Christmas Bride Quilt

I am sharing my quilts with you on my blog.  I shall try to put a new one on it the beginning of the month every month (if I live long enough....ha)  Does that tell you how many quilts I've made and kept in my quilting career.  I have made oodles that I've given away as presents for some reason or another.  I even forgot to take pictures of several of them.
Today's quilt is a celebration quilt that I made in honor of Sweet Precious Mr. Whoozy, my husband at this writing, and my deceased 1st husband Sweet Dear Dave.  I married one of them on the 23rd of December and the other one Dec. 28th.  I love Christmas weddings.  It is hectic getting ready for one, but so beautiful to decorate the church for such an occasion at Christmas time.
This quilt is mostly applique, mostly done by hand with pieced blocks here and there.  It is highly embellished, so I hope you'll enjoy looking at each block while you're here at my blog.
Being a musician, the music blocks are the actual notes to "Here Comes the Bride."  The little "bow tie" blocks are fun to piece and they are on the bottom row of the quilt.  Paper pieced little church and hearts are also fun to make.  I love poinsettias, so they are my own pattern.
The use of so much red and green just makes the quilt cheery!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU QUILTERS OUT THERE. 
I  PRAY FOR A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR, WITH GOOD HEALTH FOR ALL.  QUILTERS LIVE A LONG LIFE, DUE TO THE SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH OTHER QUILTERS.  STITCH, STITCH, STITCH!!

My Album Quilt

I'm sure all of you know that I have another life besides this blog......just teasing...........but, I try to get the picture on here that I talk about in my newspaper articles........but, sometimes, I am a little delayed in doing so........today, I got something in my eye about 4 o'clock this afternoon and have just now gotten normal vision..............so here is my Album quilt for you to see.. It is a work of love. It is all by hand....not a machine stitch on it..............except the embroidery for names, etc. enjoy.......

Those Autumn Leaves are still falling

Such fun working with autumn leaves. I shall continue to tell you to save the leaves to use for quilting. There are so many things we can do with God's nature found just outside your window. Thought you'd like to view one of these blocks up close to see the details of the satin stitching and quilting.

My Admiral Quilt

Some of you have just seen a picture of My Admiral quilt that I made a few years ago. It is truly one of my "treasures" to pass down to family in years to come. It is "priceless" as the items sewn onto the quilt can never be duplicated. I promised to show you the back of the quilt. It has a pic. of My Admiral.....and a folder that has his entire career printed on it and folded onto the back of the quilt. It has a "legend" that tells the origin of each squadron patch on the front of the quilt. This type of thing is necessary on this kind of quilt, as in years to come, it will be harder to trace the meaning of some of the patches. I shall be putting the front of the quilt onto this blog in a few weeks. It is a difficult quilt to photograph as it is so very large.

Autumn Leaves Quilt

NOVEMBER JUST BRINGS TO MIND AUTUMN LEAVES FALLING ALL AROUND US NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE. Fond days of raking leaves, piling them up and kids jumping into them and spreading them all out all over the lawn again, comes to mind, too. The beautiful leaves on the massive trees in North Carolina triggered my brain to make a quilt as if I were looking through a window.....thus, I used the attic window quilt pattern that I shall put on this blog this next week. This quilt was made from drawing around the actual leaves that I had gathered out of my yard up in the mountains of NC, using them for my patterns. The added little picture of the water wheel in the center came as an afterthought. It added a little action to the quilt and a little more interest, I thought. Quilting the leaves was easy, as I had the actual leaf veins to copy, using metallic threads for interest. I like a little glitz on some of my quilts. I shall be putting pictures of my quilts that I have made over the years, for you to see on this blog. I'll share some of the patterns with you as well. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!

Seminole Patchwork

For ones of you who do not live in Florida, the Seminole Indians inhabited the state many many years ago but now live on reservations in the southern part of the state in an area called the Everglades. They also have reservations around Pensacola in the panhandle of Florida. Many years ago, the Indians were given treadle sewing machines and remnants from fabric bolts that were donated to them from clothing manufacturers in the U.S. They were very creative, and started sewing the remnants into strips in beautiful patterns that they named from nature, such as fire, lightening, turtles, man on horseback, etc. I have given some of the more prevalent patterns for you to see. The patchwork is always done on the sewing machine and is relatively easy to duplicate. There are many books written about this, but you'll enjoy seeing a skirt that I made before I was known as a "quilter." I just loved to sew, and this idea intrigued me to no end.! I made many items using the patchwork patterns. The more intricate patterns were made by the Indians for their own clothing. They did not share the patterns with anyone. The items that they made to sell back in the 20's and 30's, were made using the more simple patterns. I am showing you a beautiful piece of the early Seminole that a friend of mine bought many years ago when she lived in Miami. This piece has one of those more difficult patterns, and thus, makes it more valuable. I'm sure you can pick out which patterns are difficult to duplicate!

