Thursday, December 29, 2011

Stitching and stuffing

I had a terrific Christmas and I hope you all did too. I must come back and show you the books that I got from Santa, he's the best!
I love the week between Christmas and New Year because I get to relax and enjoy my stitching again while the house is still reasonably clean and tidy. I get to dream about what I can tackle in the coming year and set some goals which usually last only a month.

You may remember this drawing I did. It's for the hand quilting and trapunto on the Coxcomb and Currants project.
This is my second try at tackling the stuffing of the shapes before the quilt gets put together and no, I haven't finished all the applique yet. I'm pleased to say that this time, I had a lot more success than the first go where I slit the muslin and stuffed the shapes and got distortion on the circles. It looked yuk.
I'm using a different method to the one in my tutorial. This time, I drew the design on the front of the background. I layered and basted some fine cotton muslin on the back of the block and thread basted the two layers together.

I then proceeded to baste all around the drawn design using a neutral coloured thread and stitches a little larger than my hand quilting stitches. I stitched inside the lines. I then stuffed the shapes from the back with yarn and a trapunto needle. Just in case curious minds want to know, it took me four evenings in front of the telly to get to this stage. The excess muslin has been cut away and the block pressed on several layers of a towel.
The photo below isn't showing the colours accurately but you can get an idea of what it looks like so far with the blocks.
Ignore all the yellow pen, that will all be gone at the end when the quilt is finished. You can read about the pens I'm using here that have been tested by moi.
In the antique quilt, the stems aren't corded but I decided to go ahead as it just looked more pleasing to me
Happy New Year to you all, lets hope the year brings us all good health and happiness. See you in 2012!

47 comments:

Annemart Berendse said...

Hi Janet, I love your white work! And thanks for testing the pens, might try them out. New markers are always welcome.

Donna Keating said...

Your work is lovely. Best wishes for the coming new year.

Susan said...

That stitching is beautiful! And the red and green is so vibrant and pure, if you know what I mean!!!

Supergoof said...

It's gorgeous!
And a big inspiration for something that might be a new project in 2012,...
:o)
You are so inspiring!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful trapunto ! What a lot of work !
Happy new year to you, Janet !

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

It is looking amazing!

antique quilter said...

Happy New year to you and your family, ah yes looking forward to 2012!
Love the way the trapunto looks , wow!
great job
kathie

Joan said...

Thats beautiful Janet - Interesting how you have done your trapunto. Something I have never mastered.. What is the white fabric you are using for the background?

Jane in Cumbria said...

It will look stunning when it is all together. Beautiful design!
Jane

Unknown said...

Gorgeous! You do such lovely work. I'm still searching like a mad woman for those markers! I'd love to try them! They are not available locally, so I'm going to start hunting on eBay for them! Happy New Year!

Cardygirl said...

Just amazing!

Anonymous said...

Wow Janet the trapunto work looks sensational. It adds a really special dimension.

Mary said...

Beautiful Janet! I have always loved trapunto, but have not tried it. I checked out your tutorial and it is very clear....I think I will need to give it a try.

Darlene said...

You continue to amaze and dazzle me, Janet. Wowzer!!!

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Nedra said...

Such beautiful detailed work. I am impressed! The trapunto is a perfect addition to a perfect quilt.

Cheri said...

Wow, this quilt is going to be spectacular. Enjoy your quiet week and Happy New Year.

Ruth said...

That is absolutely amazing! I can't imagine ever doing it myself, but I sure to love it and appreciate all the talent and work that went (and is) going into it! Thanks for sharing!

Vivian said...

Love the red and green blocks. You have so much patience in your quilting. This is going to be great. Can't wait to see the end project.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

This quilt takes my breath away! What a beautiful masterpiece you are making!!!!
I have never attempted trapunto, it is the perfect accent to all your gorgeous applique.

Spice said...

WOW, Awesome!

It looks really great.

Happy New Year.

Donna in SW PA said...

I use cotton voile on the back instead of muslin. Thinner and easier to get through. Donna

julieQ said...

Your trapunto is looking lovely, Janet!!

Lori said...

That is lovely and will be worth all the time it took! Very [pretty and will be an heirloom.
Happy new year!!

Teri said...

It is truly amazing.....I'm going to try and find those pens.they sound wonderful. FYI everyone in our area has been all excited about frixion pens and I found out the hard way when you wash the marks out.....the color of the material comes out with it. The longer it is on the more of the color is removed.

imquilternity said...

