Double Dutch, Dutch Delight, Double Delight - what the heck???

Virtually DONE!!! -- "virtually" means "almost entirely", "for the most part" -- I just have the binding to do, which will hopefully, be completed today -- uhh after groceries, laundry, etc. This is the largest quilt I've done - about 86" x 104"!

The name has changed over the 21 months because I couldn't remember the RIGHT name -- many of you recognize it from Quiltville.com, a mystery started January 2009, and made mostly of stash. I machine quilt on a DSM, a Janome MC 6500. The center is quilted in one pattern, my loosey-goosey plumey thing learned from a DVD from PatsyThompsonDesigns.com.

Each of the side setting triangles is quilted in a different motif or pattern, as is each of the individual SIDES of each border - I wanted to practice and I DID PRACTICE!!! I also used different brands of thread which was interesting.

Photos on these dark fabrics so not show well.
A number of the border quilting in the style of Sally Terry, (above, that middle border) "Hooked on Feathers." If you've not tried her "hooked" feathers, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Not difficult -- so effective!

Hint for today - I marked "implied" spines with a chalk wheel. I press hard and sometimes it doesn't go away. My friend Vonda crocheted me several kitchen scrubbies, one for my cutting mat. One side of the scrubbie is crocheted with regular yarn -- that softer side works perfectly to brush the chalk off.

Growth, and Quilting, and Q. Books

I had a birthday recently. LAST year on my birthday, we bought a Linden tree and I want to see how much growth there has been. This photo is from 2010. The tree grew some, but so did the other subject!

Below are some of my favorite machine quilting books. I have many but these are the ones I like the most. Back - Hooked on Feathers by Sally Terry - a 'new', and far more sensible way of MQ'ing feathers. The next, Machine Quilting, another basic, start at the beginning book, although there more complicated designs included also. Next is Freehand Patterns, by Nan Moore, another basic showing a multitude of border patterns and more, and last is my favorite, favorite, by Kathy Sandbach, who has written several machine quilting books. You might recognize her name as she has quilted a BUNCH of quilts for other names in the quilt business. She is totally free-form (in this book), and I really LOVE her style. It is carefree, not to worry, don't fret, etc. Remember, all of these books require practice. All these books are about the LINES, and DESIGNS, with little mention of threads, or machine set-up.

If you pick just one idea from each book, you will find that in time, you will have a bunch of designs under your belt! This one turned our really nice and curvy although my photo is a bit washed-out. I have numerous side setting triangles on this Double Dutch, and could not stick to one pattern, so quilted them all differently. No focussing for me!