Cleaning up, a quilt before it is completely finished, is probably my less favorite part. After the quilting is finished, and the binding is on but before it heads to the washer, I probably spend 20 minutes inspecting and carefully trimming stray threads. I need to clog my washing machine filter just about as much as I need to clip a hole in a new quilt.
While clipping all the ravelly ones, that I didn’t trim as I put the top together….., I sometimes come across spots where I completely missed hand-quilting. These I mark with double safety pins. They dangle, and are very noticeable, if I don’t get back to finishing the missing quilting, right away.
Then off to the washer before I do some embroider, on this one. The colors are so bold that I want to wash it before I do the embroidery for fear of dye leakage. I don’t want it to bleed on my lighter colored embroidery thread. I will then probably spend an equal amount of time, cleaning the ravels again, when I pull it out of the wash…
This one has been a long time in the making. Looking back though, it actually hasn’t been as long as it seems, since I started it. It was just under a year ago when the idea was still evolving. I used big-stitch quilting on it because there are SO many seams to cross. Most pieces are under 2″ square, the majority being even smaller. If you are a hand quilter you totally understand the difficulty of quilting through seam allowances. I am still not sure I like this style of quilting. I feel like it is okay on this one because the design itself will deflect from however I quilted it. And because I despise embroidering so much, it will be a while before you see this one in all it’s glory!! I’ll share when it is finished.
What are you working on? Any hanger-on projects you are working hard, to finish up, before you start new ones???
Linking up with:
Fabric Tuesdays
WOW
Work in Progress Wednesday
Let’s Bee Social
A Round Tuit
Sewfrench 
I have been known to mark un-quilted spots with pins too but I trim as I go. My washing machine is so small I have never tried to wash a quilt in it, (at least a bed sized one).
I still have one quilt waiting for me to go out and find the perfect border fabric. Someone told me of a store that might have what I am looking for but it is not on the way to anywhere I go regularly.
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Gorgeous colors!
As for my own projects, there is that quilt that’s 8 years in the making … maybe this should be the year to finish it.
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beautiful quilt — I love all the harmonious blue colors with gold stars.
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I’m intrigued by the thought of embroidery on this quilt … can’t wait to see what you do.
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Lovely hand quilting! I hate when I think I’m done, but then find a missed spot. I did that just the other day. Boo. I can’t wait to see the whole piece!
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I am a sucker for that color combination, and I am really interested in your embroidery. I hope that it goes well and I look forward to seeing more details when you finish this quilt.
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Fortunately, I’m one of those “start-to-finish” quilters and rarely start a new project before finishing the previous one. My poor brain just can’t handle juggling too many things at once. Lol. The colors in your quilt are beautiful, and I give you all the credit in the world for hand-quilting it! I seriously just don’t have the patience for that. Lol. Great job!
~ Jess ~
Everything Is Coming Up Rosie
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Looks beautiful in these pictures, look forward to seeing it finished!
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Your constellation quilt is so pretty! And your hand quilting looks wonderful. Did you quilt it in one big spiral? Hope everything comes out in the wash alright!
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Thanks, Lorna! I quilted it in circles, not a spiral. Similar but different.I couldn’t figure out how to get the spiral stated where it looked nice, so I went with circles. And it washed up beautifully, no bleeding! Thanks for asking.
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