Hi Everyone! Hope you had a great weekend! Ours was BUSY with three birthday parties, two sleepovers, and going to Wicked. But it was awesome. More on Wicked in my random post on Thursday.
In the midst of all that, I do have something to show for myself in the world of sewing.
I finished the four corner blocks for Month 1. (Yes, I know we are in Month 5 on the calendar...I'm a little behind! These take a long time, and I work on other things in between!) So, this is how the block is starting to look. The pieces are not sewn together yet, but you get the idea. Each of the pieces is 8.5" unfinished and will finish at 8". So, this will be a huge, 24" block when finished. I like how it's turning out!
For these blocks, you do some piecing in the hoop. This off-white piece was pieced in the hoop, then embroidered. The pattern called for these corners to be a different color. I used an off-white, because I wanted it to be really subtle. Maybe I should have gone with a really light grey. Not sure. I even contemplated just using white. I hope I like the result of these off-white pieces scattered throughout the quilt when it's done.
Each of the pieces is already backed and quilted. This is the back of the block. So, this is how it will look from the back when the quilt is finished. Some of the embroidery (for example, the inside portion of the feather tips) are embroidered before you add the back. That's why that part doesn't come through. I really think the back is beautiful.
Here is a close up of the white-on-white quilting on the back. Also lovely. It's not as pretty as it is on the front. The bobbin work is not as smooth as the quilting on the front. Although I'm using the same thread in the bobbin as I do on the front, the texture is a little rougher, too, on the back. I think it's because of the way the bobbin thread loops around the top thread. But it is very pretty still.
Someone asked me in a previsou comment, "So, is this like a quilt-as-you-go technique?" To clarify, yes, that is the technique. Each of these are quilted, and then they will be sewn together (after trimming the batting out from the seam allowances. They are sewn together on the right side, and then I think we will do some sashing on the back to connect them. I am not completely sure. I haven't ever done this before.
I will do a process post for you. I forgot to take process photos of these corner blocks. Sorry. However, these corner blocks weren't representative of the rest of the block, anyway. So, I'll do one when I make the next appliquéd and/or pieced block. The next three blocks I do are "singles." They consist of only an 8" square that has a star embroidered on it....All thread work. So, those won't be representative for a process post either. Hang tight. I will get to it!
I am still enjoying this and am excited to work with some of the other colors I've chosen now.
Until next time,
Wow, what an elaborate block! Looks beautiful!
Posted by: terriaw | May 06, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Looking good! I'll be curious to hear how you like the QAYG method. I've done it before. Even when I was quilting on my domestic machine, I found this technique more trouble than it was suppose to save me. However, I don't think you could do this embroidered quilt any other way, at least not as easily as this method will allow.
Posted by: Lynn | May 06, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Ooh, that's VERY pretty. I'm looking forward to the process post. :)
Posted by: Mary | May 06, 2013 at 02:28 PM
Just amazing quilting again!
Posted by: Amy | May 06, 2013 at 03:36 PM
This quilt is going to be stunning. I'm looking forward to watching your progress and then seeing the whole quilt! Great job!
Posted by: caroll | May 06, 2013 at 08:42 PM
Boy, that's a LOT of work Stephanie -- even by machine. It always cracks me up that people think machine embroidery is so fast and easy. It's going to be beautiful!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | May 07, 2013 at 08:17 AM
Looking so beautiful!!! I really love that white on white quilting, bringing out the colorful star.
Posted by: Amy DeCesare | May 07, 2013 at 04:27 PM
Such beautiful quilting - the star is beautiful too, but I keeping looking at the quilting. I'll keep watching to see how these connect. Really fun project.
Posted by: Linda in Calif. | May 08, 2013 at 10:43 AM
That's beautiful. Looking forward to hearing your comments on putting the block together. I did a similar project years and years ago and putting the blocks together was NOT may favorite part but I read the Hoop Sisters do it and it sounds like a better method.
Posted by: Deb | May 10, 2013 at 01:14 PM
stunning! love the quilting....
Posted by: kathy olkowski | May 10, 2013 at 02:06 PM