Wow...you really have patience. Your quilting/trapunto work is absolutely gorgeous and I'm not surprised at all. After all, it's YOU who's doing it! :)

Janet said...

Just beautiful. You are going to have an heirloom quilt for future
generations.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Janet

Shirley said...

It is always a pleasure to see your stitching Janet and that quilt looks worthy of any museum piece. Fabulous stitching. Looking forward to the New Year and new goals.

regan said...

Oh my....your trapunto work is gorgeous! I have never attempted it, but I would love to try. I'm guessing that after you've completed the quilt, and you've quilted around these shapes, you pull your basting threads out then? And are you basting just a thread or two width inside of where the quilting line will be? Do you need to overstuff, to compensate for that smidge of extra room the stuffing will have when it can move out to the quilting line? I'm just wondering about all the details as I can sometimes get way ahead of my project, and then realize I didn't do necessary steps in the prep! :o)

I have one of those 'masterpiece' quilts in my head, and I want to do it justice when the time comes to start.....trapunto would look amazing on it! So I'm trying to gather all my wits BEFORE I start it! lol

Nifty Quilts said...

You are amazing! This will be a real treasure. A very happy new year to you and yours as well!

Sujata Shah said...

You leave me breathless every time I visit your blog! Janet, this is gorgeous!
Some day, I want to see all your finished quilt in one post.. Oh that would be a treat.. almost like visiting a quilt museum!
Happy New Year to you and your family! Dream away of those new quilts... Please!!! I want to be inspired even more!
Hugs,
Sujata

Sharon said...

Looks fabulous. Since you are going to wash this after it's all together, did you consider using wash away thread for the basting? I've heard that it's great for this type of work. Wishing you a very happy new year, and I look forward to seeing many more wonderful pieces on your blog in 2012. Thanks so much for all your sharing with us!

Anonymous said...

it is beautiful!! I am very impressed!!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Janet, this quilt is amazing! It's so wonderful to hear your methods though I'm a long way from attempting such a masterpiece. You are so right about this time of year, thinking of projects to finish and plans of new ones. I'm curious about how your quilting frame went.

Meredith said...

I know you tested the pens but what is wrong with me I am still afraid to use them. LOl. The quilt is looking great. Have a happy new year.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Truly spectacular. Your love of craft shows in your work.

Pat said...

As always - your work is so exquisite!

Wishing you all the very best for the New Year and many hours of Happy Stitching.

Janet said...

WOW Janet! This project is so exciting!! I like how you explain everything for those curious minds :0) I LOVE how it is looking so far. So if you haven't actually quilted on your design lines yet you quilt this after it is stuffed,assembled and layered? I can't wait to see your further progress with this project!! The antique quilts with dense, gorgeous quilting and trapunto are my favorites. I think it is awesome that you are making one. I am so inspired.

Julia said...

Hi Janet...this is looking amazing. love the trapunto.
I have been trying to buy those pens , but can't find anywhere in the UK that will ship to Aust, Could you please tell me where you bought them from.
Thanks so much
Julia ♥

FlourishingPalms said...

Your hand quilting is beautiful; the design perfectly suits the applique. You're amazing, Janet. Finishing a quilt as stunning as this one, during 2012, would be a big enough goal, by my way of thinking! But I know you are made of the stuff it takes to produce several spectacular quilts in one year. You're knocking my socks off... I've been running around barefoot ever since I started following your blog! (Poor me. ggg)

Taryn said...

Out of all your wonderful projects the Coxcomb and Currants is my very favorite. I love the red and green and the trapunto makes it divine. I got the Berol pens from Ebay and was surprised at how reasonable they cost, including the shipping. But I am in the US not Australia.

Marjorie said...

I really hate it when you post amazing things like this. It raises the bar and pushes me to try new things. Thanks...I guess.

Marie said...

Janet, your trapunto looks simply amazing - that green and red quilt will be another in a series of spectacular pieces that you produce. I'll be interested to see how you join the blocks. Love your blog - it is wonderful inspiration; wish I had half of your energy!

Marie
Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

Sarah said...

Wow Janet! Your work is just so beautiful. I love the blocks and I love the stuffed bit as well! I look forward to watching this project come along. Happy new year!

Sue-Anne said...

It looks fantastic Janet! happy New Year.

Lina said...

I LOVE everything you do!!! This red and green quilt is BEAUTIFUL! I would love to make this quilt!

Barb said...

Looks great Janet. Thanks for taking us through your process.
I've always loved this block.
Happy 2012 to you and your loved ones.

Chinaberry Grove said...

Where can I get this pattern?