Periwinkle Gem UFO
The history of this quilt begins with a weekend stay in Wisconsin and a stop at a quilt shop in Bayfield. At that shop, I bought a charm pack of Fossil Fern fabrics. It was a huge charm pack, more than the usual 42 squares. It sat in my stash until I saw the Mini Periwinkle tutorial on Missouri Star Quilt Company. I thought the pattern would work well with the fabrics, so I made a small quilt. Here’s a photo of the top that I took this past year.
The top sat on my shelf for quite awhile. Since I hadn’t made it for any specific purpose, I was in no rush to finish it.
This quilt top was finished before I had my new sewing machine, so I brought it to Connie for quilting. She did a fabulous job, quilting fun spheres in the secondary pattern of the quilt. Now that I have a machine that can handle machine quilting better, I hope to learn to do the smaller quilts on my own.
The quilt measures about 33″ x 38″, just right for a wall hanging or a small baby quilt. I’m not sure which it will be yet. I just enjoy looking at the bright, gemstone colors during these cloudy winter days!
For the backing, I went with the cream fabric, keeping it simple and clean.
I couldn’t decide on one color for the binding, so I used strips cut from fat quarters of the same fabric. I really like the way the binding turned out.
Okay, my question for today: How do you prepare physically when you are going to quilt a quilt top? Are there stretches you do beforehand? Do you take breaks while quilting; if so, how often?
I’m linking up today with Beth at Cooking Up Quilts.
Happy Monday, friends!
Wendy
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30 Comments
Vicki in MN
Nice finish, I noticed the pieced binding right away in the first picture-jsut perfect. You already know my answer to the question, LOL
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Vicki!
karenfae
🙂 I love those big packs of fossil ferns I had 4 big ones that I got on sale and used them to make my big queen size quilts with circles I guess almost 2 years ago now? I have been to Bayfield and I think I have been to the shop, I think they only had one – near Ashland? or I’m I am thinking of another place I wonder it has been about 4 years I guess.
piecefulwendy
Yes, that’s the shop, but sadly it closed due to the death of one of the owners. A new shop has opened, owned by her son.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Wow! I love how Connie quilted it!!! Great binding too. Stretches before quilting–sounds like a great idea!
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Nancy!
Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts
I liked that quilt when I first saw it and now that it’s quilted it’s even more fabulous! I love the way Connie quilted it. I’m excited to see you start quilting – you’ll have so much fun. I take lots of breaks while quilting. I tend to tighten up in the shoulders, so I have to stretch them out.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Beth!
Jayne
I love this beautiful bright quilt! It’s been a while since I made a Periwinkle block, but they are so much fun and the look is wonderful. The only prepping I do when I machine quilt is mental…as in it takes a lot of thinking for me before I start! I have the hardest time coming up with a plan!
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Jayne! Yes, the mental planning is a challenge sometimes!
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy,
WOWEE – third finish for the year!! Holy moly. No, I never get tired of hearing and seeing finishes – whether they are UFOs or new projects. It motivates me to just keep plugging away, and unearth those oldie moldy ones. I really LOVE the colors in this quilt! The fabrics are perfect, and the quilting! You can easily do this quilting yourself! I’m not sure what type of machine you have – long-arm or whatever. I have done a spiral on my older DSM and it would be even easier with my current setup. In fact, that might just inspire me on how to quilt a top I’ve got hanging out, waiting for me to be inspired. Since I just quilt on my DSM, I don’t do anything special before quilting. As I work, I consciously tell myself to release my shoulders and relax. If I feel too tense, I just break for the day or for a bit. There’s usually no rush, and I can just walk away. ~smile~ Roseanne
piecefulwendy
Thanks for the tips, Roseanne!
Bonnie in Va
Lovely periwinkle quilt with wonderful quilting. I have a computerized long arm but I still find after a few hours of “hanging around it” I need to stop, sit down, stretch. I tend to watch it quilt for a bit which means lots of standing. Once I get a big quilt on the frame I imagine I’ll spend a bit more time sitting while it quilts.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Bonnie! Taking breaks is a good thing. I need to remember to do that 😊
norma
I love the pieced binding -very in keeping with the quilt.
