I do!! More than buying the fabric or picking the pattern. More than the cutting, sewing, sizing or basting. I love the stitches.
I think the reason I quilt is because of the stitches.
It's hard to explain if you aren't fascinated by the stitches themselves. I love the look of each stitch as it makes the row, or the arc...as it marches along, one by one by one. I love the depth that the indentation makes. The shadow that is cast because the stitch pulls the fabric just a tat lower than the rest.
My fingers love the stitches, and my eyes love the stitches. The love affair began with the regular old fashioned hand quilting with a small between and Coats and Clarks quilting thread. I would quilt almost anything, just to be quilting. Many of my quilted pieces aren't really worth the effort I put into them, but they kept me quilting,and that is what counted. I don't quilt like that anymore, altho my fingers remember how to do what my eyes can no longer see. Mostly I quilt with perle cotton and the big stitch. And I love that too. It has it's own unique look, and those bigger stitches do ALL the same things the little ones did...*VBS* Some things don't change.
I think the reason I quilt is because of the stitches.
It's hard to explain if you aren't fascinated by the stitches themselves. I love the look of each stitch as it makes the row, or the arc...as it marches along, one by one by one. I love the depth that the indentation makes. The shadow that is cast because the stitch pulls the fabric just a tat lower than the rest.
My fingers love the stitches, and my eyes love the stitches. The love affair began with the regular old fashioned hand quilting with a small between and Coats and Clarks quilting thread. I would quilt almost anything, just to be quilting. Many of my quilted pieces aren't really worth the effort I put into them, but they kept me quilting,and that is what counted. I don't quilt like that anymore, altho my fingers remember how to do what my eyes can no longer see. Mostly I quilt with perle cotton and the big stitch. And I love that too. It has it's own unique look, and those bigger stitches do ALL the same things the little ones did...*VBS* Some things don't change.
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23 comments:
Ah, Finn...you got to me. I look at these stitches and my hands just itch to pull that thread through and see what kind of magic happens. I've been loving my fabric art cards just because of the fun of stitching all those darn little beads all over the place! Cheater's quilting for sure, but still needle and thread! Tonight, I'm dragging out the old hand stitching project and doing abit more...just for you! Now, do you still love the stitches more than digging through the scraps, or do the scraps still win? ;)
Yup, the pearl cotton acts just like the small quilt stitches, just bigger :-) I too know how to hand quilt, but unlike you don't think I have the love of it.... I don't mind it, but its not my passion. Good that "quilting" allows such a range of interests within it :-)
I DO love it! I have really enjoyed doing some hand quilting on a couple of quilts in recent months. I believe that I do a reasonably good job at it and I get a chance to savor the process a bit more. If Pippi hadn't decided that she needed to enjoy the quilt I was just working on I would have another block done, LOL.
Some would say that you should not put this much work into something that you are giving away but I have had fun working on the quilt. And even better, some young lady will have something pretty.
I love the stitching too. I just wish I had more time to do it.
Your stitches are beautiful, and you're right, quilted fabric is magical.
Glad to see your back in the "stitch" of things. Always nice to see you looking at the glass half full. Applique gives me that satisfaction in using my hands.
Oh yes - you are speaking my language now. I LOVE the stitches. The stitches are what make the top come alive - making the light and shadow play across the surface of the quilt. And though by necessity I machine quilt a lot now there is absolutely nothing like sitting quietly plying one's needle, watching those stitches pile up on that needle, then pulling the thread through adding definition to the top and turning it into a quilt. It's like meditation to me - the rhythym of my needle like the rhythym of my life. Listening to the quilt talk to me, telling me where to place the stitches so it can finish telling the tale it is meant to tell and give the warmth and love it is meant to give. Whether it be fine little quilting stitches 12 or more to the inch or big stitch quilting done with heavier thread it's the same. The quilting is what truly makes the quilt.
I looooove hand quilting stitches - they give a quilt such a wonderful feel. Big and decorative, or tiny and neat, I love them all. Thank you for sharing the lovely pictures.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)
I love the stitches and the whole growing process of hand quilting. One of my favourite things is "feeling" the quilting when you've completed a section - the difference between what has been quilted and what hasn't. It never ceases to amaze me.
I love the stitches! I think the back side of a quilt is as beautiful as the front, because of all the stitches.
Finn, you are SO popular! On Bloglines it says you have 100 subscribers!
Have a great day!
You said it, girl! Hame here.
You summed it up beautifully. I'm hand quilting with the big stitch and perle cotton at the moment and I'm loving it. Every time I hand quilt something I keep promising myself I'll do more of it as I love the rhythm of it and having something to work on in the evenings.
Yep, I love the stitches. I've been doing a lot of machine quilting and am missing that rhythm of stitch and pull. I guess it's time to layer a quilt and get at it. Thanks for the reminder ... and I'm glad your back.
I love the stitches, even though the patchwork is the passion for me. Stay well, Tracey
Finn - you really hit the spot for me this time! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hand quilting for all the reasons you mentioned as and agree with the comments given....Machine stitching can be beautiful, but nothing matches hand quilting on a quilt!
Thank you for being such an inspiration to me. I've been reading your blog for over a year now, and feel right at home with your memories and quilting!
Angie S.
panda719@ncidata.com
Yes, the hand work is where it is at for me. I love the process of handquilting, love the results, and I love running my hands over thoses stitches much later and savoring them. I know I am sick...but I love binding by hand the best!! I hope you are Ok.
Have fun, JulieQ
You're absolutely right Finn - the stitches speak for themselves. When people look at my and other people's quilts and say "Oooh you're so clever I could never do that!" I remind them that anyone can do a running stitch and that, along with a little encouragement and the occasional bit of help and advice, is really all it takes to make a quilt
yes...the love of stitching is what makes quilting so satisfying! gorgeous stitching shown Finn...whatever would we do without our needle and thread to play with?
Your description of the quilting stitches is just right. I love hand-quilting, the feeling, the look, the way the quilt wraps when finished. Unfortunately it is slow and that´s why I machine quilt as well. To have many projects on the go to be able to go from one to the other is my solution to keep happy! Take care.
Hi, Finn !
So glad you're back ! I missed you...
And : YESSS I do love the stitches! Handquilting is my absolute favourite part of the process!
Big ((hugs)) and smiles to you !
NADINE
Lovely post Finn!
Said it before but will say it again,I love the bigger stitches with the heavier threads! You do such a nice job with it Finn.
Finn - you always find just the right way to put things. I love the stitches, too. The patterns they make, the indentations and shadows that play across the surface - particularly with hand quilting. A favorite of mine since childhood - crawl underneath the quilt and view all the stitches with the light shining through . . . yes, I still do that today. It just never gets old *s*
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