A form of meditation

Since the handquilting class, I have handquilted almost everyday. I work full time, I am also busy at home and do a lot of sports but handquilting is a little time for myself every evening. When it's the weekend, then I allow myself some more time for quilting.

It has a least three benefits :

1. A top is magnified and will soon be a quilt and will leave its UFO friends. I could have added that it reduces my UFO stack but that would have only been true if I was not  adding a new top regularly... but if you're a quilter, you know what I'm talking about, right?

2. The more I handquilt the more regular my stitches are. Besides, you get so used to doing it that it is completely effortless... which brings me to the third point.

3. It is a meditative time to reflect about your life. I don't know you but this fast-pace lifestyle that I really enjoy requires that I take some time out for myself and handquilting gives me this opportunity. When I start a big quilt like the one I am currently handquilting, I feel like it will take forever. But if you quilt it a little bit everyday, break your final goal into smaller ones like finishing quilting  a block or a row, without you realizing it you get to the end in "almost" no time. Well, it does take a little time but it is pure bliss. You may even wish you don't finish it so quickly... if you had not that UFO stack waiting, of course ;-)

When I handquilt, I treat myself with an expresso or some tea, depending of the time of the day. I may have some dark chocolate too. I gather my thimbles and create my little handquilting corner. I turn the radio on or put some music, classical, pop, rock depending on my mood and I quilt on.



Every hour, sometime less, I take a little break. If I quilt more than two hours, I take a long break (30 minutes or more) before resuming quilting.

I have said it many times in this blog, but I think that a top really comes alive when it is quilted. And choosing how to quilt it is part of the fun.



Have a wonderful weekend,

Until later,

Comments

  1. Tout est dit ! Acquérir une bonne technique permet ensuite d'arriver à cette joie paisible d'avancer son quilting, éventuellement de penser au prochain motif et se laisser porter par ce que j'ai choisi d'écouter (comme toi, inspirations très variées). Je pense que, comme en méditation, notre rythme cardiaque devient très régulier, cela fait du bien...

    Les quilteuses de Colomiers qui ont participé à ce stage sont toutes ravies également !

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    1. Oui, en effet, ça fait du bien et en plus nous faisons du beau en même temps.

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  2. Absolutely TRUE ! And I would add that a top really comes alive when it's HAND quilted. It's so much smoother than a machine quilted one, that feels so stiff.
    It takes time and discipline, but every stitch is worth it, and the meditation that comes within makes it a treasure :)

    in stitches,


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    1. The first time I put needle to thread in hand quilting, I felt like I had come home. I'm 73, have been making my own clothes from the age of 12, and discovered the total joy of quilting 20 years ago. I dress in tatters, but my quilts are my glory! Great blog.

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    2. I agree Nadine. I prefer hand quilting too. Though I found some machine quilting really stunning I always think that it would be even more beautiful with hand quilting. I suppose there is no need to compare. I think it's a different art.

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    3. Love this Patricia... keep making glorious quilt ;-)

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  3. A true ode to the art of quilting.

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    1. Maybe that's why I resumed blogging : taking time to write a few words to express what I feel about quilting and to share my passion differently from the fast-paced photo publishing I also use in social media.

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  4. Hello david.
    I completely agree with you, quilting is very relaxing, plus you're seeing your work really more beautiful.
    It must be a luxury to live with a person like you.
    A greeting.
    Maria

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    1. Thank you Maria. Relaxing is what we all need, isn't it?

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  5. Un post qui traduit tout à fait l'état d'esprit dans lequel je suis lorsque je quilt.....
    Je vois tu es entrain de quilter le quilt mystère n°2 de Born To Quilt.... Cela va être encore une belle leçon de quilter de moi.... Et oui je voulais te remercier, grâce à tes post sur le quilting main et les petits tuyaux que tu m'as donné lorsque je t'ai posé des questions m'ont fait avancer dans cet art.... Et pour moi c'est un vrai moment de détente.... Merci beaucoup David.
    Bon et doux dimanche à quilter.

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    1. Avec grand plaisir. Il était temps que je le quitte ce top, n'est-ce pas?

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    2. David j'ai une petite question, lorsque tu vas pour faire tes traçages avant de quilter..... Traces tu ton quilt en entier ou bien fais tu au fur et à mesure de ton avancée????
      Car j'ai tendance à tracer entièrement mon quilt avant de commencer et à chaque fois il faut que je retrace car cela s'efface avec le temps.....
      Merci de m'éclairer hihihi!!!!
      Bonne journée à toi et MP.

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    3. Je trace au fur et à mesure, jamais la totalité du quilt. Je veille aussi à l'équilibre de densité du quilting :-)

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    4. Merci beaucoup David pour ta réponse. Je commence à quilter un encours qui est sur ma pile depuis au moins 4 ans et du coup, je vais faire comme tu m'as conseillé...

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  6. Hi David - your quilts are really magnificent! I enjoy reading your blog, it is really unusual to see a man who can make such gourgeous quilts!!!

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    1. Thank you. But the designs are from designers, I am only responsible for the choice of fabric and stitching them ;-) Yes, it is unusual, but there are other male quilters around the world.

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    2. David, I do admire your work and your quilts! I think there should be more men in this world who can quilt, stitch, knit, etc. Have a great time quilting!

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  7. I am happy to see your blog entries again. You are inspiring me to try my hand at hand quilting. And I am tempted to order the needle glider from Esther Miller as well.

    Have a wonderful week

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    1. Let me know how you like it once you have tried it. If you can, get someone to show you how to use it... it's easier ;-)

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  8. Interesting post, David! I prefer too, as well as you, hand quilting.))) Indeed, I am a novice in quilting, and while sewed together not a single blanket, mainly it is shallow works. But I study.)))

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  9. I read somewhere that the quilt never worked on never gets finished. Need to remember that and get on with it, the stack is getting bigger.

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    1. Absolutely right!! I will to keep that in mind and get lots of finishes :-)

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  10. When I read and enjoy and see the little stiches and the fabrics on the foto...
    My little 365(366) houses are
    calling me so loud ; 0)
    Thanks for sharing :0))

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  11. 365 little houses!! Wow... I am heading to your blog right now to see them ;-)

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  12. What a great description of loving handquilting. I think it is so right to take it bit by bit...a whole quilt to hand stitch seems overwhelming. Thanks for this post and Continued Happy Stitching.

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  13. Hi David,
    I was re-reading your blog a little and somehow I missed this post. When looking at your quilting stuff I presume you took classes with Esther or one of her students (I recognize the specific quilt thimble of Esther :-)?
    I also took a class in Holland with Alexia Rossfelder. It's a great hand quilting technique! :-)
    Have fun with your other projects!
    Ann

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