Continuous Binding for quilts

Continuous Binding is very simple to make. Some judges at juried quilt shows will pick up a quilt and look at the binidng, and if it is not a bias binding, they will be even bother to judge it. Now, doesn't that get your attention? It certainly did me, back in Ft. Worth, Tx when I watched a judge do just that! I know that all of you know that quilts with scallops or curved edges have to have bias bindings to make them lay flat, but most of the quilters that I know today, just whip on a crossgrain binding or a selvage edge binding that is cut 2 1/2", folded in half and sewn down raw edge to raw edge of the quilt. Here is a beautiful binding, that is done with continuous strips on the bias: Looking at the pictures: Picture A on the left, and Picture B on the right. Follow these instructions: For a better wearing binding, take a 30" square of fabric, cut straight on each side with the grain line, and mark a diagonal line from one corner to the other, and cut. Pin two straight sides together so that it looks like Picture !, and sew with a quarter inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open. Lay fabric flat with wrong side up. With a yardstick and pencil, starting from the top, draw a line every 2" parallel to the bias cut. Then pin the other two straight sides together offsetting the top to line A on one side. see Picture B. stitch, using quarter ince seam allowance, and press seam open. Start cutting on line A and continue to the end of the tube. Fold bias in half lengthwise and press. Place raw edge of binding to raw edge of quilt back and sew using quarter inch seam allowance. Fold finished edge of binding to front of quilt and whip down by hand. A 30" square of fabric will give you approximately 13 yards of 3/8" wide binding.

Quickie Quilt

The Quickie Quilt may be used for making small quilts such as for Hospice quilts,baby quilts or even Quilts of Valor. The size depends on the size borders you wish to have. I am making a Western quilt for a new baby using this method. Great use of "fat quarters." If you do not know how to print directions from my blog, go to the ARCHIVES on the right side of the blog, and find May 10th, 2010 and read the directions for printing, carefully; then print off these directions and pictures that are here for you.

Fairy God Mother Quilt!

O.K., I have to tell you, being without a computer for a week is truly devastating!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry for the delay, but I just had to backup my computer in the event of a major "CRASH!" This happened to a friend of mine, and I know her pain!!!!!!! I have 12 years of articles on this computer, and just can't afford to let that happen to me........so forgive my delay in getting some of the articles and pictures on here that you are looking for at this moment! Here is the Fairy God Mother quilt. It is truly adorable. Just think of all those dainty little handkerchiefs in your dresser drawer that you never ever look at except in a blue moon, and that just passed............so, get them out and choose one that you adore, and get busy making a little miniature quilt out of is.! So simple..........just layer it with batting, and a lining, and do a little stitching on it and add a few baubles that you adore and voila, you can enjoy it every day of your life, right there in your face!!!!!!! This one is only 12" square..........and isn't it precious!!!!!!!!!! Almost as precious as the person who gave it to me!!!!!!!!!!!

BLOG'S NEW LOOK! "AUSTRIAN FLOWERS"

Hi, all, Thought it was time to "change the scenery" of my blog! Sorry I've been so negligent in doing that; but, it doesn't seem to keep you all from coming to see me here quite often! I have had an idea that might interest you! I am going to start "showcasing" all of my quilts that I have made in the past 20 years. Some of them, some of you have never seen! I have been very stingy with them, as I know that some day my ch

