This top was completed a long time ago (I wrote about it in this post), and it has been stuck in the queue all these years because I couldn’t figure out how to quilt it. Because the yellow is Kona cotton, which is heavier than the solids I am used to, coupled with the fact that there are about a gazillion seams in this pattern, I wanted to avoid sewing through the points of those little triangles. Finally I forced myself to sit down and sketch some designs, and I finally came up with something I was happy with — basically just a square grid though the triangles, with a geometric pinwheel in the solid space. For the borders I ditch stitched the flying geese, and then echoed that shape in the solid border. I bet you’re wondering why it took so long to come up with a pretty simple pattern. Not sure — maybe I had quilter’s block. You can see in the last photo that I had to fudge a little in the corners, which can happen when you don’t plan a quilting pattern when you’re designing the top, which is what I almost always do.
It’s been a long time since I’ve quilted a bed-sized quilt (and this is just a twin), but I’m so happy I was able finish it with very little pain in my hand and wrist. Taking almost a year off from quilting, wearing my brace both at night and when quilting, and alternating different types of stitching have all helped to combat my carpal tunnel and tendinitis. I now limit my hand sewing to 2-3 hours a day in the evenings, and I should switch to something else now (embroidery, hand piecing or appliqué), although I am itching to make a another dent in that pile of tops.
Ocean Waves Quilt
Martha Dellasega Gray, 2014
machine pieced, hand quilted
64″ x 78″
Oooh so pretty, Martha. I really love the colors and the quilting is excellent. I love to hand quilt. I think it really adds to the quilt and shows off the quilt top so much better than machine quilting. Why is it that you can look at some quilts and you just know how you want to quilt it, but others just seems to take forever to come up with a design?
Beautiful quilt! I am glad your hands could tolerate some hand quilting. I try and rest mine and keep my quilting time down. I worry about losing the ability in the future and that reminds me to take care now.
This is a lovely quilt Martha!! Such excellent choices in fabrics! You did a beautiful job on the quilting. I started my quilting journey handquilting and then moved on to machine quilting. I seem to be gradually moving back to doing some hand quilting.
No wonder your hand is sore – that’s a lot of hand quilting!
It looks beautiful as always.
Beautiful quilting! Ocean Waves is on my wish list to make someday.
I think your choice of quilting pattern quite enhances the quilt pattern, Martha. An interesting thing happens in this quilt (in my view, at least): looking at the whole quilt the colored triangles seem to be predominantly blue with a little lavender and pink. But looking at the close photos there are so many other colors. I love the variety and yet the unity in the finished top. Beautiful!
That is a beautiful quilt, my favorite part is the flying geese border. Your fabrics are so great! I am impressed with all hand quilting and yours is so nice.
Your quilting is fabulous. Ive never hand quilted a quilt but maybe on my next one I’ll add some hand quilting.
Oh, that quilt is beautiful!!!! Lovely handquilting and border. And The colors… Swoon…!
Echoing the flying geese in the quilting design was fantastic! The simple design really shows itself off in this quilt.
After using Kona for the last two (or so) quilts, I tried something different this time. What I used this time was no win either though. I did manage to make the quilt lighter (which was my goal), but this one was too slippery or something. :/ (The arthritis in my shoulders needs a lighter quilt to shove around the machine!)
This is lovely, as always, Martha. 🙂
Oh my goodness… the quilt is beautiful! Hand stitching is so therapeutic, isn’t it? I have a quilt that I’ve been working on for several years and I am so close to finishing… I need to get it back out! 😉
It is lovely! I’m glad you were able to return to your quilting. Quilts in the que? How many do you have? 🙂
Wow, I love this quilt! I am glad you are taking better care of your hands! This quilt is fantastic, I think my favorite are the flying geese triangles you quilted on the white fabric, it is fantastic!!! Hugs, Mickie
It’s a lovely quilt. I am finally back to doing some embroidery after a break because of low inspiration. Looking at your beautiful projects motivates me. Can’t wait to see your next embroidery piece. Take care of yourself.
Beautiful quilting Martha, I love the flying geese quilting especially. I wonder how long it took you to quilt this?
What an inspiration! Now I know what to do with some of my 30s repro scraps.
Lovely quilting. It must be frustrating to have flimsies that need quilting and suffer from such pain.
i have this quilt but I did not do any of it. I bought it at an auction at a steal price. I don’t know who did the quilt but the person that sold it must not have known the time and work that went into making it. it is had pieced and quilted.
Beautiful quilt! I love it!