I've been hand quilting this large 85 x 85 quilt I call Milquetoast. It got that name because it pales in comparison to the loud and bright colors I prefer to use. But the Bright Hopes blocks were a nice way to use a box of low volume scraps accumulated over the years. I finished the top back in August 2019 and I would say it is now in the hoop but it's not.
I am not using a hoop for this one because I'm big stitching with long running stitches about 1/4 inch away from the sides of the long pieces and I didn't want to keep moving the hoop every few stitches or use multiple needles.
And speaking of needles I found some sashiko needles at Hobby Lobby so decided to give them a try. I'm using one of the longest ones and I'm glad I am. It seems that without a hoop to move and with a sashiko needle and big stitches that the stitching goes much faster. I'm using mostly white perle #12 but I don't think I have enough for the entire quilt so I'm filling in and stitching some rows with pink, blue, gray and yellow threads in perle #8 that I have on hand. (I'm not using that black thread. That was in my basket because I'm stitching french knot hair on a topsy turvy doll to be with it.)
I still have a long way to go but I'm moving forward and having a good time.
I guess I'll also mention that this is a "summer quilt" and it has no batting.
I love your neutral looking quilt very nice
ReplyDeleteThe stitching is lovely. I love this quilt!
ReplyDeleteI tend more towards the bright fabrics as well but this is really pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt may take a while to hand stitch this quilt, but it'll be worth it I think! I tend to go for bright colors as well. Every once in a while its nice to change it up!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great collection of light fabrics! And thanks for the good ideas for big stitch quilting.
ReplyDeleteThat is going to be SEW sweet and comfy when it is complete!!
ReplyDeleteOMG I’m sewing my blocks together right now! Thanks because I didn’t know the name of the block. Now all I have to do is the remember ‘Bright Hopes’. I also started mine for the same reason. I had cut too many 4.5” x 2.5” pieces for my last quilt. And as I was making that quilt, I ended up using brighter fabrics. So now, I too, will have a beautiful low volume quilt. I usually gift my quilts but recently have been longing to have a quilt for each season for our bedroom. Now, this one will be my summer quilt. Only two more to go as I have a gorgeous snowball quilt I made 2 years back with the Temecula sew a long. Perfect for winter with those rich warm reproduction fabrics.
ReplyDeleteYour choice for quilting I’m guessing will give you a nice soft drape and feel to go along with the soft look of your quilt!
I bought some of those needles several months back but have not tried them yet. Glad to hear you like them. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to have a light and airy summer quilt with no batting!
ReplyDeleteYou are always doing something interesting!
I loved seeing your needles and threads on your project!
Thanks for linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching!
Beautifl quilt, low volume is so lovely! Great hand quilting.
ReplyDeletePerhaps your fabrics are on the pastel side, yet they are vibrant and bright! I love it. Good to know that nice needles can be bought at a local big box store. I like your choice of thread color and quilting pattern.
ReplyDeleteI've been making some of those blocks, too! Love seeing yours coming together.
ReplyDeleteI just love that lighter Summery look of this one..I do big stitching most of the time, too and I never thought of Sashiko needles, but that makes sense...I will give it a try...hugs, (On St Paddy's Day you can go "Erin-go-Hoopless" hahahaha hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteYou always do a great job with all your darker fabrics, but I love this one in the lighter fabrics! Even in my own quilts, I like the pastel ones best; to me they are so much more cheerful than the darker ones. I also like the idea of no batting for a summer quilt! ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteI wish that I had an over abundance of neutrals, as I am always running short and needing to stock up. It was something I never considered before when I was fabric shopping. I would always go for the colors instead. Now I need to focus on neutrals more. I was lucky enough to find some recently at Goodwill, mostly fat quarters which will give me a good selection. I was thrilled to find them. I have so many flimsies, that I ought to choose one to make into a summer quilt too. You never seem to slow down.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely quilt. I like stitching without a hoop so it sounds like big stitches with a long sashiko needle is the way to go. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty indeed!
ReplyDeleteThis is going to make a great summer quilt. I love all those low volume fabrics together. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!
ReplyDeleteI'm always admiring your neutrals! What a great summer quilt.
ReplyDeleteI recently saw sashiko needles at Johann, l decided to quilt long hand Hobbs batting from hobby lobby is thin enough for summer l have make afew for me here in sa,tx.
ReplyDeleteLove your “quiet” quilt. Like you I tend to make brightly coloured quilts but this one really appeals to me. Particularly with the Big Stitching, another of my favourite ways to quilt. I’ve never used a hoop. When I started quilting I just hand stitched. One person in my group uses a hoop and I tried it out but just couldn’t get the hang of it so I continued to hand stitch. Works for me! Probably offends the Quilt Police though!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love all those pretty pastel fabrics together. Such a lovely variety of pretty prints.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see this one under your needles. I like the way you are quilting it. I love low volume "quiet" quilts - they don't shout but they are so full of things to find.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt, the variety of scrap pieces, the low volume just makes it sweeter!❣❣
ReplyDeleteI'm STILL chuckling at "milquetoast"....what a clever name for your quilt. I think I've found a like-minded quilter!
ReplyDeleteYour neutrals are so beautiful. It's a lesson in how they can all work together. I don't think I could quilt without a hoop - which is silly since I don't hand quilt at all. My grandmother had summer spreads that were some of my favorites. Light colors will be even cooler then.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are doing this on a scratch proof surface to help keep it flat and square.
ReplyDeleteBoth the color and the weight will make this an ideal summer quilt! (I remember summer quilts from my childhood in KS - since moving to the northeast, I've wanted all the warm heavy quilts I can get!)
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