Lone star quilt

Anybody want to see what I've been doing the last couple of days? I was bent over the machine table squinting at these stitches. I had to keep reminding myself to stop tensing up and relax.



A bit of micro stippling and a bit of small stippling to make the design pop out.


The design started out looking like this. Lots of bias fullness in the fabric.



In a post a couple of days ago; I showed this top on the machine. I wanted to practice some "quality" quilting on it even though I couldn't figure out what "quality" meant. Something in the back of my mind kept telling me to mark a design before quilting. I decided to listen to my subconsious and take it back off to mark a design. It took me almost a full day to draw the design on the fabric then get it back on the machine and basted together.

I very rarely mark a quilt before quilting and it's usually my own. I prefer freehand work on customer quilts. The second day I got the star part quilted and the design stitched in the white areas. I'm hoping to have it completely quilted in about 4 or 5 more days.

I'm so far behind on my waiting list that tackling a design like this is sort of crazy. I could have used a faster design to get it "done" and out the door; but, that wouldn't be the type quilter I am. I prefer to give the quilt what it tells me it needs regardless of the time table. Do you know what I mean? It's very hard to explain but I'll try.

When someone brings me a quilt top that they inherited; it's my job to look at it and figure out what the maker might have had in mind when she created it. Using my imagination; I can almost see an angel standing at my side with a big smile on her face knowing her UFO is about to get completed. If I choose a design that's not quite right; it's almost as if the angel is telling me she wants more choices. My desire to make the top look really good becomes stronger than my desire to do a fast design to get it done. When I finish putting the last stitch in the binding; my imagination sees an angel saying thank you.

Imagination is a good thing.... it's what really good writers use to write best sellers. It's also what gives quilt pattern designers the ideas for the new designs we all love to buy. For me; imagination is what makes me a good professional quilter. I will probably have several other toppers wondering why their top is not quilted yet; but, the angel will smile knowing her family will get to enjoy her quilt after all. I'm smiling too.

I need to get off the computer and back to work this morning. Hmm..... now where did I put the ben-gay?