I had just enough Kona Cotton Nightfall to piece the top for Pulsar. When I finished piecing the quilt top, I decided to order more Nightfall for the backing, but since I was placing a fabric order, I went ahead and thought about what project I want to work on next. I plan to make a second version of Sesen, so I spent a few days honing the color palette for the next version before placing my order. I also went ahead and color matched all the thread that I would need for quilting both projects and placed an order for all of that at the same time.
So for a few weeks, I had Pulsar taking up my design wall. Early this week, I realized that I could do myself (and my back!) a favor by pre-marking all of my reference lines for the Pulsar quilting plan with my Hera marker while the quilt top was on my design wall.
Pulsar – Marking Quilting Lines
Some of the lines I needed to mark required the use of my OLFA 6″ x 24″ ruler, so learning how to have good muscle control with my left hand while marking the lines with the Hera marker in my right hand took a little bit of getting used to, but I am so happy that I didn’t have to do this while crawling around on the floor!
Pulsar – Marking Quilting Lines
Seeing the quilting plan marked out on the quilt top, I’m really excited to dig in and get this quilt basted and quilted! I expect the quilting process will take me several weeks.
Gramercy by Kitty Yoshida for Benartex
In terms of fabric, I also don’t have enough of any of the pieced fabrics for the binding, so I shopped my stash and found this old print that I picked up years ago in a quilt shop. It’s by Kitty Yoshida for Benartex and has all the colors of the piecing elements. To help me decide if it would make a good binding, I mocked it up using Inkscape.
Pular – Binding Evaluation
I think it could work. I like that the plaid lines are set on point, which matches the feeling and shapes of the quilt top. What do you think, would this work or should I keep looking for something else (likely a solid or blender)?
This is such a pretty quilt, Yvonne. I think the binding works; it ties into the pulsar colors without distracting from it. I would imagine doing all that marking standing up is much easier than on your knees. I have trouble seeing hera marks at times, so I’m impressed you can mark a large quilt and still be able to see them!
Hi Yvonne, at first glance I thought how pretty and unusual that would be for your quilt. Then I thought hmmm, I wonder. To be honest I have a love/hate thing with it. I just go back and forth. I like that the colors work. I really like how different and unique it is. But then I look and wonder again. I’m just not sure. How’s that for a non-answer? I think in the end it would work but I think I solid would probably be prettier. Take this all with a grain of salt.
I love the plaid!
I love this quilt! It really does “pulse” while looking at it. The binding adds to it, rather than being a distraction. Nice work!
Love that you did some marking on the wall! I wold normally love such a binding but I think it might be a bit distracting. It would surely work and depending on the quilting colors, it might look better with lines that are quilted some of those colors but I am thinking you are not using bright colors on the background….but I could be wrong. Anyway, sometimes we really can’t tell with binding until the quilt is done. Good luck with the quilting and glad you saved your back a bit!
I think the binding choice almost adds a ‘shimmer’ to the edge-I like it!
I’m looking forward to seeing this quilted. Great idea to mark while on a design wall!
Doing all that marking has to be easier when it’s on vertical! I’m undecided on the binding. If you don’t have enough of any one color, do you have enough of the solids in the center to piece a graduated binding?
I think that print is perfect for the quilt! I like the way it looks against the dark blue. But I’m also a little bit crazy about borders. With few exceptions, I can’t seem to make a quilt without one! (a little OCD here?) The quilt is lovely but I’d have been compelled to add a strip of the yellow (to complement the star) with a strip of dark blue, stitched them together and added it as a border, blue edge against the binding. Just can’t help myself!
I love a plaid/checked binding. Go for it.
I am amazed that your hera marker lines hold for long enough to sew them. I guess using solid-coloured fabrics helps. I use my hera just before I am about to sew, and I have to really concentrate to see the lines on patterned fabrics.
Pretty cool how you were able to mark your quilt while it was still on the design wall. I tried that the other day, after seeing your post, and wasn’t nearly as successful, ha! But something to keep dabbling with for sure.
This quilt is going to be so fabulous when quilted, it’s going to have the most amazing texture!
Pretty smart to mark your lines on the vertical but you must have really strong arms! LOL As for the binding, I like the print – it brings all the colours together, but a solid would eliminate the hard stop and allow the pulsing to continue (not sure if you know what I mean ).
I really like how you mark the top on the wall for quilting. I never would have thought of that but I’d like to try it. thanks for sharing. About the binding, while the fabric you have certainly has all the right colors, I think you should match the blue background so as not to distract and detract from the Pulsar design.