I have a big task ahead, the basting of the Stars and Sprigs quilt. I now do it the Sharon Schamber way (over here) by rolling the backing and the top onto boards and then stitching with tailors tacks that get removed as one quilts. It worked so well the first time I used this method that I'm sticking to it.
My boards were just long enough and It did require two people to do the rolling part. I tape the fabric to the boards with masking tape to begin otherwise I do it the same way as in the video. I've set it up in the lounge room so I can listen to the telly at the same time.
This last week saw me stitching a few blocks up. This one is block three of the Cherry Tree quilt I talked about in previous posts. I'm glad it's over is all I can say. The finger shapes are supposed to be wonky in case you're wondering.
I've caught up with the Circle Game blocks, the next two came out perfect so practice is helping with the hand piecing.
Lucky I checked the accuracy of the next block because it just wasn't right so I drafted it up from scratch.
It'll be an interesting quilt, the blocks have a very blended look so you'd have to examine them to see that.
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65 comments:
Just beautiful! It will be so exiting to unroll the quilttop while basting and see alle the wonderful colours - enjoy!
Your stars and sprigs really is going to be a masterpiece!
I love your cirle blocks too!
Oh WOW Janet...that is great going!! Are you hand quilting that too. Thats a huge quilt to hand baste - it looks beautiful.
Your circeles are wonderful so bright and cheery. WHat size are they.
Well done to you Janet. I can see that you have worked so diligently to get Stars and Sprigs to the basting stage. It is just so beautiful. I am enjoying seeing the circle blocks you are making. Anything with curves is my thing but still have a million hexagons to prepare. I am breaking myself in gently to do other things. You are such an inspiration. Hope you are well.
Love Shirley.x
I have been using the Sharon Schamber basting method ever since I first came across it a while ago on your blog. Generally works out well, but I think it is important to line the planks of wood up so that they kind of brace each other every time you unravel some quilt top and back.
Wow Janet,
I'm going to try this next time..the way it's rolled up is a bit like having the quilt on a long arm frame..so yes it does make sense to do it this way..gotta be better than the way I was doing it!
Love your circles.
Julia ♥
Well you are going to have fun quilting the Stars and Sprigs quilt. Are you using Perle cotton?? It will look fabulous whatever you use. Love the circles too.
Thanks for the link - I watched some of it and was very interested in the method - I have saved it to study it fully. Your quilt looks fantastic - I'm looking forward to seeing your quilting.
Basting this big beauty by hand is no joke! You are an inspiration, Janet. And thank you for sharing your method.
I haven't seen that basting technique before, thanks for the link! Are you basting it with pearl cotton? Just love your CT pineapple block. Your hand is perfect just like everything else you do - Hugs Nat
I use Sharon's method too...makes a very unpleasant task very doable!
All so beautiful!
All photos of your Stars and Sprigs quilt are gorgeous. Keep us posted on your progress. Love your circle play.
Wow! Your Stars and Sprigs quilt makes me drool...literally!! I think the reason I am procrastinating about starting mine is I'm still waffling on colorways! I thought I had decided to do it with repro's...then I see yours and others and I'm drawn toward brites...again! As soon as I get off the fence, I will start. Seeing your quilt is such an inspiration.
In stitches,
Teresa :o)
Wow! Your post this morning is a visual treat for my eyes! I'm excited with your progress on the Stars and Sprigs and I'm going to investigate your basting method further.
Good job with the BTCT block and I LOVE the circle blocks and their blendiness! I know that's not a word, but it works...lol
Janet, Everything is beautiful.
You have got a lot accomplised. I
look forward to your quilting. The Cherry Tree blocks are very cheerful. Your hand piecing is perfect. Happy stitching.
Janet
You stars and sprigs is gorgeous. I use a variation of Sharon's technique and have done ever since my second quilt. I dislike all that taping and stretching.
Your circle blocks are interesting.
You certainly have alot of quilty goodness going on over there. That quilt on the frame is amazing.
