Wednesday, February 15, 2012

My least favorite part of hand quilting is...........

getting the quilt ready for basting.  Not the basting part itself......I find that part a little relaxing and can catch up on a soap opera or listen to the tv while basting.  It's that "before" part:  getting the cotton batting just right on the backing, trying not to lose my temper and throw needles and scissors into the hereafter while doing this part.  The tugging and the pulling and the stretching and do I admit to a swear word now and then?

O my gosh............calm down, count to ten, yada, yada, yada.

So I prepared myself yesterday to start putting together two tops that are needing to be hand quilted.  I got myself in the right frame of mind to begin.  Actually, the first one went rather well and I was able to
put the basting stitches in nicely.  And the second top is all pinned and awaiting for me to add the big
bastings but I needed a blog break before starting that part.  The enjoyable part is ready for quilt top #2
and my temper is fine thru it all. So far! Here is my progress that I hope to finish tomorrow.

What is your least favorite part of quilting?????

6 comments:

Ondrea said...

Yep, I am with you. I hate the basting part. I used to crawl around on my wooden floor but now I have worked out a way to do it on the table. I have found, for smaller quilts, that pinning is actually easier than basting with thread like I was taught.

Maureen said...

Yes, I agree, preparing to baste is a pain. I also don't like stitching long seams - I find it hard to be accurate. I just do my best and am glad I'm close to done!
Enjoying these quilts - hope you share photos of your quilting stitches soon.

Dawn said...

I agree the basting - it is still a WIP for me - trying suggestions from people.
The larger the quilt the more problems I have.
Yours is on a table?

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

I'd have to agree with you on the basting. Good idea, though, to do two a once to lessen the frustration.

antique quilter said...

I am not fond of basting so for the larger quilts I send them out to a long armer to be basted worth the $$ in mho.
Kathie

Missie of Traditional Primitives said...

I procrastinate preparation of bindings. I drag my feet to cut and prepare and then start, but once I get started sewing them on the quilt it no longer seems intimidating. I am also intimidated by deciding how to quilt my projects. Always a big decision!!