Learning to Hand Quilt

After having 2 herniated disks in May, being in pain for months, undergoing physical therapy and epidural steroid injections, I'm finally back to quilting.  Sitting at the machine for long hours, though, is not even possible!  I've tried all sorts of back pillows, raising the sewing table, lowering it, buying a drafting stool, etc.  I want to be able to quilt my quilts as well as piece the tops, and I'm determined to find a way to do this! 

After watching How to Hand Quilt: A Free Video Tip on Craftsy.com 5 times (yes 5 so far), I'm finally attempting to hand quilt around circles on a quilt made for my dear granddaughter.  I've marked this quilt, sprayed the marks away, stressed over it, taken machine quilting lessons (I'm horrible at it!), and finally decided to hand quilt around the circles first and then decide what to do with the rest of the quilt. In the video, quilter/designer/instructor Sarah Fielke shows how to use DMC thread with an embroidery needle and the clover open-sided thimble.  I love this method! 

Here are my sample shots: 

It's still a WIP (work in progress), and I need to try to quilt designs inside the larger circles plus will have to quilt something on the background fabric to anchor the batting.  But for now I'm happy the hand quilting around the circles is looking so good thanks to the easy instructions given by Sarah Fielke.  

And here's the link to Sarah's instructional video: http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/01/how-to-hand-quilt/

Getting Back to Blogging

Why the long break? 

There are so many reasons I stopped blogging--busy with family, guild events, retreats, and trying to start a small craft/quilt business (way more than I bargained for!). I have an Achilles tendon tear that made it hard to walk.  It was inoperable, so I went for physical therapy.  In the meantime, I had wrist surgery for the 3rd time on the same wrist.  I stopped quilting, stopped going to meetings, just basically stopped it all.  One quilting friend encouraged me to keep sewing, inviting me to her house, but I rarely made it there (an hour away!)

I filled my time by making new friends on the internet in other states and Canada.  Who knew friends in Canada and Pennsylvania would worry about you and call to check on you when they see tornadoes ripping through your city on the national/international news?!  Even our family members don't do that.

As for sewing, I haven't done much except applique a quilt for my newest granddaughter. The quilting part scared me because I wanted it to be circular.  I studied free motion quilting and practiced, but I just didn't like my attempts. They were ugly and spastic! .

Finding my way back...

I had a horrible case of the flu in December and saw my life flash before my eyes! I realized I had to finish the appliqued circle quilt. I also have other unfinished projects. I looked for a "support group" on the internet for quilters who have UFO's. There I found Pat Sloan--encouraging quilters to finish their UFO's! You can find her free quilt patterns, blog and forums here: http://www.patsloan.com/

I enrolled in the Building Blocks Quilt Along (BBQA) by Leah Day. I'm hoping her instructions for circle and spiral quilting will help me finish my granddaughter's quilt before her next birthday (June).

I also found my way back to the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild.  They are a very friendly and supportive group of quilters.  The last meeting with Jen Eskridge of ReannaLilyDesigns was fantastic!  I joined the Tula Pink's 100 Blocks City Sampler group from the guild who meet near my home.

I'm looking forward to learning new skills, finishing my projects, and entering challenges.