Namibia Trees - Quilting Detail
Quilts

Namibia Trees {Quilting Detail}

I really loved how the quilt top for Namibia Trees turned out, and I wanted to spend more time thinking about the quilting than I normally do. Instead of an all-over quilting design, I wanted to do something a bit more around the tree panels themselves. I have never really quilted a meandering, rounded, stipple pattern, so why not start by doing tiny stippling on a quilt that you really want to love (*eek, no pressure*)?!?!? Well, it seemed like the right thing to do, so before I could second guess myself, I jumped right in.

Namibia Trees - Quilting Detail

Namibia Trees – Quilting Detail

Because this is a larger quilt (roughly 57 inches square), I started quilting in the middle and worked my way out to keep the backing as flat and un-puckered as possible. Which meant I was quilting the middle focal block at the beginning, yikes! I wanted to change the quilting pattern up for the borders around the tree blocks, and I changed the quilting again for the extra border around the focal / middle block.

Namibia Trees - Quilting Detail

Namibia Trees – Quilting Detail

I did not really give myself time to stop and think too much as I did the first row of quilting. When I finished the row and pulled it off the machine to look at and photograph, I was really excited and happy with how it was looking! Next, I added quilting detail into the borders around the center row of blocks. I chose to use the meandering leaf / vine pattern that I practiced this weekend and featured in Part II of my Free Motion Quilting Tutorial.

Namibia Trees - Quilting Detail

Namibia Trees – Quilting Detail

I then added quilting detail to the remaining blocks before finishing up the meandering leaf / vine. I am really loving how this quilt is coming together, and seeing the quilting pop on the backing is really rewarding.

Namibia Trees - Quilting Detail (Backing)

Namibia Trees – Quilting Detail (Backing)

Namibia Trees - Quilting Detail (Backing)

Namibia Trees – Quilting Detail (Backing)

Namibia Trees - Quilting Detail (Backing)

Namibia Trees – Quilting Detail (Backing)

Today I am going to work on putting on the binding. I think I will be entering this quilt into my local fair (the deadline for registration is July 12th, so I don’t have too long to make up my mind for that).

Linking up to WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

11 thoughts on “Namibia Trees {Quilting Detail}

  1. That tiny stipple looks so great. It really makes the branches pop out of the quilt beautifully! I think you should definitely enter your quilt 🙂

  2. Liz says:

    Your quilting is fantastic! I like quilts that change it up for different components, and yours is a great example. Did you have to start and stop a lot though?

  3. Renee says:

    It turned out great! I love all the different textures the quilting added.

  4. Vera says:

    It is looking great. Love the texture and colors.

  5. andpins says:

    Yes, enter the quilt in the fair! I love the texture and visual interest that the quilted added to an already awesome quilt. Nicely done.

  6. Anne says:

    That turned out beautifully!! Definitely enter it into the fair. I love your quilting choices. 🙂

  7. mskhofhinn says:

    Oh I love the quilting on that. Glad you went with your first instinct!

  8. Kate says:

    This is fantastic. What a beautiful quilt and what excellent FMQing on it. I really love the leafy pattern, perfect choice for a quilt of trees!

  9. Carol says:

    Love those trees, love the orange, and the quilting is impressive.

I really appreciate the time and thought you take to comment, and I look forward to conversing with you. :)