MONTH 7 — Show Your Progress Here

[Barbara B.]

Please use this TOPIC to show your progress.

[Carole B.]

I just finished April’s log cabin blocks, so plan to do embellishing and appliqué hand in hand. Wanted to share some threads I like to use. The straw silk is a favorite as well as silk ribbon. They are both beautiful for stems. Thinking my flowers will be a mix of cotton and wool appliqué. I tend to design and embellish on the fly so no idea where this will turn out. I’ll also be using my ever growing stash of Eleganza threads from Sue Spargo.

For those new to hand embroidery, the most important thing to remember is slow down and enjoy the process!

ETA: Added photo on how this first flower turned out. May add more embellishing, but it’s a start. On to more!

[lholzhu]

I agree, enjoy the process. We have done appliqué and now to another technique to enjoy. A wonderful quilt with so much. It also will be each person’s own creation.

[Janet]

Your work is amazing and such an inspiration.

[JANET E.]

I enjoyed the embroidery. Thanks to Alex Anderson and this project I have been doing embroidery for the first time in many years.

[Sally W.]

Enjoying the hand embroidery on my log cabin borders. Using size 12 pearl cotton doubled and chenille needles. Easy to thread and very sharp!

[Barbara B.]

Your work looks great, Sally!

[Carole B.]

One side down. The majority of my embellishing is within the flowers. Will most likely add more later on. Click on photos to see full view.

[Barbara B.]

A-Ma-Zing! So much work. You are a Wonder Woman!

[Helen W.]

Fabulous embroidery Carole. The details are so interesting. What is the name of the stitch you
used to do the cone on the cone flower. I could stare at your work for hours and not get bored.
Thanks for posting your pics. It is so inspirational. HelenW

[Carole B.]

Thanks, Barbara and Helen! The stitch on the cone flower is call a corded brussels stitch. Similar to a open buttonhole stitch, but with a cord across each row that you catch. It’s a great filler!

[Connie H.]

[Connie H.]

This is where I am right now, but wondering if it would look ok to leave the corner flower blocks empty. Would love to get thoughts or suggestions.

[Barbara B.]

Love the blocks and the colors are so vibrant. To my eye the corners look lonely and could use something. Perhaps a heart shape?

[Connie H.]

Thank you Barbara! Very helpful.

[Helen W.]

Connie, I just love your quilt. I worked up a couple ideas in EQ8 of what I would
consider if it was my quilt. I like repeats in a quilt for a calming effect and it kind of
catches your eye. One idea would be to make a ring using the out side border
pattern. Another would be to take the 8 point star in the middle and make
a star block. Use the background fabric you used for your fabulous applique
as the background for the star. Are you creating each applique block or taking
ideas from other patterns you have? It all looks so beautiful. HelenW

[Connie H.]

Helen, Thank you so much for your ideas! You have great EQ8 skills! I have 2 Becky Goldsmith books that I have been using for this quilt. I also considered a Dresden plate for the corners. Your quilt is absolutely lovely as well. Thanks again for all of your help. Connie

[Jennifer C.]

I'm considering changing the size of this project. Here's a pic of the new design. Not sure what to do in the corners -- would appreciate feedback on design. First try at scrappy and quite frankly some of the blocks are not to my liking. I've completed 10 of each block and need to make three more of the white to finish the last corner. Then I'll tackle the border. Any thoughts?

[Jennifer C.]

[Helen W.]

I'm considering changing the size of this project. Here's a pic of the new design. Not sure what to do in the corners -- would appreciate feedback on design. First try at scrappy and quite frankly some of the blocks are not to my liking. I've completed 10 of each block and need to make three more of the white to finish the last corner. Then I'll tackle the border. Any thoughts?

Jennifer C, It is so fun when quilters ask for suggestions. I have a hard time making myself use my EQ8 on a regular
basis and I tend to forget the process. So I took a screenshot of your quilt and worked out on pieced idea and one
applique idea. It might get your mind think how you could use something similar. For the pieced I was repeating the center
since you have the 8 inch blocks it would be easy to do. Just don't make the 4th corner. For applique I like things that
wrap the corner. I just took a predesigned block from EQ8 and plugged it in. It lets you see if you like a wrap around.
It could be as simple as 3 swags appliquéd on top of the log cabin blocks. HelenW

[Jennifer C.]

reply to Helen W -- Thanks for the suggestion I was thinking of doing applique in the corners -- the vining is an excellent choice and I also think if I want the border to stand out (which I love) I should be more subtle with the applique/embroidery work. Was also thinking about adding narrow border between -- it just lacks symmetry at this point -- now I feel like a quilt designer -- lol -- I truly believe a perfect quilt is a finished quilt so I'll press on and share as I go thru the process.
Thanks again.

Jennifer

[sewskeel]

Half done

[Michelle G.]

Nice work ! Can I ask, did you use stem stitch on the bluebells ? Or have you whip stitched over a back stitch?

[Susanne M.]

I still have many fans to finish as I’m hand piecing the outside curve. My preference is appliqué and embroidery. For the latter, I’m using light colors as if the shapes are shadows. For the quilt corners , I swapped in an old block I found in Barbara Brackman’s book. They’re hand pieced.

[brigitte.wieser]

Doing QAYG as usual I finished the first two borders of this round. I used pearl cotton 5 for the sticheries and a multicolor thread for the hand-quilting.