Quilting patterns

[Kathryn S.]

I've been working on choosing and drawing out the quilting patterns for my top, which has been pieced since the middle of January. At first it was pretty overwhelming, even with the photo's of Sue's quilting and her long post about how she quilted hers.

I knew I wanted plenty of feathers. I was lucky enough to take a long class from Diane Gaudynski at Empty Spools in Asilomar. So feathers were a must. ( no long arm by the way, just a "domestic machine".

Knowing that the quilt is kind of "busy" but not wanting overall patterns, I agonized for a couple of weeks. Then, pulled out the feather drawing books and started drawing. Lee Cleland's Feathers that Fly book was the most helpful for drawing feathers and cables, for what I needed.

Now at last I have a road map, completed drawings, and all the ditch quilting done around the borders.

There will be feathers in the central medallion, and its setting triangles, and also in the 6 inch squares and along the sawtooth star border. The pinwheels get a cable design. The 2 inch squares and the flying geese will have variations on a pumpkin seed design. Some of the wider inner borders will be egg-and-darted using a template from J's.

I can imagine what the people who posted their already-quilted Stars for a New Day have been through to get to this point. The actual quilting will be the fun part.

Hope to be posting a photo of the finished quilt some day, Kathy