Thanks for posting that link! Quilt is just gorgeous and it's only going to get better after it's quilted! Can't wait to see what you do!
thank you for posting that video. The method as she explained it addressed some of my issues!
Thanks for the link, Janet. Can't wait to see how you quilt it.
I've never heard of the circle game. Looks like it's going to be a fun quilt!
Have you done any posts about your sewing area? I like seeing where people create.
Your Stars quilt is splendid! But then everything you do is outstanding. I am in love with your circles - your mix of pattern and color just draws me right in. Can't wait to see what that quilt will be. Carol
I could stare at your stars and sprigs all day long! Gorgeous..
Basting your stars & sprigs?! Woo-Hoo! I can't get enough of that quilt!!
I love your circle blocks. They look very challenging.
Your Stars and Sprigs quilt is amazing, and the circle blocks look really intriguing! Glad you got through the pineapple Cherry Tree block - I passed on that one when I saw those fingers. Yours looks wonderful!
Those circle blocks look so interesting. I love your fabric choices!
Beautiful blocks!!
I just love your blog because it is always, always, inspiring. Beautiful work with your circles. Michele
Thanks for sharing that wonderful method of basting. I am anxious to try this. My basting is always a problem and I don't like the safety pin method.
One question though - have you used this method with both hand quilting and machine quilting?
Hugs - Marie
You continue to amaze me - so much beauty every time I visit. Sigh.
Basting with boards is the only way I can do large quilts. I hadn't thought to use tape though. You're always so clever..and you share what you know..thanks!
Those circle blocks look like a fun challenge and the blended fabrics are adding a lot of extra interest. They draw the eye in.
Your BTCT block is wonderful. I love the wonky pieces especially. :)
So what do you lay these big long boards and all out on while you do the basting and rolling? Do you have to have a table that wide?
What a great way to baste! I hate saftey pins! Just started learning how free motion quilt and after quilting by hand it is a challenge! Trying to get a perfect tempo between my hands and foot pedal is hard enough without running over a cursed safety pin! So I am definetly going to try this method.
Looking foreward to watching you machine quilt the Stars and Sprigs, please keep us updated on your progress with this beauty!
love those circles!
oh are you going to use perle cotton to hand quilt stars and sprigs???
the quilt is amazing, I know, I know I have said that a lot but I just LOVE It!
Kathie
Nice blocks - you always have lovely fabric combinations. I really like what you used for your pineapples. Are you going to machine quilt the stars and sprigs quilt?
Love your Stars & Sprigs quilt. I can't wait to see your progress on this beauty.
Your choice of fabric on the circles quilt is going to make that another spectacular quilt.
Thanks for sharing. Your work is an inspiration as always.
block #3 is perfect. I love the fabrics you chose. The yellows have just the right pattern in them. And the finger things--yeah--aren't you glad they're done??!! (my #3 is still in a heap--repenting I hope!)
Thanks for sharing the info how to make quilting easier, I just love anything that will make my life easier when it comes to quilting. I love hand quilting but the basting takes forever.
Hugs
from Susan in South Africa,
I just love all the bright colors that are used here.
Well You have been a Busy Bee catching up...Love the Method for basting I haven't seen that way before...Designed from scratch..hmm brings back memories of my first ever patchwork class...and I DO Love Your Circles they are Gorgeous...
Thanks for sharing....
cheers
My heart skips a beat everyone time I see your stars quilt. Great photo of the boards basting, I've read about that and it's great to get your feedback. My fingers would be all thumbs if I tried to applique those finger shapes. Your circles are wonderful though I was thinking if any more turned out domed you could make patchwork bras!
Your quilt is amazing! Thanks for the link to the quilting method. Can you explain the circles? Are you part of a group that's doing them? How can one get the information?
Janet,
All of your work is just so perfect.
Love those circle blocks and your hand piecing is exact.
I'm wondering what is next
those circles are amazing - yikes hand piecing. Looks great.
