Back to big stitching -Hawaiian Quilt Style

Earlier this year I was asked to demonstrate my method of hand quilting.  I had been thinking the easiest way to get people hooked was if they could do something that went quickly and looked fabulous.

My idea came about when my hubby noticed a lovely Hawaiian quilt as a prop in a movie.  I started my investigation and thought I would love to try one of these.  Firstly I needed to work out if I was able to do on a smaller scale.  Hence came about my large cushion for the couch.

So back at the start of May I started this as a demonstration and then life and my other projects stopped me from working on it.  I just finished a couple of things this last week so I decided to take a look at this one, just for fun.  I thought it shouldn't take to long to finish and I will then have another project complete.

Found its way to my hoop

this is my Aurifil 12 wt and my Shashiko needle for stitching

After a few needles

adding the echoing around the design

after two rows of echoing around design

A circle in the centre seemed to be fun

echoing of centre circle

starting the inside echo of the design

loving the effect of this coming together

You can see I am having so much fun doing this cushion.  There is no pressure for a finish date just fun fun fun.  At the start of every year I write a list of all of my projects started, and what I would like to start etc. This year I had a list of 29, previous was 20.  Well I did a calculation this week and I have managed to complete 10 quilts, 2 charity ones, plus I have managed to do fmq to a few other little charities for practice. I have done several blocks for swaps and I have managed to complete 4 tops also.  I still have two and a half months left in the year.  I am hoping to be able to complete a lot more in this time.  Today I am linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday.  This is what has been in my hoop today and over the weekend.  Do you love Hawaiian Quilts? Have you tried stitching any?  I would love to here from you so leave a comment and don't forget to follow my blog.

Thanks for the visit and have a fun quilting day

Wendy

Big Stitching Charm Dance

Charm Dance Quilt Top

I would love to share my big stitch quilting adventure with you!  Earlier this year i received a surprise parcel from my very good friend Kathi from http://designoriginalsbykc.blogspot.com.au with a lovely charm pack by Moda called Happy go Lucky!  I stored this pack away to do something with later and another new friend from the States Bobbie Jo asked about doing a charm quilt for her daughter.  I decided the easiest way to do this was to do one myself so out came those charms from Kathi and off I started cutting and piecing with my Kona from my Kona Club to get the top above.  I love to use the Aurifil 50 wt for piecing and I always piece with grey thread, I have a light, medium and dark grey and it blends beautiful and helps me piece so much better.

Trial of quilting idea

flower now taking shape

happy with this flower for my template

Whilst I am making a top I always consider my quilting design.  I had decided an overall pattern would be good, I find playing with a drawing app which I can take a photo of my quilt into and then just doodle different designs on helps with this process.   I needed to make this quilt and have it quilted quickly.  This brings me to my new love in hand quilting - the BIG STITCH or utility quilting.  I love to use Aurifil 12 wt for these projects.  This quilt measures 53" which will be a good lap size quilt.  I recently quilted a single bed size quillow also in big stitch and had it completed in 2 weeks and who said hand quilting takes forever.  I am using a Shashiko smaller needle and it makes quilting a breeze, I also use a clover adjustable thimble, one for my thumb to quilt away from me and one for my middle finger so I can quilt towards me.

choosing thread colour for backing purposes

choosing thread colour for quilt top purposes

So I have my quilting design all ready to go with the flower and I will just wing some swirls between those flowers to connect it all together and make sure the quilting is all around the same amount of denseness.  I am then deciding on the right colour for the job.  My thoughts this time was between a lemon or a white thread.  I ended up choosing the lemon as it just seemed to give more warmth to this project and blended well with the back as with the front.  I want my design to pop so I don't want to hide my stitches.

starting of quilting

flower and loops beginning 

halfway through within a few days and getting ready for the happy dance

last night before bed the last row of stitching waiting for me

So this morning I woke to the last row of stitching.  This quilt will be finished today with the binding hand stitched down tonight.  If you would like to see how I do this I have a blog tutorial here

I am linking this with Sew simple Saturday with Sew and Sow Farm and with Kathy's slow stitching Sunday  Be sure to check them out and make sure you follow me as I have lots of exciting news to come in the next few weeks.  

So until next time have a wonderful day and keep on smiling and stitching up a storm,

Wendy

Fun coasters

I had lots of fun this morning making these coasters!

So much fun in fact I thought it only fair to share how I made them, so here are my notes:-

Firstly I cut out six cirlces from my cream Kona solid and six cirlces of my fun print.  I also cut six circles from a thin wadding.  The circles were 5.5".  I then used a gathering stitch and gathered the edge of the circle to pull the raw edges inward.  I placed the batting within the bottom circle and pressed it flat.  

I then did the same gathering on the plain Kona fabric and then placed it over the bottom so a small amount of the base was showing.  I then pinned the centre.

After this I used 12wt Aurifil mako thread and did some fun big stitch quilting in the shap of a flower after I had stitched all around the circle.

Just like this

And here are my finished coasters which I have posted to my swap buddy.  I have some coasters on the way to me and they should be here next week, I can't wait to receive them. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday. Please leave a comment on how your Wonderful Wednesday I would love to hear!

Until then, have a fun day

Wendy