Monday, September 5, 2016

Happy Labor Day Monday - Mini Giveaway!

I've been enjoying some time at home this week for an extended Labor Day weekend.  It's been nice to spend time in my studio everyday.. just doing what I want.  I don't have pictures of a lot of what I worked on....
 But on Friday I basted my red Oak & Reel quilt together.  Here is the quilt on the floor in my studio.. along with my basting thread.  I hate basting.  It is where my quilting process falls apart.  But I am happy to say I got 'er done.
 Thankfully tropical storm Hermine moved away from the coast and we had a perfect day yesterday.  Blue skies, low humidity.  It was the perfect day to sit on the deck and do some slow stitching.   I have decided to hand quilt this wall hanging....  I have not hand quilted something this large in a long, long time.  Wonder how many years this will take! LOL.  Right now I am loving the process and hope to spend part of this Labor Day doing more of this. 
I have always used Coats & Clark quilting thread.  Barb over at Fun with Barb uses Guterman.  So yesterday when I was in Jo Ann Fabrics I picked up a spool of natural.  I really do like this thread.  
Hilda at Every Stitch uses YLI.  I will have to look for that when I have the chance.
Thanks, for the recommendations Barb and Hilda! 

What quilting thread do you use for hand quilting? .. if you hand quilt.  Leave a comment below on your thread preference and you could win 2 spools of Gutermann quilting thread (white & natural) to try.

Someone on Instagram asked about my quilting thimble.  It is by Thimblelady.  The dimples are on the side  which makes it easier (for me anyway) to quilt without putting all the pressure on your fingertip and a more relaxed position for your hand.  While I have yet to master her technique, it is much better for my arthritic hands. :-) 
Lucy is taking the day off and is just going to relax.  She works so hard the other 364 days of the year.....

Hope you get some time to relax today and do some happy stitching!

Giveaway closes this Friday at midnight EDT.  Winner will be announced on Sunday, September 11th.  Good luck!

Deb

20 comments:

  1. What a pretty project for Hand Quilting. I use Gutermann too :)

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  2. Your quilting looks beautifully uniform! I have never seen a thimble like yours before and as I have to try hand quilting again - haven't done any for a few years due to the same problem with hands as yourself - perhaps I might go over and have at look at the Thimblelady site. I like the Aurifil threads for stitching.

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  3. Oh yes, the kitties are the hardest workers in the animal kingdom! Snooze, roll over, snooze, roll over...

    I love your Oak & Reel -- especially the birds in the border. Looks like a wonderful one to hand quilt!

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  4. Your quilt is gorgeous and it will look even more amazing with hand quilted stitches!!! I hand quilt and use YLI Quilting Thread. Would love to try Gutermann for hand quilting, it is an awesome thread for machine sewing.

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  5. Your Oak and Reel is gorgeous. A red and white beauty. I either use YLI, which I don't see around very often anymore, or Gutterman Enjoy your stitching.

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  6. I also use YLI hand quilting thread. I used to use Coats & Clark but then it started to shred on me. I don't think the quality is what it used to be. I asked the other hand quilters in my guild what they were using and YLI was the answer. Such a variety of colors and variegated thread too. Your quilt is beautiful. Blessings, Gretchen villacrestfarm@gmail.com

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  7. That is a really neat thimble. I use a silver one, but more traditional. I think it's the glaze on the gutterman that I like, it seams to go through smoothly.
    I just love to see hand quilting and yous is wonderful.

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  8. I love YLI and buy it on big spools when I can find it!

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  9. I use YLI to Hand quilt. It's made here in the south. Yay!

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  10. I have used C&C, Guterman, and YLI to hand quilt. I like Guterman and YLI more than C&C.

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  11. What a beautiful quilt and Lucy is a cuties! The only hand sewing I do anymore add a sleeve to a quilt.....can't figure out how to do that by machine :) When I did hand quilt I had a leather thimble with a piece of metal in the top, I really liked it.

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  12. I have also only ever used Coats and Clark -- would love to try something different. Congratulations on getting the basting done! sarah@forrussia.org

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  13. I've tried many different brands. I found I preferred either Mettler or Gutterman quilting thread for my hand quilting.

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  14. I use the Thimblelady thimble too! I like YLI thread...never have tried Guberman. Your red/white quilt is beautiful! I really like your border--so simple and unique.

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  15. Beautiful quilt and it will be even more so when you have it hand quilted! I'm always keen to try a different thread, especially with these recommendations - will be looking out for Gutterman to try. Enjoy the process :)

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  16. What ever I have on hand for binding. I should look huh. Maybe it IS time to try something new???LOL LOVE all the red and white together. :) :)

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  17. Your beautiful applique quilt will be fabulous with handquilting!! I always quilt with Gutermann handquilting thread - I love working with it and I hope you do too :0)

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  18. I like the gutermann for its' softness, but the YLI seems to give more definition to the stitches. It just depends on the particular top what thread works best. I have been using the John James thimbles with the magnet in the tip as it makes retrieving a dropped needle easier, but the metal is quite thin.

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  19. This is probably my favorite of all your quilts. Love it so much! I primarily use Gutterman for tradtional style quilting. Will have to try YLI some day although now I'm using so much Perle Cotton... It's really quite addictive but probably not the right look for all quilts!

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  20. Lovely quilt. I'm just assembling the bits I need to start hand quilting my hexie quilt. It will be my first time to try hand quilting so read your post with interest!

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