Sunday, October 30, 2016

Slow Stitching Sunday

Welcome to Slow Stitching Sunday where we make time to slow down our lives, to breathe deeply, to pick up a needle and thread, and take some slow stitches. 
"Grandma, let's have a slow day to read and quilt"

I have been reading a book called "In Praise of Slow" by Carol Honoré. Here is my favourite quote so far:
"In this media-drenched, data-rich, channel-surfing, computer-gaming age, we have lost the art of doing nothing, of shutting out the background noise and distractions, of slowing down and simply being alone with our thoughts." I must admit that I really cannot fathom doing "nothing", but I am often alone with my thoughts while stitching and enjoy the peacefulness of silence.

I have been slowly hand quilting my reproduction bow tie quilt, and enjoying every stitch. These blocks were from Barb's block swap last year.  It is fun to quilt through each bow tie, and to admire the fabrics. Primarily I am quilting with brown thread but sometimes I change to blue or maroon or yellow just to make it more interesting to stitch.


This is the corner of the quilt that I hope to finish today. I try to hand quilt at least one bow tie block each day. It doesn't take long and usually it is so enjoyable that I don't stop after one! After all these years, I still love to admire the texture that hand quilting creates!




What are you stitching by hand today? Link up your blog post below and share your slow progress with us!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

26 comments:

The Cozy Quilter said...

I can see why you can't stop after just one bow tie! I cat wait to get my blocks back from this year's swap. Maybe they will arrive in the mail this week...

CathieJ said...

Your quilting looks beautiful. I love that you switch up the threads. I agree that doing "nothing" bothers me. My doing nothing is often reading or crafting. I find peace with both.

Jo said...

That's a lovely quilt. You are doing great with the quilting

Gretchen Weaver said...

Your quilt is beautiful, she looks so cozy and comforting. I agree with the statement, you can't stop with just one. I know when I have a quilt in the frame to hand quilt, I try to quilt at least 15 minutes a day. Often that 15 minutes turns into an hour. Blessings and have a peaceful day! villacrestfarm@gmail.com

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

Love your bowtie quilt - maybe because I made one too and now it belongs to someone else and it is not in my house :( I will be getting in a few hand quilting stitches today and maybe some glue basting.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

The beautiful texture is really showing up in these shots! :)

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

The beautiful texture is really showing up in these shots! :)

Vroomans' Quilts said...

It really is coming along so beautifully.

Karen said...

I haven't hand quilted in a while but like you, I would set a daily goal and always end up doing more than the goal.

Deb A said...

What sweet bow ties! I think that will be one of my blocks for the RSC next year. Your stitches are always so lovely to see. Thanks for the reminder to slow down each week.

Marie said...

I thought that your quote was bang on - we seem intent on cramming too much into our time and then always feel like we aren't far enough ahead. I really try to avoid that with my quilting and just enjoy every step of the process. It doesn't always work, but most of the time it does - just a peaceful (or is that pieceful?) and productive passage of time.

Deb said...

I just love the bow tie quilt, your layout is so unique to those I have seen. Enjoy your slow stitching.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I love your bowtie quilt, and the hand quilting you are doing is just perfect for it. Thanks for the inspiration!

Karen in Breezy Point said...

I agree--I could never do nothing! I'm working on enjoying the moments and not rushing the "process"--sometimes it's difficult though!

CecileD said...

Hello again Kathy ! Your quilt is sooo cute and what fun to participate to this swap ! Congratulations !
I can't wait to discover the new blocks for the new swap !

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

I love that you make a small goal and then outdo yourself! In today's crazy world we do need to top and take a few stitches. Our election is coming up and I have my fill and hope to take a few stitches today.

Sarah said...

Your hand quilting is amazing. It's a lovely quilt and the grand dog seems to like it to! đŸ˜¬

Susan said...

I agree. Some things we never get tired of, and seeing hand quilting is one of mine, too. I love the texture, and the way it scrunches up when you use cotton batting, which I always do. Beautiful bow-tie quilt.

Denise :) said...

I agree -- blocking out all the external and just "being" can be very refreshing. If you can manage it!! Your hand quilting is coming along! It's my favorite, too! :)

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I did some slow stitching today, I just didn't have time to blog about it. Have fun with your bow ties.

Janet O. said...

Okay, you have convinced me. Maybe I will slip in a little hand quilting on a long neglected project tonight.

Miaismine said...

I love your quilt! I rediscovered a bow tie kit in my box of patterns that may make it to my Quilts for 2017 list. Your's is certainly an inspiration! I'm enjoying hand quilting my Quilty 365 squares! Thank you for sharing!

Jill said...

The scrappy bow ties make a relaxing straight quilting pattern. I understand why you can keep stitching more than your daily goal.

Robin said...

Your bowtie quilt looks so great. I love the light and shadow that hand quiting makes.

Kate said...

The quilting on your bowtie quilt looks so precise. Hope you got in lots of stitching time yesterday.

Stephie said...

I hope you had a good weekend Kathy and enjoyed some stitching on this gorgeous quilt. I completely understand where you're coming from: doing 'nothing' isn't something I find easy at all. Even if my brain is doing nothing, my hands have to be busy sewing (or my legs if I'm out for a run!). Being at peace and just focussing on what I'm doing slows me down. It's a wonderful space to be in :)