Yesterday I decided that waiting for winter to arrive before basting and hand quilting "at the heart of it all" is taking too long. Almost three weeks into winter and with the air conditioner humming in the background I decided I had to make a start (I'm also an optimist so am hopeful the cool change we've been told is coming will in fact arrive this time)...
I hand basted the three layers taped across and over my dining table in long blue running stitches in a grid of 4 inch squares, using the 2 inch squares of the quilt blocks as my guide...
It took two hours to complete the basting and my back was aching from bending over that long, so I took a morning tea break with Miss Austen...
A few weeks back Blossom and I went shopping for readable formats of dear Jane because my beautiful little leather volumes are very small with tiny font, and we like to sit back and read with ease these days.
I've started Mansfield Park and Bloss has chosen to re-read Sense & Sensibility.
Tea cup washed and cake crumbs dusted from my gold rimmed plate, I began the hand quilting with my favourite white Perle 12 thread...
An hour a day is my plan.
Until it's complete...
I think Jane and hand quilting are a perfectly genteel partnership...
hugs
Your quilting is already look lovely! I am excited to see it finished! :) x
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing this all quilted Jenny.
ReplyDeleteTime spent stitching is priceless. Your quilting is lovely!
ReplyDeleteI watched Pride and Prejudice with my granddaughter yesterday while I stitched on my huck embroidery tea towel. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours on a very hot afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI watched Pride and Prejudice with my granddaughter yesterday while I stitched on my huck embroidery tea towel. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours on a very hot afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI watched Pride and Prejudice with my granddaughter yesterday while I stitched on my huck embroidery tea towel. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours on a very hot afternoon.
ReplyDeleteLovely! Mansfield Park is Hannah's favourite.
ReplyDeleteI love those old books, I haven't read Jane Austins in a long time. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished quilt :-)
ReplyDeleteJust lovely! Enjoy
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! It'll be done before you know it....
ReplyDeleteIsn't it nice to have a favorite book sitting next to a favorite chair? I have some hand quilting I need to finish ... and soon would be good, because I baste in that frame and I have something that needs basting and mailing! I like the way you are stitching this quilt. I hope winter shows up soon for you!
ReplyDeleteYour basting technique is something I have been meaning to try. I have a couple of severe medical problems that cause extreme pain when basting with pins on the floor. I have also tried spray basting, but I do not like it for large projects. So my next alternative is basting on the kitchen table. I have never tried thread basting, but have wanted to try it. Looking forward to seeing your quilt all finished. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteA perfect partnership! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteYes a perfect combination! A few years back I visited Jane's house and saw the Throw she made with her sister Cassandra and I still want to make it for my self one day!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your reading, I have all her works and it is always a present to have some time with her!
Hugs
lida
Your quilting is looking very lovely.. One day Im going to quilt if my fingers don't stiffen up completely on me.. and I love your first embroidery photo.. Have a wonderful weekend with love Janice
ReplyDeleteJust lovely thoughts. You brought a smile to my face. I recently am reading a book by one of the Bronte sisters- Jane Eyre... and keeping some hand work in the living room to work on in the evenings. Enjoying this intentional slowing down. will look for this volumeof jan Austen's work you feature with larger font.
ReplyDeleteGoodness I haven't hand basted in YEARS - even with hand quilting I prefer the safety pins! Just so much quicker - I don't think my back could take hand basting anymore. Looking quite lovely, dear Jenny, an hour a day is a good plan!
ReplyDeleteI was trying to do some hand stitching the other day, with my pillow on my lap - it was SO hot - so I got a board to put across the arms of my chair, put the pillow on that, and I was very much cooler. Still no a/c in my room, but I'm coping - we don't have your heat even in our summer, usually!