Friday, December 21, 2018

En Provence Machine Quilting Progress

Even thought it's the week before Christmas, some  quilting progress is being made. It's called procrastination and avoiding of the tasks I dislike... mostly shopping. I would rather quilt any day than have to shop.
When I'm quilting, I don't notice how dirty my Machinger gloves are, but when I see a photo of them on the computer screen, I am appalled! 
Well, I guess it just means that I do a lot of quilting :)

I figured out how to quilt the pink stars around the edge of the quilt and made a decision on quilting the borders.  This is how the edge stars look and how I extended the straight lines into the border squares. It's a lot of starts and stops and I just stitch on the spot several times to start and end, and cut the threads off. If you've ever tried to remove machine quilting stitches started this way, you know that it is secure. It's not going to unravel and it's really hard to unstitch, so unless it's a quilt that will be judged in a show, I don't take the time to hand sew in thread ends.


I even figured out how to turn the design at the corners. There is still quite a bit of quilting to do, but I'm hoping to procrastinate some shopping and gift wrapping by focusing on getting this quilting done so that I can hand stitch the binding over the holidays. It seems like my goal of finishing this quilt before the end of the year might be possible! 
Step #5 of the new Good Fortune mystery will be posted at Quiltville today... can't wait to see what we are sewing this week.
I wonder when I will stop sewing long enough to get the Christmas tasks done?!?! LOL

14 comments:

The Cozy Quilter said...

I am off work for two whole weeks and I’m spending lots of time in the sewing room, mostly making gifts, but I have also been fitting in other jobs like gift wrapping and errands, appointments. I love how you are quilting the stars and borders. You will soon be done! It is such a lovely quilt.

Kate said...

You've made a lot of progress on the quilting and it looks great. Enjoy your holiday stitching time! I prefer that to shopping any day.

Deanna W said...

I actually have all of Christmas done except for one trip to the grocery store. I fit in a little sewing time yesterday and with the crappy rain/snow today...I might get to sew again!

Alison V. said...

This looks amazing! I can't wait to see it finished!

Jacqui's Quilts said...

Wow, great progress Kathy and it looks great! LOVE the quilting. Good choices. I'm headed off on the dreaded shopping! Went Wednesday, but didn't get quite done...but gifts are mostly wrapped! I hope to sew this afternoon! Still finishing off a little diaper bag for a 2 year old granddaughter for a doll! Had fun dressing that naked doll this week :-).

Gretchen Weaver said...

The quilting looks great! I don't do much quilting by machine, but when I do, I back stitch my starting stitches. I quilt mostly crib quilts and I've never had any complaints. Just stick the gifts in plain bags and don't bother wrapping them. The children never look at the paper, they don't care about the paper. They just rip it off and leave it for us to clean up. Have a peaceful, blessed Christmas!

Needled Mom said...

That looks really nice. I hear you about the procrastination. Sigh!

Mary said...

I saw Angela on the Midnight Quilt Show had a Purple pair that were very stylish. Check them out. I've been sleeping under my En Provence all month. It was a fun quilt. Part 5 isn't too bad, just hope that I can sew them right and left, Good Luck on the finish.

Sandy said...

It looks awesome. Glad to hear I'm not alone in not liking to shop. I've always said I didn't get that pretty traditional female gene. LOL
Sandy's Space

Sarah said...

I'm with you! I would far rather be in my sewing room than shopping.....unless it's for fabric of course. Great quilting by the way!

Jenny said...

You are making great progress on your lovely quilt, it is looking wonderful.
I've done all my shopping, my aim was NOT to have to go out to the shops on Monday. Today I'm going to make some festive ice cream, and start prepping the other dishes over the next couple of days or so. Things to do, but not ovrwhelming so.

Louise said...

Looks great! I need to start securing my stitches like you do. Hand burying the threads is a pain. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kathy!

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

Such nice quilting and great way to get something done while not getting other things done, ha ha. I don’t bury threads either. I make some teeny tiny stitches (in a line about 1/8-1/4 inch long) at the beginning and end of each quilting line. Secure. Life’s too short to bury threads!

Lyndsey said...

I love the quilting, it looks great. Burying the threads is so long winded that I always do a few stitches on the spot and cut the threads unless it's a very special quilt or a gift.