I’ve made more progress on quilting than just the center block, but I think describing the process of quilting the center block will explain why quilting the Rainbow Improv Exposed Seams quilt might take me a bit of time.
Center Block Quilting – Central Spiral
I used the Coming Up for Air mini quilt to test out how I wanted to quilt the center. The biggest challenge was marking the center of the block and getting started: the spiral starts at just ⅛” off of center line. The spiral lines are spaced ½” apart. I used 50wt Aurifil 3817 (Marrakesh) on the top and in the bobbin, which is a rainbow variegated thread. Once I got to the edge of the pieced circle, I quilted around the full perimeter to close off the motif.
Center Block Quilting – Central Spiral on Quilt Backing
A quick photograph of how the spiral looks on the back of the quilt hopefully helps illustrate the perimeter quilting and “closing off” of the motif.
Center Block Quilting – Background Quilting Dropped Stitch
And just like the Topsy-Turvy mini quilt, I chose to outline and then echo quilt the corners of the center block. It’s not so much that my machine dropped a stitch in the detail photograph above, but I should have continued quilting one more stitch forward echoing along the curve before pivoting to quilt along the edge of the block.
Center Block Quilting – Background Quilting Fixed
I opted to remove a few quilting stitches and fix that spot.
Center Block Quilting
And just like that, the first of 25 quilt blocks is quilted! Note that I am planning on consistently using a different quilting motif on each print. In other words, the background print here will always have quilted echoes, another background print will have zig-zags, a third will have horizontal lines, etc. So part of the slowness of making progress following this block has been thinking through what quilting motif I want to use for the remaining prints. I’m currently finalizing the motifs for the final 2 background prints. I do plan to switch over to my free motion quilting foot and free motion quilt for a few prints, which will speed up the process compared to the labor intensive walking foot motifs I’ve selected so far that required a decent amount of thread tie offs and thread burying.
I am really enjoying the quilting process, though. I think the texture is going to be well worth the time I put into it!
Small spirals like that are tough – yours looks great!
What amazing progress already – not just what you’ve done in the center, but with your plans for the other areas. So glad you are enjoying it.
You are off to a great start. Having done one quilt with a walking foot, I know how hard it is to get perfectly regular lines. You are definitely a master at it. Even if it’s a slow process, it will definitely be worth it in the end.
I was looking at my pink quilt the other day that I made in your QAL (I think it was a QAL—Wayward Transparency) many years ago which I use in my daily yoga practice. It has spiral quilting across the entire surface, done on my DSM with my walking foot, and yep it takes a long time, but is so effective. Your centre block is looking great, and what a nice way to tackle the quilting, one block at a time.
I always like — when I read your blog — to be reminded of how the small things (like a dropped stitch, and extended line) make such a difference. I tend to say whatever! and keep on going, but the nature of your work and the way you work, is to pay attention to those details. Lovely, just lovely!
(Sorry I haven’t been commenting on your posts this past little while. Life was intense, but I did keep up my reading. You are an inspiration.)
This is incredible. One thing I’ve been reminding myself a lot, especially in the sewing corner of life, is “what’s the rush?” It’s inspiring to feel that vibe from others too, the “take it slow, enjoy the process, let the fabric tell you what it wants to do” kind of thing. (Not all the time, maybe! Some days I do like to slam the pedal to the floor…that’s what leader-ender projects are for, imho!)