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Saturday, January 30, 2016

Quilting Twinkle Stars!

I think I've found a new love!

Big-stitch quilting...
♥♥♥


Twinkle Stars is my RSC project in blues for January, and even though I got a late start, I managed to get it pieced fairly quickly.  I simply stitched the four stars blocks together and added a corner triangle on each end.


Last week I learned how to use my long-neglected tri-recs rulers, and this week I dug out a few others to help me cut those triangles ....


It sure does help to have the right tools, doesn't it?


The quilt was quickly sandwiched and pinned for quilting - I want to get this one done and use it on my kitchen bar before the winter season is over!


Deciding on a quilting design was a little problematic for me.  I could think of a lot of different ways to do it, but none of them clicked.  I kept thinking that all that white looked a little too much to me, but I really wanted to keep it VERY simple so I could finish quickly, which meant not a lot of free-motion razzle-dazzle, and no special shapes, etc.  I was also determined to keep the beautiful star as the STAR ... I didn't want a lot of quilting to take away from its shine :*)  Still, just quilting in the ditch was too blah .....


I'm not sure how Big Stitch quilting finally occurred to me, but I'm pretty sure it was because I had recently seen this post by Sherri Noel at Rebeccca Mae Designs and was totally smitten with the look of her beautiful quilting!  Fortunately, I had pinned the post to my Pinterest board and was able to find it quickly.   

♥ Click HERE for Sherri's wonderful tutorial ♥

I knew immediately that it was exactly what this little runner needed, so I hurriedly ran to see if I had any royal blue in my perle cottons - and YES!!!!


I was thrilled, because there are no options for purchasing quality perle cottons in a variety of colors quickly in my area.  Once again, a stash purchase of these threads during one of my quilt show vending sprees paid off!

It took only a few evenings while watching some taped shows on TV to get this quilted :*)  I used a blue Frixion pen to draw my lines, and then simply ironed them away!  You can see in the below photo at the top where some of them have not yet been ironed.  If you have questions about the use of Frixion pens, Kathy's Quilts recently posted an excellent article on this subject with some great research links HERE ♥  I use them frequently and have never had an issue.  I am careful, however, about using them on dark fabrics when I know they will not be covered completely by stitching.


I didn't worry about the length of my stitches, which made for a very enjoyable, stress free quilting project.  I just love the simple organic look they add to my stars!


The dark blue from the center of the stars will be the binding - which I hope to get done today - woohoo!!!!

RSC16

There's a whole party of blue stitching going on over at Angela's So Scrappy blog today, so hop on over and see what all the fun is about!!!

Hugs & Blessings!
Teresa
=^..^=





However,

31 comments:

  1. Teresa, this table runner is gorgeous, nice story on how it came together.

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  2. Given how nice and even your stitches are, I can see why you're a fan!

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  3. Your table runner turned out fabulous! Love the big stitch quilting.

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  4. I started big stitch quilting, years ago, and with hand quilting thread, long before I heard the term, big stitch quilting. I just started making larger stitches, spaced evenly, because I liked how they looked. Your runner turned out lovely!!!! Such great colors!

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  5. Those twinkle stars made the perfect table runner! Thanks for the link to the quilting tutorial, too! That is something I've been wanting to try.

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  6. Oh I DO ! LOVE THE LOOK of the big stitch quilting. and the fabrics are gorgeous.

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  7. Good idea -- the table runner and the quilting. I've been doing my stars for Angela's column quilt, but I'm concerned about how big the quilt will be after 12 months! Maybe a runner is a better idea ....

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  8. You hand stitching adds the perfect finishing touch!

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  9. Absolutely beautiful. The big stitch quilting a perfect accent to your star blocks. Start to finish was super quick. I love it when that happens.

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  10. What a beautiful runner! Love everything about this- the fabric, the blocks and the quilting. Great job and enjoy!

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  11. Your runner is absolutely beautiful. I love your quilting!

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  12. Lovely! I love big stitch hand quilting!

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  13. Oh, this came out just fabulous! The big stitch with perle was a great choice.

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  14. It is beautiful, Teresa! The big stitching lends radiance to the stars! We got about 7 inches of snow dumped on us today, so if winter is over at your house, I would be happy to display it at mine. *LOL*

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  15. Love the runner, Teresa; looks wonderful! I also enjoyed scrolling through your Pinterest board that you linked in the post...some great ideas!

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  16. Beautiful runner and the big stitch quilting just adds to the beauty. Love the colors of blue. Nice that you shared so much information about the big stitch and special pens too. Thanks.

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  17. The quilting on this really enhances the design (which I loved anyway)! Thanks for the tutorial link. This style of quilting really appeals to me and I can think of a couple of designs that would really show it off, much like your twinkle star blocks have!

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  18. Twinkler Stars in blue & white - you know I love it! The big stitch quilting is the perfect finishing touch!

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  19. Beautiful runner Teresa. I love the blues and the big stitching is great.

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  20. Your stitching is beautiful and perfect for your table runner. Just gorgeous!

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  21. Oh, I just LOVE this! You picked the perfect quilting for it. You are making me want to make one for my table.... I only have one little ball or pearl cotton and it happens to be in blue!

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  22. I love using presencia finca perle cotton for big stitching. You are so right about the stitch length. Once I stopped worrying about how uneven my stitches were I had fun stitching and was so pleased with the results. I love all the blues in your table runner and the stitching is taking it over the top.

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  23. Your quilting is lovely! The only hand quilting I do is the big stitch method with perle cotton--it is doable. :0)

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  24. That is beautiful and the quilted big stitch is perfect.

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  25. Ooh, I do love your quilting! I'm planning a twinklers star quilt later in the year, and I may just need to quilt it as you did. What a beauty!

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  26. The big stitch quilting is just what this quilt wanted! Looks great!

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  27. Love, love your table topper. Your choice of fabrics is great and the big stitching is just the right amount, not overdone, so simple as you said. Congrats on a lovely piece!

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  28. I love your projects. Was wondering if you have any more photos of your Hawaii Sunset. I was following you to get encouragement to start mine!

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  29. Your twinkling star tablerunner is just perfect. I can just see it on your kitchen island right now. I can't believe you got that quilted so easily, and the big stitch method was perfect for it too. You are such a smart cookie!!

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  30. I love everything about this! the colors, the design, the big stitches... Perfect!

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