Nov 30 09
Tulip Quilt Top Revisited and a Holiday Sale!
This is another portion of that tulip quilt I started a few weeks ago. This particular section is along the outside and I have begun adding free motion machine embroidered grapevine curly cues to the fused applique vines. I used various hand dyed size 12 pearl cotton embroidery threads for this but any heavy weight thread will work well here. These are very fun and easy to do, especially because you do this stitching when it’s still just a quilt top. I use an iron-on stabilizer (Sulky is my favorite brand for this) and I just place a piece behind the area in which I plan to stitch a curly cue. Here’s a shot of the backside as I was working and it shows just how quick and easy this step is:
Once the stitching is done and the thread ends have been tied off and cut, you just tear away that stabilizer. (You may be able to see some grapevine curly cues higher up that have already had the stabilizer removed.) Now you may be asking yourself just what that big area of batting is all about, and that is the second trapunto layer that underlies the center section. You may remember that center section from an earlier post but if not, this may jog your memory:
This was before I had altered the edges into nice curvaceous edges but it should orient you to the stages of this project. All of the tulips and swirls in that center section were trapuntoed and then the entire center section had a second layer of batting added, so once this is placed in the final quilt sandwich, portions of the center will have 3 layers of batting! Hope that doesn’t get TOO bulky when I go to do that final quilting-full report to follow! This week, I’m finishing up the trapuntoed tulips that line the edges of this quilt. Here’s a shot of the backside so you’ll get an idea of where this is going:
…and here’s one last shot of the center bottom of the quilt…looks like I’ve got some ripping out to do of my satin stitching…
Rats! That is so aggravating! But, I’ve had a really wonderful week and a great Thanksgiving where I got to visit with my mom and all my sibs and their families, so it’s going to take more than flubbed up sewing to get me down! To celebrate our good fortune, we’re having a sale! Beginning today (11/29/09), all threads, Bendable Bright Lights, applique pressing sheets, Flexible Curve Rulers, and other notions and patterns are 20% off! Enter “Holiday” in the discount code line during checkout and the discount will be applied to your purchase. The sale will last through midnight on Sunday, 12/6/09. Happy Holidays!
This looks beautiful. I can’t wait to see it done. I’m glad you showed the backside also with the stitching.
Thanks, Elaine! Truthfully, I am kind of nervous about that extra batting
layer in the center section. I have manipulated that quilt so much that
I’m worried I may have accidentally stretched that large batting layer and
if so, it will totally mess up the whole quilt! We’ll have to see how
this comes out…
Patsy
wow Patsy, this is just stunning!
Hi Patsy
Absolutley beautiful !