ildren and grandchildren will be old enough to appreciate all the work that has gone into most of them. Most of my quilts are all done by hand and have taken me 3 to 5 years to complete. I'll also tell the story of the quilt that is being exhibited. That might be of interest to you. I would like to say a big "THANK YOU" to the many of you that check my blog at least once a week. This is what keeps me going with this project. The quilt you see today is called "Austrian Flowers." A few years ago I took my grandson, Sean and my son, Pat on a trip to Germany/Austria/and Switzerland. We had such a wonderful time. The quilt you see here is my own design. I had cut out many of the blocks and had them "wonderundered" to the background black fabric ready to button-hole stitch while riding the tour bus. This was great fun, as so many people would ask me "what in the world are you doing?" It makes for a great conversation starter. When we returned home, I put the quilt top together and started appliqueing on the borders. There is a great picture of the 3 of us that I put on the back of the quilt along with the label. You know how I fuss when you don't do this. In a month or so, I'll be putting another one of my quilts on this blog, so check back often. I've quit putting quilts in shows, as it is so much trouble, and I'm always afraid that one will get lost in the mail to or from the show. Thanks for being my "blog friends." You can post a comment anytime at Thimblena14@gmail.com HAPPY DAYS!

Care and Preservation of Fine Quilts

If you own a quilt, consider yourself fortunate! If you know the history of your quilt, consider yourself even more fortunate! Any known fact about the quilt will be a treasure to your loved ones even a century from now. So.....here's how to protect your quilt and document its history. The best place for a quilt is on a bed, under a coverlet. If you hang a quilt on a wall for a decoration, make certain that it does not receive the glare frm the sun or any bright light. If you want to keep the quilt folded and in a closet or drawer, NEVER put it in plastic or zippered cases or cardboard boxes. Never let a quilt come in contact with wood, suach as in a cedar chest! Put the quilt into a pillowcase just as you would a pillow. Remove the quilt often and refold to place the creases in different locations. Quilts will "dry rot" on the creases. "Air" the quilt once in a while just by placing it on a bed. Don't hang it on a clothesline as grandma used to do. They don't like the moisture in the air, nor the bright sunlight or ultraviolet rays on cloudy days. How to clean a soiled quilt: Most quilts will benefit from a light vacuuming to remove dust. Using masking tape, tape the edges down to a large table. Use a hand-held attachment to vacuum the quilt. Remember that most old quilts have a coon batting between the lining and the quilt top, and extreme cleaning will leave the quilt "limp as a dishrag." Washing an all cotton quilt will usually wash out all of the old batting, and leave you with just the quilt top and the lining. YOu must determine the type of fabrics used in the quilt before cleaning if you are not sure that a quilt is all cotton, test a couple of threads of fabric by touching a lighted match to the threads. COTTON burns rapidly and smells like paper. WOOL burns slowly and smells like scorched hair. POLYESTER and RAYON threads melt. Please remember that REDS usually fade. If the quilt is basically red, don't even consider washing it. I don't advise dry-cleaning quilts for any reason, since cellulose is not soluble in drycleaning fluid. If the quilt has a shiny cotton look, it is probably chintz. Do not wash chintz, as it will lose its shiny look. Use care in cleaning mixed fabric quilts, such as silk/wool or cotton/wool. Spot cleaning is preferred. WASHING A QUILT... Once you have determined the fiber content, and decide that it is safe to wash, get Quilt Soap at a quilt shop and follow the directions explicitly. I usually lay a sheet in the bottom of a bathtub, run cold water to cover the quilt and useing the quilt soap, squish the quilt up and down. Remove the water, and rinse thoroughly. Lift the quilt out of the tub by lifting on a sheet. This keeps the threads from breaking from the strain. Don't wring the quilt. Squeeze gently and roll the quilt in beach towels or just lay it out flat on a sheet on the grass out of the sun and let air dry. DON'T put the quilt in the dryer. You won't ahve a quilt left. Don't hang over the clothesline, as it puts too much strainon the threads and the batting will sift to the bottom of the quilt and be lumpy. TUrn the quilt freqently while drying and change to another sheet if possible. A mattress pad is good to put the quilt on to dry. Later I shall tell how to spot clean a quilt and restore a quilt. Stay tuned to this website! HAPPY DAYS!

FINISHED MYSTERY QUILT EXTRAORDINAIRE

Finished the Mystery Quilt Extraordinaire! Got the baby quilt almost finished. For those who are making this quilt, it is fun to make, and easy as pie. The center block is a turtle, if you are making a fun quilt.....or baby quilt......if not, it can have any block you choose for the center block where the turtle is in mine! Also see the Quilt of Valor made with the same pattern. It is below this article. Since I was making a child's quilt, it made it a little jazzy than plain vanilla. Putting antennae on the butterflies made out of the log cabin blocks using black embroidery thread.......and a few other little things like making embroidery thread ties in Blocks #3 like it is an aviary with birds in it.......and feathers for the geese out of the quilting......and eyes on the turtle and on the geese......just fun embellishments on the butterflies, as well. Have fun with this. Happy Days!

