Thursday, June 10, 2010

Burning the Midnight Oil

Again!

The Little Folks custom baby quilt is finished, and I must say that although this is a repeat version of a much larger quilt, I still thoroughly enjoyed making it.  Having previous experience in working with the voile fabrics, and knowing exactly how this would turn out, meant that I could relax and just enjoy the process.


I love how the quilting, both hand and machine quilting, has added texture to the front and back of the quilt, without spoiling the detail of the fabric prints and colors.


To machine stitch the straight quilting lines, I used a walking foot and changed the top thread regularly to match the color of the fabric in the quilt top.  The bobbin thread remained unchanged throughout - I used a neutral cream colored thread.  


For the hand quilted lines I used Perle 8 cotton embroidery thread and this time I used a contrasting color to make a feature of the hand stitching rather than blending the thread with the colors of the fabric. 


Although hand stitching (of any kind) is still not my thing I must admit that the hand quilting has added so much character to this quilt.  It was very manageable to add some hand quilting to this baby quilt and  I sure hope that it continues to get easier over time.  I haven't completely given up on that idea yet.


Oh the binding!  The binding is so pretty!  I love how it looks wrapped in blanket stitch. It is a touch of luxury, perhaps not practicality, for a sweet, yet to be born baby.


Now I have to turn my attention to the  laundry baskets of wet and dry clothes (wet/cold weather is causing a backlog!). 

What's next?

47 comments:

  1. Looks amazing and I love the hand quilting details x

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  2. I really like the mixture of hand and machine quilting. The quilt is lovely.

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  3. Just stunning Rita! I agree about the hand quilting... it always adds so much and ends up being well worth the effort.

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  4. So beautiful! I particularly love the blanket stitch over the binding - a really nice "luxury" touch!!

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  5. It's just gorgeous rita! It will be a lucky little baby who gets this. :-) I love the hand quilting and blanket stitching too - a perfect touch.

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  6. What's next indeed!!!
    Your work never ceases to amaze and inspire!!
    Andi :-)

    PS Have you discovered any handy hints for taping down that voile for basting?

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  7. That's a SWEET baby quilt. I really like the contrasting hand-stitching.
    If you decide to take up hand-quilting too, you'll be great at it.
    I started to say that you'll have to get over being able to finish quilts so quickly, but you just might surprise me there, too !

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  8. this is gorgeous. i love that fabric you used for the backing. your hand quilting looks so pretty

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  9. gorgeous. :)

    I love the charm of hand quilting too. I used it on my niece's quilt.

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  10. I've never handquilted with embroidery thread but you've inspired me. It's adds so much depth to the quilt! You did a GREAT job.

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  11. A lucky baby to be wrapped in one of your wonderful quilts. Yes, the binding finish is a terrific look!

    Barb

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  12. oh my GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!

    Just sooo pretty.
    I love everything about it...i've been TRYING to resist ordering that fabric but i do believe you have put me over the edge!

    I'm telling my husband that is it all your fault :)

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  13. oh WOW- yes, the hand and machine quilting together is fabulous! and that binding- stunning!!! what a great baby quilt!

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  14. I absolutely love the hand stitching. It adds a very nice personal touch to the quilt.

    Do you know if the hand quilting around the binding is wash friendly? I want to try that technique but afraid of it not surviving the wash.

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  15. Love, love, love the hand stitching. x

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  16. Such a beautiful quilt. The hand sewing adds so much to the look. The binding...love it. Thanks for sharing. Sharon

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  17. It's really lovely Rita, well worth the midnight oil.

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  18. Last night I saw the post before this when you were putting the quilt together and this morning you have finished! Can't believe it. I have just made a dress/tunic in Little Folks and like you say it really is a dream to work with and feels so beautifully silky. Lucky baby who cuddles up with this!

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  19. That's just beautiful, Rita. I personally love hand embroidery on a quilt. I think it gives it another dimension, a lift that you otherwise don't get. You've done it so simply, which also, personally speaking, let's it shout out for itself x

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  20. Hi Rita,
    How timely you have amazed us with another Little Folks masterpiece - I finally cut into my collection yesterday and it is in strips waiting for stitching tonight when my "little darling" (aka demanding 3 year old) is fast asleep!!!
    What a lucky little baby will be comforted by such a gorgeous quilt.
    Bye for now, Christine

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  21. I love the combination of machine and hand quilting. Lovely!

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  22. I love it! And that's new for me, I never saw binding wrapped in ANY stitch before - nice!

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  23. Being a hand quilter I love the extra touch your hand quilting did with this quilt. Embroidery thread is used in Sashiko quilting and always looks lovely. Lovely work as always.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  24. Love the blanket stitched edging! I'm really looking forward to diving into some hand quilting when I (finally) finish hand piecing the hexagon quilt I'm working on.

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  25. The way you stitched the binding with the blanket stitch is a great detail. Beautiful quilt!

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  26. Such a pretty quilt! Love all of the quilting. I so love the look of hand stitching but am finding that I need to mix it with machine quilting as well to make it feel more do-able. What a great binding treatment too!

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  27. Oh Rita, it's beautiful! I too love the look of the hand quilting with it! You can only dream that it will get easier - stay positive girl!:) And to change the color of the thread- you DO have patience!:)

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  28. What kind of laundry detergent do you use to wash your quilts? Beautiful work as usual and the details of thread colors are fabulous:)

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  29. I love the hand stitches on the binding. I have to say that I am just horrified thinking of what little baby fingers are going to do to them while "exploring." Eeks! I hope they remain as beautiful as they are now! The quilt is great.

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  30. Exquisite. The stitching on the binding is so fun.

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  31. I agree. The handstitching adds such a fun detail...and I think that the contrasting color really gives it a pop.
    The blanket stitching over the binding looks fantastic and your fabric choices are wonderful.
    I love the quilt.
    x
    lori

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  32. The hand quilting adds so much. Another gorgeous quilt!

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  33. i love the hand quilting, but the blanket stich.. OMG what a great idea and outcome!!!

    love love love love it!!!

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  34. All the special touches on the special fabric makes that quilt incredible Rita!

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  35. so beautiful and i love love love your stitches!

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  36. it's lovely, love the idea of blanket stitch over the binding.

    thanks

    Di

    www.quiltitis.blogspot.com

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  37. I just LOVE a bit of hand quilting! Looks great

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  38. Love the hand quilting and the blanket stitch such a great idea.

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  39. I LOVE the hand quilting!! Just pops the quilt up a notch!! Good thinking!!
    Paulette

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  40. Just beautiful - I love some of the fabrics you have used and the back is great as usual!

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  41. So pretty! I wish I had the patience to do hand quilting:) It looks lovely.

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  42. I made a quilt for my granddaughter out of this voile. I also quilted it with perle cotton. I also tried a silk batt, by Hobbs, and I am so pleased with the texture and unbelievable weight of the thing. It was pure pleasure to work with the combination of voile and silk. You might try that for your next baby.

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  43. I love the look of the blanket stitch on the binding! I've come from the opposite directin to you, having hand-quilted everything, and now I'm starting to include a little machine quilting- which I find much harder! I'm hoping to do one of your classes.

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  44. oh yum! The hand quilting really makes the quilt!

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  45. I love the use of contrasting colours in the hand quilting. It's so vibrant and pretty.

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