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Time To Quilt 'True Love'

fuellingdesigns
Sep 7
2 min read
Heart-patterned quilt laid on a sewing table in a craft room, with a vintage sewing machine and tools in the background.

True Love Is now ready to quilt! While on a recent hiking vacation I worked diligently on the embroidery and finished the hand work on the drive home. Once home processing the garden, cooking, grocery shopping, and laundry took priority. As soon as I could I was in my sewing room. I added the final outer border, pieced the backing and made the binding.


Now the quilting commences. I will be using a 50% bamboo/50%cotton batting. Glide brand polyester thread for quilting with a pink on the top and a yellow-tan on the bottom. 


Woman kneels on carpet cutting white fabric with scissors; ruler and 50/50 Bamboo pattern nearby in a cluttered room.

It took a day to figure out what my quilting plan will be. I looked through my quilting library both hard bound and digital for inspiration. Once I had a general idea of the look I wanted, I went to the drawing board.


I have a large gridded dry erase overlay that I use to sketch out ideas. It looks a bit messy in ink but it allows me to see the actual size and scale of my quilting ideas. I have a plan! The feather spines and swag border measurements needed to be marked. I did as minimal marking as I could on the quilt top. My final designs may change a bit but my basic concepts will work. There will be lots of ruler work combined with free hand feathers.


Textile collage of red heart-shaped flowers on cream fabric, with green stems and pencil outlines forming a layered quilt-like floral design
Patchwork quilt with red hearts and green vine motifs on a gridded fabric background, in pink, cream, and floral patterns.
Abstract patchwork of pink, red, and cream floral fabrics over blue grid paper, crisscrossed by dark looping lines; busy, handmade feel

Loading the long arm. First, the backing is pinned to the rollers. Next, the batting is layered on. Finally, the top is layered on and basted at the top. The bottom edge is pinned to the take up bar. I will quilt the workable area which is only 16’’ to 18’’ wide by the length of the quilt. Once the area is quilted the quilt sandwich is rolled to the next open space and quilting continues until I reach the end. This is why custom quilting has to be planned in advance. Without a road map there could be many messy accidents.


Woman with curly hair carefully sewing fabric at a table in a cozy craft room, with shelves of supplies behind her.
Hand holding a quilt block with red hearts and floral fabric, pinned on a frame with a bowl of sewing pins below.
Red heart-patterned quilt draped over a sewing table, with a vintage sewing machine and craft supplies in the background.

It will take me a few days to quilt this one. The top is 97.5’’ square. I enjoy the quilting process. It combines creativity, technical skills and experience. Soon, oh so soon True Love will be finished.


Thank you for reading,

Cynthia


If you'd like to keep reading, there is plenty more over on my blog.


Also, check out more on my socials below, and all my current quilts for sale on my brand new shop!




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