Mystery Quilt Extraordinaire made into a Quilt Of Valor

Wow, now that the first Mystery Quilt Extraordinaire is finished, I am ready to start another one; only this time, it will be a Quilt of Valor done in red, white and blut to be presented to a wounded military person back from Afghanistan or Iraq. Notice that it requires 7 blocks of the #1 block. That makes the bottom row. The setting triangles may be pieced partial log cabin blocks using #1 block pattern, or they may be solid pieces of fabric....your choice. I love piecing the log cabin, so I shall most likely do that for mine. This setting also makes just a nice twin bed size quilt using finished 12" blocks. Unfortunately, my printer ran out of ink as it printed the last row of blocks, but I hand colored it in so you can see how pretty it is. Have fun with this!

LAST BLOCK FOR Mystery Quilt Extraordinaire

HERE IT IS! The TURTLE! This is the cutest turtle ever! The tail and head are sewn into the seams on the curves, after you have stuffed them a bit with a little batting or fiberfil. This gives them a nice touch. The head needs eyes embroidered onto it or buttons if making a quilt that is not for a small child. If making a quilt for an adult, you can put a "star" block instead of the turtle or something that you have appliqued.....or even a picture is nice! Be creative! Enlarge this pattern to fit a 12" finished block. HOW TO PRINT FROM A BLOG: look at my archives on this blog. Find the one for May 10, 2010. Complete directions are given there for pinting this pattern off or any other pattern that you wish...........HAPPY QUILTING! Next week: The Construction of the Mystery QUILT! YEHHHH you'll love it!

Mystery Quilt Extraordinaire Block #3

Wow, how time flies! I think someone else has said that! Block #3 is very simple to construct. Just be sure that you measure and cut accurately. Make 4 of this pattern. One corner should have a very "weird" fabric to make it completely different from the other fabrics. Notice light and dark areas. Be sure that all 4 blocks are exactly alike! Enjoy! There is only one more pattern and it only has to have one block constructed! We're almost there......keep up with me.....and you'll love the outcome. So different from the "run of the mill" quilts.....almost abstract.

Block #2 for Mystery Quilt Extraordinaire

The second block of this mystery quilt looks very easy to make, however, it takes very precise measuring to assure you of ending up with the right size square. I keep forgetting that not everyone has taught math as long as I did. The rotary cutting dimensions for a finished 12" block are as given below: For the background triangles, cut a strip of fabric across the grain that is 4 3/4" wide. Fold the strip in half with wrong sides together.To cut the triangles, measure along the bottom of the strip to 7 1/8". When cut, there is a triangle for the left side and one for the right side. Repeat this process until you have 3 sets or 6 background triangles. For the center "pyramid" cut a strip 4 1/2" long of a light colored fabric. (There will be a pyramid of a medium shade and one of an even darker shade.) Leave fabric single strip not folded. Measure along the botton of strip to 13 5/8" and put a mark there. Not fold the strip in half to find the center of the pyramid. Put a dot on the center fold. Leaving fabric folded, cut from bottom of strip to center dot. Once you have this pyramid cut, flip it over and cut the next 3 pyramids the same way using the same fabric. There will be 4 pyramids of each color fabric, since you must make 4 blocks exactly alike. Sew side triangles to a pyramid using 1/4" seam allowance. When sewing the strips together, sew from the side where you can see where the center point is so you won't lop off the center point of the pyramids.

MYSTERY QUILT #2 STARTING THIS WEEK!

My new Mystery Quilt Extraordinaire is starting this week! It is really a versatile quilt. By changing the size blocks you wish to use, you can make a baby quilt, a twin bed quilt, a queen or king size quilt, and either one will be beautiful! The first pattern is very simple to make. Dimensions are given for a finished 12" block. Be sure to use very light colors on one side and very dark colors on the other. The center should be red or dark pink or deep red. Using varying shades of the same colors will be great. I'm using shades of lime green, blues, and cream for a baby quilt, making the blocks 6" blocks. It is really pretty in red, white and blue, too, for those of you who want to make a patriotic quilt. Have fun.........next pattern in about 2 weeks............:)

