Slow Stitching

Good day to you all! I have learned so much this past week. On Wednesday, I took my maiden voyage on a longarm quilting machine and quilted an entire quilt with really satisfying results. That was an extraordinary learning experience.

On Friday, when the Frankfort girls met at Jan's house, I learned a better way to attach hexagons so that the stitching is entirely hidden. I have Jan to thank for this little tip, and I will continue to make my hexies using this method.

I finished off this POTC block, and while it is nearly impossible to see any differences in stitching from a distance, there is quite a bit of difference when you see it close up.

This portion of the block is sewn my original way. Can you see the tiny stitches all around this neutral hexagon? I didn't like that they showed, but told myself to be assured that once the papers were removed and the fabric could move around more freely, the stitches would bury into the fabric. That may be the case, but with this new method that Jan uses, the stitches don't show even with the papers still in, so they surely won't show later when removed.

Doesn't that look neater? I am much happier with this look than my previous look. I will definitely continue to use this method.

What is the difference, you ask? Well, I will try to describe it. Maybe I should have taken pictures of this - we shall see if I can make it make sense.

Originally, I would take my hexies and lay them together facing each other (right sides together) and my needle would be perpendicular to the hexies as I stitched down the sides; then I would open them up all stitched together.

My new method: lay the pieces you are attaching side by side, flat up against each other and clip them together with binding clips. (Picture of clips in this post.) Instead of stitching with your needle perpendicular to the edge, your needle will be parallel to the back, with all the stitching done on the back.

Can you visualize what I mean? I may revisit this post with a couple of pictures of the two methods.

I have also glue-basted more hexies for the Lake Effect quilt. I am looking forward to getting started on the stitching, but I still need to make a lot more hexies first.

Hope you are having a pleasant day! Make this final week of August a great one, okay? I have linked up with Kathy's Quilts for her Slow Sunday Stitches link party.

Happy Quilting, Friends!