Monday, July 27, 2009

Much better!

Thank you for all the advice for edging! I have never tried a couple of the methods suggested (knife-edge and fusible edging). I will see if I can figure them out and then decide what to "teach" my girls. I love all the suggestions for using English in this project. We'll see how enthusiastic they get...

Yesterday it was hot again but not rainy so I spent the morning "playing" in the water. A couple of years ago Tetsu took out all the Japanese mats in our Japanese room and put in carpet squares. This has been a great solution to our occasional cat "urps" and hairballs. We only have to wash the individual squares now. I decided to take advantage of the sun and went out with the hose in the driveway and gave most of the squares a good wash with a scrub brush on my hands and knees. Kept me cool too!


Here are the squares drying on the fence...

And yes, you are seeing a very similar picture from two days ago. Thank you, my blog friends who suggested a do a little more quilting on this! Yes, I guess I was getting lazy and just wanted to finish this and couldn't get my head in gear for what to quilt in the border. BUT when I put my mind to it ideas started forming and back under the needle my quilt went!

I drew lines on in pencil on the border and then freehand quilted over all the lines in hopes of making a rattan pattern. It didn't really take that long but it sure was hot and sweltering up in the sewing room (but better than if I had been trying to hand quilt and holding this on my lap, right?) I don't know about you but I think this looks a hundred percent better!!

18 comments:

Knitting Auntie (aka Sharon) said...

excellent quilt Tanya - love reading your blog, its fun to see what another quilter a world away is doing.

Janet C said...

It does look very much better. Once again, congrats on the finish! ;)

andsewitis Holly said...

It looks fantastic. I love what you did to the border.

Marj said...

You are right it does look better and now you are finished yet again. I also played in the water today to cool off, I watered some flowers and the dog too.

Marilyn R said...

I love your Aussie quilt Tanya! The quilting design you used in the borders is perfect.

Mary said...

That was a perfect choice for quilting in the border and I agree it really adds a lot and the quilt looks great!

Allie said...

Wow - that quilting in the border adds a whole new dimension to that quilt! It's the perfect design for it. Very tropical looking, I love it!

AnnieO said...

That geometric in the border sets off your freeform and animal shapes just right! It does look a lot better and now you can be truly happy with it. Stay cool! :)

Lynnette said...

The border quilting really finishes it off. Enjoy reading your blog.

anne bebbington said...

The perfect finish - and a very apt quilting design for the piece too

Amanda said...

Oh golly gosh, that looks tons better; isn't it wonderful what a difference a little bit of extra effort makes. I need to learn from this!

Anonymous said...

Border quilting is beautiful.....Pat

Suzanne Kistler said...

It looks WONDERFUL!!! You're doing such a great job with your machine quilting! Beautiful!

Meggie said...

That quilt is just wonderful!! I love the quilting idea for the borders.
Those girls are lucky to have you, even if they are silent. Those collages look wonderful.

BrendaLou said...

AnnieO was right--it is the angular, straight lines in the border that perfectly offset the curves and soft edges of the inside quilting. I don't think I'd have thought of this and it IS the perfect border quilting for your quilt. Great Job!

minniestitches said...

The quilted border looks great! Glad you took the time to percivere and quilt it as it makes a huge difference on this quilt.
Happy sewing!

Quilter Kathy said...

You are right! I never thought of that, but the quilting does set it off marvelously!

The Calico Quilter said...

The quilting in the border is perfect. I am very impressed with your applique skills. Actually, I am impressed with your sewing skills in general. Good job!