Since I never visited a quilt show, I see rosettes and ribbons like this only in pictures. So when our quilt came back from Houston, I was glad to see how it looks like in reality.
I took the picture for my friends and I thought some of you might want to see a close- up too. A colored ribbon must be even more beautiful! 🙂
 |
| The fabric underneath the ribbon is Kate Spain. |
The quilt came back with comments from the judges about the quilt. In the previous two years when I had quilts into the show, they always criticized the way I hand stitched the binding on the back of the quilt. But no critique this year about the binding- wow! It’s not that my hand stitching skills improved, but working on the many hexagon quilts, I learned that invisible hand stitching is not all about skills, it’s about thread too.
What they never criticized was the way I secure the threads when starting and stopping the quilting. I know there are techniques that require a lot of time, but I do it this way described below and it seams it did not annoy the judges’ eye.
I don’t want to say that this is the best technique for a quilt show (I know many would disagree), but if you need a fast technique with great result, for an everyday quilt, this is one of them.
How I start a stitch
I bring the bottom thread to the top.
Holding both threads securely,
I start taking 3-4 small backstitches. Then I came back stitching on top of these small stitches and then I continue stitching. I end the stitch in the same way. Then I clip off the threads.
If the thread is not very thick, you don’t even notice the double stitching, especially if you wash the quilt.
Have a great week,
Geta
Thank you for that idea of how to start and finish – it is a new method to me, so I will have to give it a try.
I must come to Rasnov to see the ribbon! Congratulations!
Thanks for the tips.
Congratulations! The ribbon is very pretty.
What thread do you now use/recommend for binding?
Congrats on your placing too! It really is a stunning quilt.
I'm curious about what thread you use for your binding. I have noticed that sometimes my binding looks smooth as silk and others it looks bumpy. Maybe it is the thread? hmmm.
And congrats on the ribbon. I loved your quilt. It is incredible!
thankyou for that lovely tutorial,you made it so easy to see what to do.
Dear Geta: I write to you from mexico. I have seen your quilts in houston, this year and last year and they ar stunning. Conratulations!
Congrats Geta. It is well deserved.
Congratulations again on your quilt and the ribbon. Thanks also on your mini tutorial on starting and finishing quilting, I will certainly give it a go x
Congratulations on your ribbon! Such a great recognition for your gorgeous quilt! Did the judges give any praises?
Rest assured that you are starting and stopping quilting just fine. I only occasionally go over the stitches. Most often I begin with very close-together stitches, and then lengthen them to normal as I continue quilting. I also clip the threads close to the fabric, which is the fastest way to get it done. In 2012, I won "Best of Show" for machine quilting at the Machine Quilter's Showcase, so I can attest that this start-stop method of quilting is acceptable. Keep up your beautiful work! Your designs are simply wonderful.
Beautiful Ribbon and well deserved. You are right the thread used does make a difference but also like any thing else the more practice the better we get.