The quilting is finished at last.
The quilting only shows close up because the fabrics are busy and colourful
I’m pleased with how it looks. Nice and simple, complementing the simple design. It’s not so dense it makes the quilt stiff, but it’s close enough there are no baggy bits. I’m beginning to love hand quilting – oh, not the havoc it wreaks on my hands, but the gentle puffiness, the slight variations, the humanity of it as opposed to the mechanical perfection of machine quilting.
Time to put the quilting needle and thread away and thread up the sewing machine to attach the binding… There will of course be more hand sewing once that’s done, but at least I can use a sensibly sized needle, and hemming requires me to hold the needle differently, which will give the sore fingers a day off!
You get a much better idea on the back
I realised today that I have packed my quilt labels, and have no idea which box they’re in, but I’ll be able to check start and finish dates here on the blog and can make one up later.
The general consensus is that I should offset the scrappy binding seams. So that’s what I’ll do. Always nice to have lazy choices post-rationalised into design decisions!
In a couple of days, I’ll be writing Amistad’s last post, and it will be time for something new.
talltalesfromchiconia 
I prefer the look of hand quilting too but take a more minimalist approach to it than you – i.e. the smallest amount I can get away with. As for the ‘mechanical perfection of machine quilting’, I’ll let you know what I think about that if it ever happens for me 😉
Well, for me too, as it happens, but I look at some of the exhibition quilts they show you online and I think that life is too short to do that much practice! I want quilts, rather than perfection in stitches, and while I can admire them for their technical fireworks and beautiful design, I wouldn’t want one of them, I’d be afraid to use it…
Your hand quilting is lovely. I like theinterlocking circles. Mine is usually simple, but I love doing it, specially in winter when the quilt keeps me warm as I work. My machine quilting is terrible, and only undertaken as a very last resort!
Thank you, Viv. The circles weren’t as bad to do as I feared; lots of turning the hoop but I got into a rhythm. I don’t love the warmth of the quilt in my lap quite as much, considering how warm it is here… Nicer in the evening than during the day!
I like the puffy quilting too.
It looks sort of snuggly and soft compared with the flatter profile of machine quilting, doesn’t it?
It certainly does. All cozy and comforting.
Wow! It looks amazing! Well done! Hand quilting I not kind on the fingers! I found the cream that milk famers use for milking cows work amazing well! I found it at my local farm supplier shop.
Love
Nikki
We have something here called MooGoo, which is derived from udder balm. I haven’t tried it, but from what I read, it’s good stuff. Maybe I should give it a go!
Sound good! It really works!