And speaking of the olympics, did you see the commercial by RONA? Usually I mute commercials or do errands during them, but I watched every second of this commercial each time it came on! You know it's a very creative commercial if I like it...and post it on my blog!
I just love how it shows so many olympic events, incorporates all kinds of "regular" people, and travels across Canada in 30 seconds...starts on the west coast in Vancouver BC, crosses the forests and mountains, over the prairies, through Toronto, and past the CN tower, some Quebec shots, over to the maritimes, and right to the east coast in St. John's, Newfoundland.
What would make the commercial even better is handing over a quilting tool, like a seam ripper or a rotary cutter!
Okay...back to quilting. I have now finished quilting ALL the inside blocks...oh yes I have!! Maybe I was obsessed with this project during the olympics because after 4 1/2 years, I am so close to the finish line...it's a marathon quilt!
My dilemma this week is thatI am quilting the outside white blocks with diagonal lines and don't have enough fabric around the quilt to put in the hoop. My last big hand quilting project was finished two years ago, and I think I just had more backing fabric on it to hold the edge steady in the hoop, because I don't remember struggling with this issue then.
But on this red and white quilt I guess I trimmed the backing too close...lesson learned!
Do you have another suggestion about how you would handle edge quilting?
Hop over to Jo's Country Junction and see what other people are trying out today.
And don't forget the Bowls with Borders blog hop...so fun!
August 14th
20 comments:
I do that same thing when I am hand quilting and get to the edge (what a wonderful feeling to be there, too!), but I usually use an old towel to mimic the thickness of the quilt sandwich and give it more even tension in the hoop.
I have never done an edge yet... or used a hoop when quilting (bad me I know!). I have heard of adding some fabric to the edges so it will fit in the hoop as you get to the edges. Good luck and great job on working the quilting during the olympics.
Omg Kathy, you make me want to learn how to hand quilt. I have some issues with my hands due to health conditions, but I find I can still do the simple embroidery stitches for the stitched quilt blocks I love so much so I think I might try it out on a small project to see how I tolerate it. Also, I did not see that advertisement cause I didn't have the TV channels I needed to watch the Olympics intill the last three days. so thank you for posting the video...I watched it three times, LOL and I'm sure I'll be back to watch it again. Big Hugs...
Your helper is not leading you astray. That is what I would do too. Isn't it a great feeling to be almost done!!
Northern Blog Stalker!!!
I also add a tea towel or a strip of fabric. I have found that some stay stitching along the outside edge also helps alot. Your quilt is really looking wonderful............what's not to like red and white and hand stitching.
great quilt Kathy! and I used to do the same thing when I was a hand-quilter, I even would just pin a scrap of fabric on--faster and still worked.
Your quilt is looking so good. Love how your stitching is adding texture to the quilt. The added fabric on the edge is all I've ever done, although I have to admit after one or two times of fussing with that, I usually remember now. When you're so close to finishing, anything that slows you down is not appreciated!
It's looking great! I sometimes have trouble with that extra scrap of fabric sewn slipping out of the hoop because it is thinner with no backing and batting. I have some commonly used lengths of these scraps ready to attach that are quickly machine quilted. The edge I sew on has no batting or it would be extra thick at that spot, but the rest of it does have batting so it all stays in the hoop evenly. I hope that makes sense...I can explain in email if not!
One more hint for the edge...i have also left my backing about 8" larger so you don't have to attach that extra piece of fabric. This works pretty well too. The extra backing would take the place of your strip of fabric added later.
Thanks for posting the commercial. It must have just played in Canada as I never saw it and I watched as much as I could...great commercial.
I've had this problem before too and I did just what you did. I basted some muslin onto the edges so I could put it into my hoop. After it was finished, I removed the muslin. I should have worked on hand quilting or something like that during the Olympics. Great job. I did a little knitting but not much. I was afraid I'd miss something important if I worked on anything too hard.
I loved that commercial too. Also the ones with the tools doing syncronized swimming. Great tips on the problem with the edges in the hoops. I'll try and that come winter when I pull out the hand quilting - way too hot here for a quilt on my lap
I know they make half hoops, but it looks like you found a way to make yours work. That is a LOT of hand quilting. Congratulations.
Yep, that's what I did for the only quilt I ever hand quilted =^..^= I am so excited for you!!! It's just as much fun watching you finish up a great project as it is finishing up one myself :*) And I loved the commercial - I had not seen it so thanks for sharing!!!
If I did much hand quilting I'd get a half hoop for the borders.
I love the video! LOL...very Canadian...very funny!
Hey Kathy:
I cannot for the life of me quilt in a hoop! I hand baste the quilt all over and just quilt it that way...so no issues with the border that way :-). I've tried several times with embroidery and hand quilting and just can't do the hoop...so much easier with it :-).
Jacqui
oops...should have proofread LOL...should say: "so much easier without it"!!
If you have a small q-snap frame (17x17?) use it but leave off the fourth side clamp. This is what I do...it's still a little awkward but the best I have tried.
Love the commercial. We did see that on here in the States
I usually pin baste a piece of fabric to the edge of the quilt, put my quilt back in the frame and if there is a bit of slack with the fabric, I bring a piece of the fabric that is hanging down from the hoop and then fold it over the hoop edge and then pin it again to itself so that the tension is OK. If this doesn't make sense to you, I can send you a photo.
Love your quilt and the Rona commercial was my favourite of all during the Olympics.
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