Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Spiderweb Borders

Border quilting is much better than the webs. {Frankly anything is better than the webs.} The plastic overlay helped me choose quilting designs.

Using plastic overlay to practice quilting designs

The toile needs a lacy, open design that won't overpower its printed design. I found an idea in Luann Kessi's sketchbook. Links to the entire sketchbook are found on her blog which is also a wonderful inspiration for art quilts. After much practice on paper and plastic, I quilted it over these two borders and simply outlined the birds. I tried to keep the leaves even smaller than Luann's in deference to the small leaves on the toile.

Lacy quilting on the toile, idea from Luann Kessi

Mel Beach suggested the loops on the smaller triangle row. Amazingly easy and good looking. Thanks, Mel!

Loop quilting

I had to have some feathers: a favorite and I can usually do them well. I considered both light and dark outer triangles but decided on the inner triangles.

A view of the quilting on all three borders

Here's a view from the back of all the work. You can see how the birds were outlined.

Free motion quilting from the back

All that's left is some outline stitching on the outer triangles which will reprise the outline stitching on the stars. Oh, yes. And binding, washing, blocking...

Enjoy the day, Ann

"The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest." Thomas Jefferson

18 comments:

patty a. said...

The quilting looks wonderful and it seems you are almost done! Yeah!!

Love the quote from Thomas Jefferson. I wonder if he has turned over in his grave with what it going on?

LA Paylor said...

yes the loops are good. It's hard to choose a quilting motif.

audrey said...

Your machine quilting is beautiful! Very complimentary.

Cathy said...

Oh, gosh...aren't you fancy! What a lovely array of quilting! Congrats to you.

Helen L said...

It's looking good: and whew! that's alot of quilting!! Love your quote at the end of your post: it should be tatooed on some of our gov't officials!! :-) Hugs, H

Ann said...

Two steps forward and one back. But I do plan to finish this month. After all, it's in the show April 1. Ha.

Ann said...

They worked so well in this demarcated space. A new favorite!

Ann said...

Thanks. Some is quite good and other bits are eating my lunch. Ah, well.

Mary Marcotte said...

Those figure-eights are fantastic! Your quilting is perfect for the quilt design. Love it!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Absolutely wonderful!!!!!

Kaja said...

Lovely quilting. I especially like what you've done on the toile.

Mel Beach said...

Your quilting looks fabulous!! Such a lovely quilt that I am looking forward to admiring in person during our upcoming quilt show!!

Ann said...

Most of this has been quite fun. Thanks, Cathy.

Ann said...

Thanks, Helen. I've enjoyed most of the quilting. Washington does seem to a developed a cult of personality these days.

Ann said...

Thank you for the suggestion, Mel!

Ann said...

A little practice on paper for muscle memory and they were a breeze, Mary.

margaret said...

great quilt and love the border, beautifully quilted I dream of one day being able to quilt muine well

Ann said...

Thanks for writing, Margaret. I'm sure your quilting will improve if you just keep working at it. There's quite a difference between quilting small and large quilts.