When I planted impatience in the flowerbed several weeks ago, I discovered a toad who had made his home in the soft soil under daffodil stems.

He's moved and is enjoying the blooms in this viola pot.

Linking to  Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Oh Scrap, Bambi's Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Row 1 Quilted

Row 1 of Grandma's Embroidered blocks is quilted. 

Picture of the whole row.











Pictures of the individual blocks.

I was asked last week about whether I quilt over the embroidery. No, I don't at least I try  not to. I took pictures and will try to explain how I stitch.

I quilted up to the edge of the embroidery. Stick down with the needle just to the side of where the needle came  up and stick under the embroidery. Just take 1 stitch and pull the thread through.

Stitch down and up, just make 1 stitch.

Stitch down slightly off of where you had stitched up.

Turn your wrist to stitch up and push the needle through making sure you come up along the edge of the embroidery.

Here I've stitched across the embroidery to show you what it looks like.

You need to remember this photo is enlarged and the stitch isn't as big as it shows.

 Probably no one would ever notice this stitch if you left it in the quilt. 

I've removed the stitch on top of the embroidery and did the stick down then up under the embroidery.

Hope this answers your questions.

Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi, Bella, Daisy, Connie, Monica and 

Sherrie

Linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching,  Oh Scrap, Bambi's Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away