I’m often a hand quilter these days so I have to take breaks by necessity. And although I plan my quilting I find I don’t always stick to it.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Norma!
Kathleen McCormick
I don’t often think of the fossil fern line as bright, but it sure is in this quilt. Its funny how in a different setting, the fabrics look so different. I really love the quilt and the quilting. I don’t do as many stretches as I should but one hint I had was to change your chair position every half hour or so, so start a little high and lower it as you go or vice verse. And if you aren’t used to doing it a lot, when my “wing” starts to hurt I stop and move for a bit and then go back. One teach cuggested a glass of wine to relax, but I have’t tired that – being afraid that I’d spill it or get too loosely-goosey!
Louise Hornor
I remember this pretty little top! It really looks great all quilted up. The scrappy binding is perfect!
I probably should do more stretching before I quilt, but I don’t. However, I limit my FMQ time to about 10-15 minutes at a time. Then I do something else for 10-15 before I come back to quilting. If I find my shoulders starting to get tired or sore, I do a rowing-style stretch with a big rubber band, or even just “in the air” without the band. Moving my shoulders back into a rowing motion seems to help offset how I lean forward while I sew.
It’s hard to stop sewing when I’m “on a roll”! But I’ve learned that I simply must limit my time or my shoulders just go haywire. I also force myself to stop later in the evening if my mind starts to get foggy. If the thought enters my mind, “Oh I should stop,” then I STOP! Seems simple, right? And yet you should hear the arguments inside my own head…
somethingrosemade14
May I be the first to mention that your bedspread has made quite a few appearances this past week and I’m thinking it really does make a nice backdrop for your quilts. The quilting is wonderful, so perfect for the pattern. It’s a great feeling when a quilt is finally finished. I like seeing bright colors during this time of year. This quilt would just make me smile if it was hanging on my wall.
handwroughtquilts
Looks awesome! I vote baby quilt. And I like how it’s a bit like a spiderweb but not totally.
piecefulwendy
Thanks! I saw the spiderweb too! We’ll see where it decides to go 😊
Sandra Walker
I actually did a physical double-take and then re-read your first line. THIRD UFO FINISH?? Yeah I yelled that. Is it February? No. It’s the flippin’ 8th day of January TODAY so you got these 3 done in the first week of the year. I’m floored and admiring all at once; you are giving Vicki of MN a run for her whirling dervish of a quilter image. Okay, now I’ve calmed down somewhat, I must say whirling dervish quilter is Connie! Love the spirals she did – I only had eyes for the jewel-toned stars when I saw the flimsy. Score! on the binding, excellent choice. You could always keep this like I did with my Rainbow Vibes, and take it with you to yoga to sit upon, and cover up with in savasana, just sayin’… and you could do a couple yoga stretches at home even before starting to quilt, too ha.
piecefulwendy
Oh Sandra, you’ve got me grinning from ear to ear. Haha! I did start a project today, but I will admit to putting a binding on another UFO. Thanks for the smiles!
Facetfully
This is such a fun quilt! Live the bright colors!
Quilting a good-sized quilt is a physical process! Doing some stretches is probably a great idea. I do take breaks, try to remember to breathe, and relax my neck and shoulders. Free-motion quilting is fun but it seems to take the worst toll on me!
Happy quilting!
piecefulwendy
Great ideas! Thank you!
Sherry @ PoweredByQuilting
WOW your swirls are sooo good. I tried to do swirls on one of my quilts once and I ended picking it all out >_< Also I can't believe how productive you been so far this year!!! You are totally busting all those UFOs.
piecefulwendy
I can’t take credit for the swirls; Connie did those. So fun!
Sherry @ PoweredByQuilting
Well it’s still a fantastic quilt regardless. 😊
piecefulwendy
Thanks!
Tu-Na Quilts
Beautiful gems!! The quilting is perfect!!! WOW!!! 3rd UFO finish of the year. Your drive can be summed up with one word: amazing.