Thank you for all the terrific comments about the wedding quilt. It's pretty amazing to put so much of myself into a project & then bring out the pictures to show to people who get it. I particularly appreciate those of you who said you understood the fear of starting the quilting process. I don't think I mentioned yesterday, I had to call my mother AND my husband for a couple solid rounds of stream-of-consciousness nervous chatter before I could actually start cramming the quilt through my machine.
To answer a common question: the loopy quilting pattern is something I do freehand, not a machine stitch setting. I started working with it on my quilted pillows a few months ago, & this was the first time I tried doing it on a large scale. Despite the difficulties I had managing the bulk of the quilt while working my way across each row of loops, I felt very comfortable with the loop pattern itself -- probably because I had done a whole lot of quilt sandwiches (about 15"x15" so I don't have to wrangle material but have room to build up some movement, & I use that cheapo cotton solid from JoAnn so I can get a good look at what my stitches are doing) & over 25 pillow covers before I moved up to the big leagues. Seriously, practice, practice, practice. Also, practice. I love that quilt, & complaining aside, am pretty satisfied with how the quilting went, but I came away from it wanting to practice more.
To answer Erin's question:
These are quilting gloves. This particular pair is Fons & Porter, & they were very comfortable to use, even though the long-fingered among us should probably size up. They're cotton, with little grippy rubber dots on the palms, & they were a huge help with moving the quilt around, though I don't think I'd bother on smaller pieces.
What's that those handy gloves are sitting on, you say? Why, it's my little black quilting notebook, containing the beginnings of my next project:
School auction season & I are staring down the long lonely stretch of road at each other, revving our engines.
I use plain ol' pink rubber gloves for quilting - they're grippy, they fit, they're cheap, and they were available when I desperately had to start my last project at 6 PM. (They're sweaty, of course!)
*Loved* the wedding quilt. For my next project I'm considering making cushions that will - how you say? - be the sincerest form of flattery.
Posted by: Kristine | January 04, 2008 at 01:42 AM
I love the potential of that last photo.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | January 04, 2008 at 05:24 AM
oooh! look at all that exciting stuff!
do you have any tips for starting a quilting notebook? i am a total stress case about matching fabrics and figuring out which ones would work best with which quilt patterns, and a notebook to try things out before cutting sounds brilliant, though I haven't any idea how to organize it!
Posted by: Nancy | January 04, 2008 at 05:51 AM
The wedding quilt is lovely! I *heart* the loopy quilting.
The words quilt and school auction just made me panic...I am the "sewing coordinator" at my daughter's school and that involves making a quilt for an auction in two months and I have never made a quilt in my life. I guess I can't stay in denial much longer.
Your looks like it will be fabulous.
Posted by: Sasha | January 04, 2008 at 06:37 AM
ah, loopy quilting - such a beautiful technique & effect! thanks for explaining what you did, I've been under the impression that it was strictly a machine technique. my novice quilting head is still wrapping itself around it all!
and your new quilt plans look just wonderful! i can't wait to read & see more :)
Posted by: amanda | January 04, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Wow, the quilting notebook sounds so organized! I never thought of doing such a thing, but I can see how that could really help! Thanks for the idea!
Posted by: amyehodge | January 04, 2008 at 09:06 AM
this block is terrific--I love those wonky "log" cabins-- as well your "wedding quilt" is a beauty!
Posted by: carolyn | January 04, 2008 at 09:32 AM
CAN'T WAIT to see that next quilt!!! it's gonna be gorgeous.
Posted by: amandajean | January 04, 2008 at 04:28 PM
thank you. i get it now.
love that last photo and all the colors you are using.
Posted by: erin | January 05, 2008 at 02:39 PM
ohh a very inspiring photo. I'm not sure I'd ever complete an entire quilt like you did but a quilting notebook...wow....now that's the ULTIMATE scrapbook.... I bet Id be great at planning a quilt...yep planning them sounds fun....but finishing..hmm?
Posted by: TACE | January 06, 2008 at 03:16 AM
Did you get my email?
Posted by: langus | January 06, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Love it! Where'd you pick up the gloves?
Posted by: Kirsten | January 06, 2008 at 05:43 PM
'School auction season & I are staring down the long lonely stretch of road at each other, revving our engines.'- THAT is funny. :) I will giggle at that all day now.
I can't wait to see how the quilt turns out. Looks amazing on the paper.
Posted by: Crystal | January 08, 2008 at 08:41 AM
I have the Fons & Porter gloves too, in a size small (the red ones) and they are indeed small. They're great, I couldn't quilt without them.
Your quilt is gorgeous!
Posted by: Sarah | January 09, 2008 at 12:40 PM
ok not to be a dork but what are quilting gloves for??? why do you need them? what's their purpose?
Posted by: cyndi | January 16, 2008 at 09:21 AM
If regular rubber gloves are too sweaty, you can cut the fingers off and just use the fingertips. (I read that in one of Sue Nickels's books.)
I have yet to use the free motion quilting foot that I bought (gasp) 10 years ago, but I have some projects in mind--need to go to the store and get some gloves!
Posted by: mikawendy | February 02, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Thank you ,it's really useful.
Posted by: pandora armband | August 31, 2010 at 10:47 PM
I see you are a very talented, hardworking person. Doing this needs artistic, intelligent mind. It's exciting reading your post.
Posted by: used computers | February 18, 2011 at 07:19 AM