Australian Trip wall-hanging

Wow, how time flies when you're having fun! Sorry I've been a little negligent about my posting. I promise to do better henceforth. Had a lot going on in my life, but that is what life is all about. Everyone seems to love my bird vignettes, and the pillow is the icing on the cake. I just love it. My birds are really having a fit out there today. Lots of rain in our area. Australian Adventure: I started my Australian wall hanging for my son using the authentic Australian fabrics that I bought while touring down there a few years ago. The classic blocks that I chose are: monkey wrench, churn dash, wild goose chase, and the compass star. The outside blocks stand for the Pacific and Indian Oceans that surround the continent of Australia. The flying geese pattern represents the 24 hour flight from Dallas to Sydney. The churn dash represents the churning of my son's brain while delivering his speech at the Computer Software Symposium. The center block represents the icon Opera House in Sydney and also being "down under" the equator. The blocks are 8" blocks. Most classic quilt books have these patterns in them, or if you EQ5, they are in the classics.

Finished Bird Vignette projects

Wall hanging including three of the bird vignettes.

The woodpecker pattern is very easy to use. I made it into a throw pillow top. Here is the pattern and the finished pillow top for you to see how I did it.

Thought you might want to see the finished hummingbird vignette in color. It was fun to make.

Bird Vignettes

The Hummingbird vignette is our next project.

Hope you can print out the pattern. If not, look at the Quilters' University in my archive on the right hand side of this blog. Locate May 10, 2010 for directions how to print from the blog.

Finally got the robin red breast finished. Thread painting is so relaxing. Just set your zigzag stitch, lower your feed dogs and take off machine quilt. I'm making these Bird Vignettes as a wall - grouping. There will be 3 of them with a throw pillow in the same room with #4 bird vignette on it. The Hummingbird is the next one, and it is a little faster to make, as the hibiscus flower is so large, and the little birds are soooo small. Have fun with this project!

Robin Red breast project

I wanted to start this project last week, but had to get Mr. Whoozy's birthday party all planned and over with! Now, we can go on with our Amazing Bird project.
I am putting the pattern on this blog for you. Enlarge it to the size you wish. I am making mine about 12" X 12" as that thread painting takes a lot of thread.
Using a light box, trace the pattern onto the right side of your fabric background. I am using the same background for all 4 of my birds. The Cardinal is already finished, and you can scroll down to see both of them. I made one in a pine tree and one in a palm frond. Whichever works for you.
Once you have the pattern traced onto the background fabric (tracing with a #2 pencil lightly works for me as I shall be covering up all lines with thread later) trace the entire bird onto a medium brown fabric. I used Heat Bond on the back of this, and then traced the red breast of the bird onto a bright orange fabric and bonded it to the brown bird.
Tear the bonding paper off the brown bird, and bond it to the main fabric where it is penciled in.
Make a darker brown branch as shown in the picture and bond it over the bird. The thread painting will take care of the details later.
Get this much done, and I'll try to show the next steps on the blog in a day or two........Dr. appointments are interfering with my quilt work! MERCY!
Have patience with me, please.

Pine needles and thorns for palm fronds for Cardinal vignettes

Thought you'd like to see a close-up of how I thread painted the pine needles and the thorns on the limbs of the palm fronds. Both are done with a zigzag stitch set at the widest stitch it is possible to use on your machine. Lower the feed dogs and as the zigzag stitch is being made gently move the project under the presser foot to create the look of the needles and the thorns. Keep fingers out of the way! Wow, it hurts when you stitch through your finger....(known from experience!

Finished vignettes of Cardinal

Here is my finished vignette of the Cardinal in the Pine Tree for NC or Florida.....they do have pine trees in north Florida:)
and my Cardinal in the Palm Frond for the Florida folks:)
Close ups will follow, next week showing the thread painting a little better!

Visuals for beginning the Amazing Birds Project

Step by Step directions for making the bird vignettes.
Beginning Amazing Birds Project:

Choose the pattern that you wish to use for your first bird vignette. Print it off the blog (How to in archives May 10, 2010.)
If you don't have a light box, you need to get one. It is the greatest gadget to use for appliqué. They carry them at most fabric stores or you can order them from one of the quilting catalogs available online. I use the small light box as I have no need of the larger one.
As you can see, I have chosen to make the Cardinal in the palm fronds for my first vignette. The Cardinal in the pine tree is also very pretty and should be done the very same way as described here. My fabric is cut 13" X 12" to allow a little extra to cut off when finished quilting.
1. Place the pattern on the light box with the sky blue fabric on top.
2. Trace the pattern with a #2 pencil or a pen that disappears with water.
3. Iron a removable fusible onto wrong side of red fabric. Trace cardinal with white marking pen or disappearing mark pen. Be sure to trace the whole tail, as you will do thread painting over it for the limb that it is sitting on.
4. Cut out cardinal and fuse to sky fabric.

