It seems like one deadline after another kept me from completing the quilting on the Big Day Quilt, featuring the AfterFLOCK bird blocks. Indeed, I can't entirely blame a busy schedule: I procrastinated because I felt this quilt deserved a bit more focus and attention with some custom quilting.
The photo from the website and pattern have always been just the top only. Time to change that!
Before I left for the Iceland cruise last month, I started with some in-the-ditch quilting to set the stage for free motion fillings in the block borders and within each bird block. I started working on the filling parts this week.
First, I decided to fill in the cream and tan borders framing each bird block.
For the light tan pieces, I quilted a continuous line of straight lines to create a 'corduroy' affect in the alternating light tan sections.
I used an air-erasable marking pen to make a 45-degree line at each corder to create a mock-miter element.
For the cream print, I decided on a tight continuous meander.
I used white thread for the cream print and a light gray thread for the tan areas.
Like so. . .
As long as I was already 'in the area' with the gray thread loaded, I decided to remove the basting pins and fill in this Purple Finch block with some innie-outie continuous fill stitching.
This created a nice little break from the border work. You can see that the dense background quilting (and no quilting inside the bird shape) allows the bird element to puff up, even with a low loft cotton blend batting.
Bonus: one block is all done!
When I hit the California Quail block, I followed a similar process, using a wobbly horizontal fill pattern to create the suggestion of ground. Another block complete!
I switched back to the white thread to fill in more cream colored block borders. When I encountered these Dark-eyed Juncos with a white background, I filled in with a snow-ball shaped fill pattern. Juncos like cooler climates, after all.
I carried on making my way around the quilt with the block border work, filling in the blocks as it made sense and to break up the process.
The quilting isn't done, but I'm pleased with the progress. Once all the block borders are filled in, I'll switch to some blue thread for those blocks with blue backgrounds and maybe some green thread for the green-backgrounded birds.
Maybe after another week or two of morning sewing sessions, I will finally prep the binding and make a label. Someplace in between the blocks and the binding, I'll have to come up with a creative border quilt pattern.
I can't believe I procrastinated so long to get this project done. However, I understand that quilts get quilted with they're ready. And sometimes your head isn't in the right space to do the project justice.
Had I forced myself to finish this quilt before I was ready, I feel certain I would have been disappointed with the result. It's okay to let the quilt 'rest' sometimes.
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
I have been searching the internet everywhere for a copy of the book. Nearly insane by liz lois, I see you have a copy.Is there any way you would consider selling it to me. I want this to be my last quilt to make.
I’m sorry, I do have a copy of the book but it’s my personal copy and it’s not for sale. I work on the blocks from time to time. I purchased it at a local quilt shop years ago. The book appears to be self-published, and the only reference to a website (nearlyinsane.com) appears to be defunct. Best bet would be to keep scouring the internet and guild or library book sales to stumble onto a copy. Good luck!