small saga, beginning of part 3.

Part 3 will go on for a long time.

A week ago Joe Basic Quilting hoop arrived and I was eager to get started. I started near the center of the quilt, but not at the center, because I hoped my stitches would improve and I want the center to have good stitches, not first learning stitches. There is a lot of improvement to be had. Here's the first block I tried.

It looks almost ok from a distance, but take a look up close.

Sigh. In my handsewing, I strive for small stitches and even stitches. Two pieces of calico, no problem. Quilt sandwich? BIG problem. This first block took me hours! Between trying to get a reasonable motion, not catching enough fabric on the back of the quilt, getting used to a ridge on the top of my thimble, manouvering the whole hot quilt on my lap, and trying to stitch in four different directions...

At this point, I am thinking: I love patchwork, yes. The quilting part, not so much.

Maybe it's just practice? Here's another couple of blocks and sashings completed.

I changed the quilting pattern to crosshatching for a purely practical (or lazy) reason--I found it easier to quilt in open spaces away from seams. The extra thickness of the seams is farther away and it makes it more comfortable and easier (sometimes) to get small stitches. I like the texture, but the stitches are so uneven! They wiggle all over and they are all different lengths. I despair. You can see them clearly here

The small block is 2" square, so you can also see that they are not very small. Several things occur to me at this point.

1. Maybe it takes practice. After all I've only quilted a total of 5 or 6 squares. In my entire life. Instead of being frustrated, I can look on this as a learning experience and use this as a quilt to learn quilting. It is made of scraps. There is no need for spectacular stitching on my first quilt, even if it would be nice.

2. It is still better than trying to manipulate the whole blinking thing under the arm of my ordinary everyday dressmaking sewing machine with no walking foot.

3. Even uneven stitches work to hold the pieces together.

4. At least I am catching the back of the sandwich in too!

5. Process, not product.

6. I am good at lots of things in life. It's ok not to be good at handquilting. Besides, I might improve, back to #1.

7. It's all relative...

here is a picture of one of my favorite quilts. Maybe my all time very favorite.

It was on my bed when I was a child, and I loved tracing the circular designs and examining all the different prints. It is very worn in places

I would love to make a quilt similar to this one. It is a perfect complement to a summer bedroom, and I love the circles against squares effect, and the combination of a bunch of disparate prints. Also I love pink. This quilt has been with me for many years and I treasure it even though I don't know who made it or when or why. It works, and it cheers me up. I thought I might learn something from it, so I started to study the stitching.

Well. Those stitches aren't all that even. Here's a knot or two, right on the top

Clearly I love this quilt for its character, not its perfection. This doesn't mean I don't want to improve my quilting, but I feel a little bit of relief. Each time I pick up the needle and try again to make small, even quilting stitches I can feel my jaw tighten and my neck get strained. After studying my favorite old quilt I think--is it such a bad thing if there is a little bit of crookedness and a certain flexibility in the stich lengths? I want something functional and pretty. I don't need more pressure in my life. I'll continue to practice and if I survive this quilt, there will be another to improve on. Maybe someday...

or maybe not. I don't have to be good at everything. Or even anything!

Thank you everybody for your nice comments on the quilt top. I have been dipping into the world of quilt blogs and am utterly stupefied and awed by what is out there. Since picking up the hexes again it seems that I have run across hexes every which way, in all sorts of configurations. And so many other interesting things! My fabric lust quotient is way high right now.

Happy summer! oh and... that last bit of advice I reported in my previous post, about it being hot to quilt in summertime? Absolutely dead on correct. The back of my knees start to drip when the patch beastie is piled on my lap. The things we do for love of fiber.

Comments

[grumperina]

You'll get there - a place where you're at peace with both your stitches and your speed - and it certainly doesn't have to be perfect or fast!!!

[Emily]

Your quilting looks pretty good to me. Remember that you are doing it by hand, not by machine. And I'm sure that you will get even better over time.

[Charlotte]

I think the name of the pink quilt pattern is Dresden Plate. Just in case you want to make a new one some time.

[jenn]

Your hand quilting is amazing--don't be so hard on yourself! The point of hand quilting is hand work, not machine-like perfection!

That said, if you want a good reference on hand quilting, look for the book "That Perfect Stitch." A whole book on getting tiny, even hand quilting stitches!

But honestly, you don't need to get any better than you already are. Quilts need to look pretty from a bit of distance--so lay your quilting on your bed and look at it from your doorway. Does it look good? Of course. Be happy and move on!