Bricks and Steppingstones, DONE

YEAH - DONE! It still needs to be blocked -- Blocking/dampening it should enhance the texture I was aiming at with all that "Innies and Outies" Someone also called the quilting pattern, "Puddles" -- I like that name. It certainly turned out "graphic"!



Oh great - the quilting on the 4th border had to be removed and redone, along with the binding as the tension was crummy - apparently I was so much "on a roll" I also wasn't looking closely. Dang it - and my binding? I try hard to make it snug, but snugged it too much -- by half an inch, causing pucker/pleat when I sewed it down so had to insert another piece of binding, and trim it more carefully this time.

Quilting the Border

I keep copies of dozens of free samples from PatsyThompsonDesigns.com in a notebook. Most of them I've tried, and saved my samples in that notebook. It is amazing, how often I cannot think of a quilting pattern until I open my sample work. On the left of the notebook is the paper printout and on the right is my practice piece, in a plastic page protector. Geeky, yes, but it works for me! For this quilt (Bricks and Steppingstones, from Quiltville.com) I wanted something earthy, guy-type, NOT feathers, but also wanted something where I could start at one corner and quilt one entire side without stopping. This is my viney/weedy pattern. I LOVE thinking of those wild growing vines one sees in wild spaces.

I drew an implied guideline with chalk to keep me near target -- not worried that my 'spine' is not solid. My design has leaves, swirls, curlycues, narrow leaves and wide leaves - whatever filled the space. Additionally, every variety of leaf gives me more experience. I started at the bottom of the implied vine, and machine quilted to the top, finishing it off at the top with one large leaf. My fabric is almost black so I chose a grey thread, for some visibility.

YOU can do this!

Finally, Quilting!

Finally - I got to my basting and quilting!
I quilt on a domestic sewing machine (DSM), no stitch regulator. Yes, not all my stitches are exact - that's OK with me. I really like the flexibility I have doing things myself, my way, not paying someone else. Stubborn me!

This pattern (Bricks and Steppingstones) needs a little blending with a pale gold thread. This quilt is masculine in nature and I'm quilting squarish innies and outies, a pattern I like that adds a lot of texture. It looks alot like mapping, and one of the easiest I do. And yes, I learned this from one of my DVDs from PatsyThompsonDesigns.com.

Bricks and Steppingstones

I wish I hadn't copied Bonnie Hunter's idea so completely, but this is how it turned out -- The pattern is easy, fast and quite nice looking, a good stash buster, and is destined for a brother-in-law, if I can stand to part with it! 8-)) Only the top 2 rows are sewn in this photo. My border choice is at the upper left, a dark blue/black with brown splotches. The inner border is still undecided.

The dark black squares could be any dark - wouldn't dark green with woodsy fabrics be nice, or dark blue with gardeny fabric, or purple with ... you get the picture.

There are several pieces of fabric in this quilt from several of YOU! I LOVE how the blue bricks seem to glow next to the black.

Thanks Bonnie Hunter of www.quiltville.com.