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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Basket Decision

Since we've had temperatures in the 20's and 30's here in Florida over the last few weeks, I put my basket quilt on the bed as it's extremely warm. I used wool batting since I was going to hand quilt it and hand quilting with wool is the best!! I started quilting this about 4 or 5 years ago. I paid to have it basted by a long armer, and couldn not wait to start quilting!! After about 7 or 8 rows, I stopped, overwhelmed by the size and difficulty seeing the marked design. This wonderful quilt has been waiting for the last 5 years for me to finish. I've now know, I never will. I have decided to spend a few days carefully ripping out all my hand quilting and then machine quilt it.This quilt is too pretty and has too many special memories to not get finished. If any of you have projects that you've started hand quilting, and know that you will never go back and finish, don't be afraid to un-quilt and go in a different direction. It's very liberating to finally have made this decision. I'll keep you posted. I've got a few things ahead of this, but I will get to it. And then I'll have to decide how to machine quilt it. When I started this quilt in 1998 or so, machine quilting it was not even a blip on my radar screen. How our craft has changed in the last 10 years - at least for me!
If any of you have any suggestions on quilting designs for baskets, I would love to hear them.
Until next time, make something beautiful.
-Karen

19 comments:

Jan said...

Your basket top is really pretty. I completely understand about machine/hand quilting. I wish that I could hand quilt everything that I make, but machine quilting is beautiful, too. It must be somewhat emotional to rip out hand quilting, though! As I hear so often, "finished is good"!

Terry said...

What a beautiful quilt! I'm glad to hear you're going to machine quilt it and get it finished! :0)

LibbiesHome said...

That is a beautiful quilt! And I appreciate your advice about going in another direction. Thanks!

Ruth said...

I love your basket quilt! I have a basket quilt that I'm getting ready to baste. I'm trying to figure out how I will quilt it, so I will watch your blog to see how you do yours. Mine is different in that the baskets are grouped 4 to a block with the handles pointing to the center of the block. Good luck with yours.

Sparky said...

Gosh I am no help..I really like to hand quilt even though I have many friends who long arm..I do sew many diff't stitches, ok going in circles is silly, as I am concluding in my table topper lol Since I cannot really see your stitches, why not do diamonds??? is that possible

Debra said...

I love basket quilts and these colors are so wonderful. Good luck with all that ripping out!!

Carla said...

I know that this quilt was not a fast and easy project, that's for sure. It is so pretty. I'm glad that you are going to get it finished up and can enjoy it more. I'm not great at "beautiful" machine quilting...only very utilitarian, so am no help on such a pretty quilt....I'd probably pay someone to do something extraordinary!

Kim Brackett said...

Ugh! It hurts to think of all those beautiful hand stitches coming out, but I agree that it will be so nice to be able to use it and enjoy it instead of having it folded up in a closet. :-)

Allyson said...

It's a beautiful quilt. I'm glad you've got it out and are using it. And way to go on ripping out that quilting and doing it by machine. I hand quilted ONE little quilt years ago and swore I would never do another. I'd rather finish up a quilt and get on to the next project. Yours is gorgeous and I'm glad it'll be out and used now.

Rose Marie said...

Wow .... gorgeous quilt and I will enjoy seeing your finished quilt soon!!!

*karendianne. said...

Karen, I agree with YOU. This is so pretty PLUS we needed wool quilts around here lately!

I do have at least one quilt that needs to be picked out. It's a lovely quilt but the long arm work on it is for crap so it's gotta come out. It's worth it. After reading your post... I really need to do that! That's for placing this thought back into my mind and in my sights. Have a great day here in our frosty state.

Vivian said...

You're a brave woman to decide to pick out the hand quilting, but that's a wiser step, as you're certain you won't finish it that way.
I think I would stitch a gently curved line from corner to corner to corner on the inside of each basket base, and either stitch-in-the-ditch around each handle, or a gently wavy line of stitching through the middle of each handle.
I'm looking forward to the day you show us your finished basket quilt. Your projects are always so varied and a feast for the eyes.

Nicole said...

Gracious, that quilt is so gorgeous, you must do whatever it takes to get it quilted and on your bed as soon as possible! What a lot of work went into that beautiful project.

Carol said...

The joy of quilting is to do what makes you happy. This is such a lovely quilt, you will be so pleased when you have it completed. Funny though, I just recently made the decision to hand piece and hand quilt at least one quilt a year. Years ago that was all I did but latley most of my quilts have been made on the machine and quilted by a wonderful longarm quilter. I miss doing it all myself. Can't wait to see your quilt finished.

Wendy P said...

Its gorgeous! Way too much time and effort was put into the piecing for it not to get quilted - one way or another.

I am not brave enough to even think about hand quilting. At least you gave it a shot.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Janet said...

How wonderful that you have plan to get this one finished. It's really lovely. Sorry I can't help with suggestions, that's something that has to brew with me.

Em said...

That is so beautiful and I love the soft colors that seem to invoke feeling of calm and peaceful dreams at night. I love how the baskets point different directions. Lovely! It's almost the weekend, Miss!!! I can't wait for my love to arrive to you next week. A kiss is enclosed in the envelope!

em's scrapbag said...

I totally understand. I received a quilt from my mom that she had started quilting and I knew I would never finish it, but I wanted this precious quilt. So I did what you are going to do.

Chris said...

Beautiful! Such gorgeous colors and fabrics - it's the basket I always wanted to make but never did! :) Quilting ideas? Maybe - oldfashioned ideas come to mind, like fans over the whole quilt, or along the block seams, and then designs on each basket, like a small heart. No matter, it will be - is - a stunner!