As previously mentioned here and here, a few months ago I pulled out my stash of 2½ x ? fabric strips leftover from decades of projects and delved into a diversionary tactic* of piecing together a scrap version of the Dora Quilt**.
My ‘Proud2Bee an honorary Manc’ wall hanging
As I began piecing the scrap-blocks, I realized I preferred the non-calico blocks which included one made out of a bee print fabric scrap. The scrappy Dora Quilt soon evolved into my Proud2Bee an honorary Manc wall hanging with its sole purpose as a means to display my precious Manchester Worker Bee Badge***. A humble gesture by this everyday American standing in solidarity with those affected by that horrific terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena – on children – May 22, 2017.
Examples of quilting experiments
The top, ready for quilting, sat waiting for several weeks before I finally settled on the finishing details.
Using extra blocks as patches to experiment on, I explored a few of the decorative machine stitches on my Bernina and trying my hand at new-to-me methods of machine quilting using the walking foot attachment.
I really enjoyed finding designs from everyday sources and stitching with different types of threads.
Proud2Bee Block detail featuring machine blanket stitching & Manc Badge placement
Parallel to this experimentation, I found I had just enough of that scrap bee fabric to make into single Proud2Bee blocks to send to two compadres**** for use as a mini-wall hanging to display their own Manchester Bee Badges.
Completed Proud2Bee Block mini-wall hanging
corner pockets for hanging dowel
On my own Proud2Bee an honorary Manc wall hanging, I chose to use the machine blanket stitch for outlining areas of the pieced top and a wavy hand-guided stitch for the borders. Instead of a traditional rod pocket sleeve as sewn on the Proud2Bee mini-wall hangings, I tried out the corner method as shown in the photo to the left. I like it, but think it wouldn’t work as well with anything sized larger than 30 x 30.
As for the label…true completion comes with a label, IMHO (not that everything created by my own hands has been labeled). Signing and dating a quilt/wall-hanging piece are pretty basic and easy to slip in at the end of the project.
Proud2Bee an honorary Manc 2017 label
Personally, I like to add the name of the quilt/wall-hanging to the label also.
Thus piquing interest – starting conversations – priming the imagination.
Here is:
Proud2Bee an honorary Manc LBL 2017
(examples of other named projects here, here, here, here and here)
*I needed a breather from other projects
**from: “3 Times the Charm!” by Me & My Sister Designs
***sent to me by my Manc buddy…for basic info on the Manchester Worker Bee as symbolic of the city and as honoring those killed go here
****you two know who you are!
Really like your quilting experiments. What happened to them?!
They’re with my box of experimental items – readily at hand to explore free motion/walking foot quilting. You know, scrap batting and fabrics, deco threads. I set it up so I could easily grab a smallish quilt sandwich to hone skills as I ‘felt’ like it. Half the trouble is gathering those items, ya know? I don’t feel confident enough to just place an entire quilt under the needle for all over machine quilting…
I’ll be revisiting that fun box closer to the time when deciding on designs and threads to use in machine quilting the lime green/ivorian fabric wall hanging I showed you.
Thanks for checking out this post!
What a magnificent project!
Cindy, what a compliment coming from one so gifted in the quilting (he)arts. Thank you.
Your creations are so beautiful and I especially enjoyed reading about the process. I made a few quilts many years ago in my hippy days
I’ll bet one of your creations involved old jeans, especially the pockets! (spoken by one who dun-it back then, too!)
😉
So many beautiful elements are combined into a striking piece of (he)art! That bee fabric is delightful; something about bee prints truly thrills me. The meaning behind this piece demands reflection, but your work provides the time necessary for consideration. I also like your walking foot samplers, hehehe; how did you find using that attachment? I tried my free motion foot recently, and boy, that’s going to take some real practice, HAH!
Well done, my friend! Definitely piquing and priming, as well as soothing….
piececottonpeace
I had no idea one could use that walking foot in so many different machine quilting applications! I especially like doing that wavy line – kind of a controlled version of free motion quilting. I’ve fooled around with free motion quilting and yep, it’s challenging! I’ve read about something called a stitch regulator attachment that’s supposed to help…
Thanks for the kudos, bud!
busybeesbuzzingpeace
This is outstanding, Laura. I love your quilts. And, all for a good reason.
Thank you, Jennie!
Fantastic Laura!
Thanks for taking a peek at it here, Lisa. Hope to see you in a few weeks…
I especially like your quilting experiments—they might even inspire me to quilt some tops
What I liked, too, was that the piece measures only 30×30 so it was more manageable for me to continue in the application of those experiments under the needle of my basic Bernina!
It is lovely, and the meaning behind it adds that extra layer of significance to make it something to truly treasure. You are so talented in so many areas. It is always fun to come here and find out what you are up to next.
Thank you, Deborah!
Laura, a very special wall-hanging in memory of a tragic event – it’s wonderfully artistic and striking. I enjoyed seeing how you created this and your signature on the back.
Annika, your eye for detail and (he)artistic sense as a writer translates well into other disciplines and I hold your comment in high esteem.
You have a tremendous amount of patience to create something so beautiful, Laura! I loved reading the process. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
You’re welcome, Jill – glad you liked reading about the process. I like to think the photos help aid in moving it along – HA!
As for being patient? You are too kind, I’m really not…I just enjoy getting immersed in process (again that word!)
Our proud2bee block hangs proudly on Millie’s bedroom wall. All part of the same hive-mind.
Like I said: you two know who you are heh-heh.
Sending Hi(ve)-fives to you over the pond.
Hi Laura,
I love, love, LOVE reading about the whole process you took regarding choosing your quilting method. I dither around with that question constantly, and often find UFOs being created because I can’t decide how to quilt the finished piece. The finished piece is striking, and I really enjoy hearing about the meaning behind the piece (certainly not the incident). You are selling me on the importance of labels, too.
~smile~ Roseanne
Looks like you’ve gotten several UFOs checked off your list (I spied that on your site!) Good for you!
Yeah, that label thing is pesky but once you get into a habit and are okay with the basic requirements, it makes for a satisfying finish IMHO.
Glad you enjoyed the ‘process’ content…
I so admire those who are crafty such as you. Wonderful, Laura!
Thank you, Irene.
This is a lovely quilt and a beautiful tribute to those who suffered the Manchester tragedy. I was surprised when I looked at the overall quilt , then at the individual blocks, how it was put together.(I am always fascinated by how the blocks look when put together).You are so creative-keep up the good work!
Jane, I’m thrilled you saw the secondary pattern in the overall quilt…those are happy surprises!
Looks so wonderful, Laura. Such beautiful stitches. Everything came together so beautifully. And thank you for my wall hanging! It salutes yours from my neck of the woods.
Hmmm…a Hi(ve)-five Salute back atchya (I love puns!)
Beautiful!
Thank you, Jo Ann.