Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Big Stitch Quilting = Big Fun



I have not hand quilted other big quilts than my Dear Jane before because I thought it was so slow and I have a bit stiff fingers. I have also always has been under the impression the stitches have to be so small - the smaller the better !
I have hand quilted several smaller things, like table runners, pillows, table toppers and a lot of miniatures and I know I can do the small stitches well, but as said - they are slow, and I am always impatient to try new ideas :-)

Well - inspired by Finn's post on big stitch quilting and seeing Tonya's quilting I decided to give so called big stitch quilting a try and I can only say I Love It !

I really like the look of the Baptist Fan. The Baptist Fan was used on the original quilt antique quilt this one is inspired from (AP&Q Febr. 2005).
I use a purchased stencil, chalk pencil and brown silk thread. It is softer than ordinary quilt thread but is said to be strong.
I am using a round lap frame.

This will be my 1 hour a day project through November, and if it will stay as nice and relaxing as it is now, it will be a very special nice hour too - something to enjoy and look forward to every day :-)

20 comments:

  1. Oh, is that ever beautiful!!! I have been wanting to try big-stitching Baptist Fans quilting myself--you've inspired me to go ahead and give it a try! I haven't quite figured out where to start the first group of fans though!!!

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  2. Baptist fans are wonderful-particularly on any quilt that has that 'old' feeling to the fabrics and pattern.There are very few things that I would try to quilt by hand anymore, my hands cramp up so easily, but some things just seem to need to be done by hand. Yours is looking good, and an hour a day may be just the way to deal with stiff hands and still get it done.

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  3. Your stitches look great! With an hour a day you will get this done before you know it...keep us posted on your progress, you're off to a good start.

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  4. stunning gorgeous beautiful iconic!!!

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  5. Anonymous4:01 pm

    It looks good so far! (great plan too!)

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  6. It looks beautiful, Hanne. Good luck with it this month!

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  7. I had the pleasure to see the quilt live last weekend - it is so nice - and the quilting just seems to be the rigth thing for this one. Good luck with the quilting, and I look forward to know how far you will get by the end of november.

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  8. I haven't done any hand quilting before and have not been tempted to try. However, you are tempting me!!! Stop it! :) :) Your quilting is really looking very nice. The baptist fans do compliment that quilt nicely.

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  9. Your hand-stitching looks great.

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  10. You're off to a great start. I may have to give big stitch quilting a try when I'm ready to work on my next quilt I need to finish.

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  11. Your hand quilting is wonderful. I love the idea that you are duplicating the fans that were on the original quilt! An hour a day doing something you love is time well spent!

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  12. very classic look, Hanne! The finished quilt will be lovely I can tell.

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  13. Your quilting looks good. And I think you will enjoy doing it. It is so relaxing to handquilt.

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  14. Anonymous8:24 pm

    That quilt looks charming and so does the quilting.

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  15. Oh my goodness your Big Stitch looks great on that quilt. I've done very little handquilting - enough to be disappointed and quit. I've been very intrigued with the big stitch and now here you are providing inspiration. Something for me to try in the future!

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  16. Wonderful Hanne! Big stitch quilting - or "utility quilting" as our foremothers used to call it - is the best! It looks wonderful on the watermelon quilt.

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  17. I love the baptist fans and the big stitches look great. One of these days I'm going to pick a top and do the same. Your fans look more even than Tonya's - are you marking them?

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  18. The quilt and quilting look beautiful! Wonderful job!!! Glad to hear that you are enjoying this big stitch quilting method!

    Cheers!

    Evelyn

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  19. That's a big stitch? I guess I have been doing it all along and didn't even now it! How cool is that! Yours looks fabulous, Hanne!

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  20. Great stencil... I will be on the lookout for it. I have always liked the look of the Baptist fan. Hmmmm..... I have a quilt that would look good on.

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