Threadpainting is such fun! Use the directions from archives for May 10, 2010 for learning how to "Print from the blog" to print off the pattern for the CARDINAL IN A PINE TREE!Also, in the archives, find "How to do Freezer Paper Applique" Jan. 25, 2010. This is large enough to make a nice small wall hanging. Follow directions given in the newspaper,if you have them, but eventually I'll put them on the blog, too. This is a great learning activity! The picture of the cardinal in the palm fronds is used for my drawing of the "Cardinal in the Pine Tree." More later.

Primitive Hearts Quilt

This has to be one of my favorite quilts. I love Valentine's Day and hearts are always pretty on quilts, so jump in and make one of these quicki-to-make quilts. The pictured quilt is a baby quilt made by my friend Sissy who lives in Willamsburg, VA.

The Primitive Pieced Hearts quilt is made from 2 1/2" strips that are simply pieced into 4 patch blocks. Using a diagonal set and background fabric for one of the block corners creates the pattern of hearts. You may use one fabric or many different fabrics for this quilt.

Here are the directions for a lap size quilt with borders 47" X 58". You'll need 52 heart blocks and 35 background blocks. Fabric: 2 1/2" strips--18. Hearts 52. Background fabric: 2 1/2" strips-4: 4 1/2" strips-4; 4 1/2" strips(one 22" strip of fabric will make 3 hearts: 8 1/2" squares for edge triangles -6: 4 1/2" squares for corners 2. Borders may be made at your own discretion.

PIECING: Cut 8" from each of the strips of heart fabric. Save the remainder for later. With Right sides together, sew the 8" pieces of heart fabric one after the other to each of the 2 1/2" background strips. Press seams toward the darker fabric.
Cut each group apart at 2 1/2" intervals. You should have 3 rows from each heart fabric.Sew each row to the reserved strip of matching heart fabric and trim it even with the two patch segment. Press toward the darkm fabric. Arrange the heart and background blocks; use the edge and corner triangles to fill in the edges and corners. Trim corners and edges of quilt as described. Attach borders as you wish.

Labels for quilts

One should always make a label for the quilt. It should have the name of the quilt, the maker's name, and the date, for sure! Anything more than that may be added. They may be hand stitched, embroidered by machine, or hand painted. Whatever works for the quilt is fine. It should be hand blind stitched to the back of the quilt on the far right cortner. If running behind and it won't show, it may be sewn on by machine; however, this is not very satisfactory in most cases.
The background should be light enough for the writing to be quite evident.
Many people use a piece of the fabric that is on the front of the quilt, if it is light enough to read the writing.

PINWHEEL BLOCKS

Many of you wish to see pictures of my blocks. I am showing the center point, the finished block, and the back of the block so you can see how to do all of this pattern. It is truly a beautiful quilt when finished. I am using Amy Butler fabrics that are so vibrant in color and design. Backgrounds for pinwheels are all different shades of green. I'll put the finished project on the blog when I finish it. Be sure to be accurate when joining pieces and the center seam. That is most important. GOOD QUILTING! happy days!!! :)B

Antique quilt purse

This antique quilt purse is using the pinwheel pattern. Notice the very old patterns used in the scrappy pinwheels. Some of the fabrics are very worn, and the cotton batting is showing through the background fabric in many places. The lady who made this quilt had to use very coarse thread for the quilting, and didn't know how to hide the beginning knots on the inside of the quilt batting. They are very obvious in the picture. But, I bet that she is happy that her quilt is still being admired after all these years! I love it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hawaiian quilting is such fun!

Hawaiian quilting is accomplished by quilting "the distance of the width of your little finger" away from the applique. The Hawaiians will measure using the little finger to repeatedly quilt around the applique in what we quilters call "Shadow quilting." It is done like little children do with new crayolas. Just keep repeating the lines outside an object using the same distance between the lines.
Aloha! And, HAPPY NEW YEAR~!!!!!!!!!!