The good thing about this quilt is that it was essentially a frame quilt, and so I quilted each frame individually. I started in the middle, and hand quilted round the applique, to give a softer look, and then stipple quilted in the spaces. I suppose some cross hatching would have looked good, but maybe a bit too formal. Anyway, it's too late now, and I think the stippling makes the applique stand out nicely.
Then I did mainly in the ditch on the geometric sections, as I think the design can be blurred with too much all-over quilting. Besides, I like my quilts a bit cuddly, not stiffly quilted within an inch of their lives! There is meander with flowers in the pale blue hand-dyed section, but I don't hink you can see it. 
The border was quilted with free machine feathers, which gives a touch of extravagance to the edge. I marked in the curves with a white pencil and then just went for the feathers as they came. The two sides of the feathers don't match up, but since when was Mother Nature symmetrical?!
Here is the completed quilt. I started it in 2006, so it's only been two years in the making. Quite quick really!
8 comments:
I agree, the stippling does make that beautiful applique stand out. What a gorgeous finish.
Oh so very nice. Stippling is very good for making emboridery pop. I like this quilt, it seems very American to me with the red/white/blue.
NQD didn't exactly pass me by this year but I do have to confess to spending a good proportion of it watching the 6 Nations - I can sit and hand stitch watching anything else on the tv but not rugby - every time I look away towards my stitching I miss something important so they just don't mix - mind you I did stitch some after the final whistle of the third game :o) My 2006 Ostrich is still part done in a bag somewhere - I really should drag it out and complete it
I didn't get to even think about stitching on NQD! I've made up for it since though. LOL
Well done, it looks great! I will finish mine sometime, but as I plan to hand quilt it, it won't be sometime soon LOL
Did you see my jaw drop last night? Lynda it is truly beautiful and I can't believe how quickly you got it finished...and that you got it all under you domestic machine!! WELL DONE!!
Beautiful! The quilting is just right..Colours go so very well together. Nothing says it more than applique. I love your quilt all over.
Liz
Yes, it's a quilt, it's a quilt, and by gosh, it's a beautiful guilt! So much pleasure checking out each border, variance, pattern. etc. Congrats on the finish. ya dun good!
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