Hand Quilted Placemats

Aren't these sweet? A friend made them and they are all hand quilted. The are backed in muslin, mind you not the same muslin.But they are perfectly hand quilted. There is something to be said for the beauty of any handwork, but quilting is a simple yet necessary part of keeping the sandwiched layers together.

When I first met her she told me she was a quilter. At that time I didn't appreciate what she was saying or cared what it involved.

As you evolve in this thing called quilting, you begin to see and understand what and why things happen and enjoy the full art of quilting.

My friend quilted them on a frame and I know she spent hours on each design. Me? I like to hand quilt but can't use a frame and somehow it works out. However, I must say, I prefer the speed of machine quilting

When I was at a quilt show last week, there were the usual beautiful quilts. But I noticed less and less hand quilting. This show was put on by a guild of mostly senior women. Perhaps with age, fewer and fewer are able to quilt. Lord, please don't let that happen to me.

Maybe you don't want to be bothered with hand quilting. However, at least learn how do do it. The art is vanishing. Hand quilting always brings to mind years ago when the church ladies sat around a frame and stitching in the afternoon. My what a great time they must have had. No cell phone on their hip or even nearby.

The frame and quilt brought them together. They enjoyed the conversation in real words not words missing vowels they had to read from their phone. They shared their talent, tips and tasty tales. They were tied together by thread. Do you hand quilt or at least know how to pull it off?

That's my thought for the day and typed with one eye.

Marcy

Quilt Doodles and Link to a Free Pattern

February's Quilt Doodles Designs block is out and its the tree. Now if you are in to teeny tiny you will love this block. Most of the blocks are one and a half inches square. Yes, small but a great challenge to better our quilting skills. I went scrappy but she has a two color tree.

This is January's block. Deciding on the eyes and nose has been difficult, but I have time.

Then last Sunday I came across this free pattern Lone Star baby quilt from Amy Smart at  Diary of a Quilter and there's a great tutorial as well. Since I do so many philanthropy quilts from the group's stash, I came up with some bright colors for the blocks. Her pattern calls for a border, but since we pillowcase these quilts and I had a nice flannel for the back that was just this size, I omitted it. However, I'll add a border to the second one.

Actually, there are two patterns but they are similar so I just had to cut fabric for the other layout to show you. These quilts finish at about 40" perfect for not piecing the back.

Happy Super Bowl day. A great day to get some stitching done. Unless your husband has invited the neighbors in to watch the game.  :(

Marcy