Big Quilts, Small Promises

November 29, 2017
Boxes and Vines, Stabilizing

Boxes and Vines Quilt, Lori Kennedy

Good Morning, Quilters!

Last week I made a pledge and challenged YOU to make one too!

I pledged to work on my Boxes and Vines quilt every day–and to not start any new quilts until this is finished!

I am shocked at how hard it was!

Big Projects are so intimidating!

And there are so many little projects to tempt me away…fast and easy...but —    NOT AS IMPORTANT!!!

START WITH STABILIZING

My mom always says, “When you don’t know where to begin, just begin!”

Stabilizing is always a good place to begin a quilt. 

I choose a lightweight thread (Aurifil cotton 50wt–though you can use much thinner…) in a matching color.

I set up my machine for straight stitching with the dual feed function…(or use a walking foot).

And off I went, stitching in the ditch of all the major axes and blocks and borders.

Boxes and Vines, Stabilizing

 

FREE MOTION STABILIZING

Next, I lowered my feed dogs and attached my free motion foot.

Using the same white thread, I stitched as close as possible along both sides of the vines that fill two of the borders.Boxes and Vines, Stabilizing

STITCH ANYWHERE

Once the stabilizing was complete, I was free to quilt anywhere on the quilt without fear of the layers shifting.

I love this because I never have all the quilting planned ahead of time.  Sometimes I know what I am going to quilt in the border, but not in the center.  As long as the quilt is stabilized, it is perfectly fine to quilt the borders first.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO “POP”?

In the boxes border, I want the colorful squares to “pop”.

To achieve that, I did not add any quilting to the boxes and I quilted heavily around them.

This physically and visually lifts the squares off the quilt–creating the focal “pop”!

Boxes and Vines, Stabilizing

LITTLE BY LITTLE

I am thrilled with the progress I’ve made this week–just 15 minutes at a time here and there—time I usually waste!

What about YOU?

Did YOU take The Pledge last week?

Did YOU work on YOUR Big Project?

Are YOU ready to dive in this week?

If I can do it…anyone can!!!!

TOMORROW:  A really fun doodle tutorial!

SOON-My mom’s kolachke recipe, invisible thread, Stocking Stuffers for quilters…

Happy Big Quilts!

Lori

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt.  For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com.  Thanks!!!

 

 

 

 

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