Closer detail

Detail 2

A closer shot of the quilting on the border line. I've carried over the yellow stitching and incorporated some pink stitching. I played with the tension to bring the navy bobbin thread up from the bottom. I like the effect it has - the pink doesn't seem so stark against the darker colours. It works well.

Quilting Today

Detail 1

I've spent more hours quilting today, then tying off threads. It can become tedious sometimes but I am happy with the progress that I am making. I'm beginning to think that this will eventually be finished. Today I have been looking at how I can tie the two distinct halves of the quilt together and started to stitch some of the pink areas with that in mind.

Textured stitches

Detail 2

Another photo of the stitching in my small quilt. This is only the beginning but may give you some idea of my plans for the rest of the quilt. I really like the effect of different coloured thread quilted over interesting fabrics. It can bring a whole new point of interest into the piece and give it that zing that makes it sing!

Thread texture

Detail 1

Here is a detail shot of some of the machine quilting that I've done on this quilt. I haven't tied in the threads yet but I quite like the texture of a mass of loose threads. It is not what I am looking for in this quilt but I am likely to keep this idea in mind for a future design. It is interesting to see how this is coming along. I don't do any planning before I begin quilting - just a quick thought of what might look good and then sit down at the machine and start. Often the quilting doesn't come to me until the fabric is actually under the machine.

I would like to acknowledge the inspiration for the dyeing of this fabric has come from Dijanne's wonderful work. It is directly due to her blog that I decided to try dyeing again after this long break and I am very excited at the result.

Another piece added

Step 3 - adding a further piece of fabric

I then pieced the larger of the two fabrics to the creation as well. The colours work well together but after this there was the challenge of how to quilt it. I didn't have to think about it for some time as I had an assignment due for my Uni studies and that cut into my quilting time.

I've now begun the quilting and will have some close up pics here as soon as I take the photos. The quilt will be very heavily quilted with a variety of stitches and threads. You can see that there is an interesting bit of pink/apricot in the tie dyed fabric and I will be carrying that colour as well as the other colours over into the other part of the quilt.

All of this is, of course, filling in a lot of time while I procrastinate over how to finish the major project that I have been working on for the last few months. Procrastination is an interesting thing - is it because I am fearful of messing it up or because I am not sure where to go next?

Step 2 in the Creation

Step 2 - piecing a second strip

Here is the second step. I added a strip of bright yellow fabric that was cut freehand and curved. This was a good way to practise some temporarily forgotten techniques. I'm delighted that it didn't take too much to work out how to piece curves again.

Creating something from my dyed fabrics

Picture 1 - piecing

Having tried dyeing fabrics again after such a long break, I decided to play at putting something together from my efforts. I began with a pieced strip.

Dyed fabric

Dyed fabric

Another piece of dyed fabric. I am really happy with the dark area. It turned out just as I had hoped. I was worried initially that I had used too much dye. I am very pleased with the results of my day.

Now I am looking forward to dyeing more fabric and will have to decide what I want to do. I'd forgotten how much fun this is.

Having fun with dyes

Dye experiment

It's been 4½ years since I have dyed any fabric. I've always had good intentions but now have finally managed to make some time to take the plunge again. This is the first piece that I have tied with rubber bands and also the first piece I have overdyed so it was a day for learning. It was great fun and I have plans already for this piece.