Backwards or Not?

When I showed hubby the whole cloth quilt I had basted to take on vacation, he said, "Isn't that backwards?" He'd noticed that what I was calling the 'front' was 1 whole piece of fabric, and the 'back' was pieced. I understood why it didn't make sense to him, but it was exactly what I'd intended.

The Cotton+Steel Mesa that I was using for the front made it easy to quilt without marking, and I randomly alternated between straight lines and jagged, using perle cotton #8. I'd used Pellon Legacy Bamboo Blend batting, which is incredibly soft, and that paired with the hand-quilting created one sweet and cuddly quilt. And for the record, the bamboo quilts like a dream.

Before I was too far into the quilting, I used a dinner plate to mark rounded corners, so I had guide-lines in which to keep my quilting. Once I was home and it was time to choose binding fabric, wouldn't you know my stash let me down, and the only thing that suited me was the midnight peppered cotton I'd bought on vacation. It's not quite navy, but I think if you saw it up close you'd see why it goes so well with the Mesa. Full confession: it was only after I was sewing the binding on that I realized I hadn't cut it on the bias, which you should always do if you're doing rounded corners! I think it was because I was using a shot-cotton that I got away with forgetting. But don't take the risk....

Since I'd hand-quilted the quilt with that perle cotton, I really wanted to incorporate that element into the binding too. I machine-stitched the binding onto the back side, then folded it over to the front and hand-stitched it down very closely to the edge. I know I'm taking a chance, but I just had to do it, and I love the way it looks. I'll be sure and let you know how it wears, for better or worse.

All in all, this was a really delightful foray into a different facet of quilting, and I'm glad I gave it a try. So tell me, is it not really a whole cloth quilt since I pieced the back?? Hmm....

quilt finished at 40"x52"

Whole Cloth

Often after I've published an issue of The Scrap Basket newsletter, I've been inclined to try the technique or pattern I just featured. Most recently, it was the issue with whole cloth quilts that got me going in a new direction.

For the top of my whole cloth quilt, I chose a colorful Cotton+Steel print from Mesa by Alexia Abegg. This particular piece of fabric has a fun story attached, considering Alexia was standing right next to me when I purchased it at QuiltCon!

Anyway, I cut a length 45"x60" for the top, and pieced 9 coordinating C+S fat-quarters for a backing.

Shock of shocks, I decided I better pin-baste, since I was planning on hand-quilting this one. I know, also shocking. But my machine was headed in for a check-up, so it was perfect timing to go this route.

I posted the following progress photo on Instagram, asking two questions: 1 - "how big IS "big stitch" quilting?" and 2 - "who else stitches 2 (or more) rows with 2 (or more) needles before moving their hoop?" Here's a link to the conversation. I was kind of surprised that alot of folks don't even use a hoop when doing hand-quilting, though many also sewed with several needles at a time, so I don't feel weird about that. And my stitches measure about 1/4", which was the general consensus for big stitch quilting, though I'm not super consistent on my stitch length unfortunately. Considering I like organic quilting in general, I'm OK with that too. One clever commenter asked if I was left-handed, and no, I am not. I just happened to grab the hoop for a photo without thinking what direction I was holding it.

So here's where I am now, with about 1/3 of the quilting done. I'm using bamboo batting, and it's quilting very easily. As you can see, I'm using several colors of perle cotton #8, and combining both straight and outline stitches, all quite randomly chosen. (I like organic, remember?)

Despite the orientation of these photos, the quilting is actually going across the quilt. So it's slow sewing for me right now, and though I really miss my machine, I'm enjoying this project for what it is.

I'd  love to hear about your experience with whole cloth quilts, hand-quilting on pin-basted vs. spray-basted quilts, if you have a preferred batt for hand quilting, what "thread" you use, etc. etc. This is new territory for me, and I'm all ears.

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.