Garden Peony {Quilting Progress}

This week, I was so grateful for past Yvonne taking the time to make better circle templates to mark out quilting reference lines. It made preparing Garden Peony for quilting a one afternoon activity. Yay!

Garden Peony – Marking

I used the 1″, 2″, 3″, 4″, and 5″ quarter circle templates that I created in combination with a straight ruler and my Hera marker to map out the lines I needed based on my pre-determined quilting plan. I like to mark out all my quilting reference lines prior to basting my quilt. I lay my quilt top on top of the batting I will use and make sure that I’m working on top of a hard surface. The batting allows the quilt top to flex a bit and the hard surface lets the Hera marker do its job and create a nice, strong crease that is pretty long lasting.

Garden Peony – Basted

Getting the marking and basting done in one afternoon was a big move forward in progress. Two things to note in my basting photo:

1. I like to pin baste the batting to the backing outside of the quilt top. This is a great way to keep the backing fabric from shifting AND from flipping under to be accidentally quilted.
2. I rotate my basting pins. Every other pin is horizontal, and the ones in between are vertical. This is yet another way to keep the fabric from shifting.

Garden Peony – Quilting Progress

Quilting has been going slow and steady all week. I work from the center of the quilt outward, and I’ve been changing out the threads I’m using. I’m using a slightly smaller stitch length than I normally would for walking foot quilting. I normally like to use around 3-3.5mm but for Garden Peony I’m using 2.4-2.5mm. I opted for a smaller stitch length to help make the smaller, tighter curved quilting lines smoother and better defined.

Garden Peony – Free Motion Quilting

I will definitely have Garden Peony finished this weekend. I’m working on the free motion quilted back and forth lines in the remaining spaces to help give the quilting some additional definition and pop. My mantra right now is just keep quilting!

What will you be working on this weekend?