I'll have to SS way of basting now that I've heard a good review.
So, do you not mark your background before basting, or is it not visible?
Everything is just wonderful as always. I did not know of Sharon's basting technique. But for wall hangings, I use a John Flynn frame that I have (which does a similar thing with round rods instead) and baste on my sewing machine using water soluble thread. For big quilts, I give to my long arm quilter and she bastes it for me. But I will try your recommendation I even have some of the wood pieces. Thank you for sharing.
Well, I couldn't get the Schamber site to open, but I would really love to see a close up of you tailors tack basting Sounds interesting and I am so anxious to see this quilt finished. It's been an amazing journey watching to work on this quilt. It's a beauty.
Your circle blocks are so interesting to look at with all those wonderful fabrics. Are they set side by side or is there sashing/alternate blocks?
I'm excited to see you are basting your Stars and Sprigs!!! I can't wait to see how you're going to quilt it!
That is a pretty cool way to baste your quilt. Those blocks are pretty cool.
Wow, love your stars and sprigs and can't believe you're going to hand quilt it (or are you just basting it?)
your circles intrigue me so - Please tell me about it. Is it a pattern, block of the month (where can I join). Love them
I love Sharon Schamber's basting method too. I can't wait to see how you are going to quilt Stars and Sprigs.
Your pineapple block looks great!
I love the variety of fabrics in those circle blocks.
Love the pineapples! Gorgeous!!!
Stars & Sprigs is absolutely beautiful Janet and I am now going to head off to the link you provided.
What a beauty... sigh... just divine.
Thanks for the tip on the new basting method. I will have to try that and hopefully the novelty will make the dreary-est (?) part of quilting slightly more interesting. Have a wonderful day!
Tour hand piecing is looking fabulous!
What a wonderful site this is will visit often,well done.
cheers Sheryl
http://shez-enjoyinglife.blogspot.com
Great work Janet! Are you quilting the S & S by hand? Good for you!
Looks interesting that basting method. I used to get mine basted by the commercial machine quilting person, she does big stipple machine stitches. It did hold all the layers pretty well & flat too. There is the temptation to just bind the quilt & pretend it's done!
Love the block too, I do like blended. Kim McL
The circle blocks are beautiful and the new appliqué block... I just love the colors and those lovely buds! Everytime I see your stars and sprigs quilt, I'm in awe... it's quite spectacular!
Janet, you are so industrious it makes my head spin! The Stars and Sprigs continues to amaze me.
Fascinating to read how you're basting your quilt. I love Stars and Sprigs and since I'm finally learning how to applique, I'm in a state of AWE!
Love your hand pieced blocks. The fabrics are so much fun, too!
What a GREAT post.
Sharon Schambers has lots of good techniques, we're fortunate to have her in our neck of the woods and I occasionally see her at a Quilt Show. I can't wait to see how you quilt this quilt. You're really making progress on the blocks, just beautiful!
Interesting technique for basting the quilt.
All your blocks are so great. I can only imagine how tricky those "finger" must have been to applique.
Thank you, Thank you for the link for Sharon Schamber's basting method. I love to hand quilt, but DREAD the basting process. The two board method makes a huge difference, no sore knees and back. I am very inspired by your work. Thanks for sharing.
kathy
What kind of batting are you using? Is it polyester? I once interviewed a lady who did wonderful applique work and she preferred polyester batting since it gave her the loft she wanted in a hand-quilted quilt.
Hi there, we've been chatting over on flickr about the Circle Game templates - I don't know if you've started cutting the grey surrounds yet but just to warn you, I think they're off too and re-drafted them although the others don't seem to have had a problem with them! I'm re-drafting the nine patch one too after reading your blog post and lining up the templates around a 10" circle and realising that they didn't! Are you on flickr? If so, there's a group there who are doing the Amitie BOM together which is quite fun:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1509539@N24/
Lynne aka Lily's Quilts
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