Thank you for all the lovely comments on yesterday’s big reveal. A lot of you loved the quilting, but thought it looked really complex. I have a little secret for you – it was super easy. So easy, in fact, that it was done in about 2 hours flat! As it turned out Mary and I had a *jinx* moment a couple of weeks ago – she was also looking to circle quilt a star quilt (although she had 4 stars on hers) and we had both found the exact same series on walking foot quilting. While she went for overlapping circles, I went for just one huge one (seen more easily on the back).
So what do you need to get this effect?
1 glass (round, obviously!)
1 walking foot with guide
1 victim/quilt sandwich
I plonked the glass on the centre of the star and drew round it with a Frixion pen. I didn’t even measure to make sure it was perfectly centred – live life on the edge, me ;o) Then I slowly and carefully stitched round the drawn line. I used a stitch length of 3.5 for this, and went gently as this is obviously quite a tight circle, and you do have a load of quilt edges to negotiate through the machine’s throat. I basically just rolled in the edges, then rolled in from the corners for this bit. (that’s not a quilted wrinkle btw, just a badly folded quilt wrinkle ;o) )
Then I whacked on my guide for my walking foot:
I measured 2″ from the needle to the edge of the guide, then brought out my secret weapon and wrapped it to death:
The first couple you need to take quite slowly because of the bulk and the tightness of the curves, but after that you can fly through it. You basically do circles till you run out of whole space to fill, then complete the corners, one at a time:
It took me about 2 hours, and 1 1/2 bobbins of 50wt Aurifil thread to finish this.
BTW, I was ridiculously happy with my binding, especially the corners on this, I think it’s the first time I’ve had 4 perfect corners (ie, I haven’t kind of skited round the corner and missed catching the cross-over)
I used these binding clips to achieve this, but I didn’t have enough to clip it all in one go, I think I need to buy more!
I do have some Wonder Clips too btw, but I think I prefer them for bags :o)
Thanks for explaining the quilting Katy – it does look lovely! What did you do with the masking tape??
Yes! I was wondering the same thing. Did you get a reply??
Is there a reply to this? I wondewring the same thing??!
Yes, sorry, I reply directly to all my readers. The masking tape held the bar in place, otherwise when the bulk of the quilt was up against it, it was shifting a bit
You make it sound so easy. Looks lovely.
Looks wonderful!
Well done it looks fab, mine took many more hours than 2, I also needed stronger arms and more space!
Brilliant – I really wish the measuring sticks could poke out the other side though; going anti-clockwise just seems so wrong!!
Love it! Nice work with your corners, too!
Brilliant! Jxo
Thanks for explaining it. I am going to have to try this method one day.
Looks great KT
The quilting is fabulous! I definitely need one of those side arm attachments for my walking foot.
So gorgeous! I simply must try this quilting
With so many ways to quilt with a walking foot, I'll never learn free motion quilting.
Oh sweet Moses I can't wait to try this!!!
This is next on my list to attempt. Thanks for explaining how you do it.
Yay for your binding corners! I use cheapie dollar store barrettes for binding clips, but yours look sturdier. :>
That must be the quickest quilting I have seen. Good for you.
I think you're very clever, but too honest. So I have an inferior star with duff corners then? Nope, I just looked and they look fine to me. 😉
Dad
I just did something very similar with a big star quilt……but I just used a spiral so I guess even quicker coz no stopping and starting unless bobbin runs out or when hit edge of quilt (must remember to blog it!). First time with walking foot and quilt bar and loved both. Your quilt is fabby. Juliex
We're to believe this took only two hours to quilt?? Your Brother must sew a lot faster than my Singer and you must have a running foot, not a walking one.
hey there quilty woman….I have the top finished for my bedspread but couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with the quilting bit…..I think you have answered that for me. So thanks. After Oz, I shall go round in circles. Oma Linda
Laughing at Maddyroses comment.
I never would have thought to do this with a walking foot myself. I've always thought that circles had to be free motioned!
Now that I know better Im totally trying this because it looks utterly brilliant!
Very clever. 🙂 My walking foot doesn't have the guide, but I'm sure I could come up with a substitute. This is another beautiful finish! I can't remember if you were planning to give both of these away or not, but they make a lovely pair nonetheless. 🙂
I love this look. I frequently go out of my way to place my centre circle way off centre so that I don't have to worry about matching the arcs to various pattern specific points and being perfectly symmetrical. That first circle a toughie, though, eh?
Very clever! What's the masking tape for?
This looks great! I love the idea of doing a whole quilt with one line of stitching 🙂
AWESOME! I have a little baby quilt in the making and I'd love to give this a go on a smaller scale first. Thanks so much!
I love that you're living 'life on the edge' – I'm totally with you on that. Especially when it comes to quilting. I just love experimenting and now you've given me some more inspiration – will go looking for a victim/quilt sandwich immediately!
I love circular quilting, great job 🙂
This looks great and thanks to your instructions sounds do-able too!
Thanks for linking up to New to Me in 2013.
Thanks for all this brilliant info. I really need to buy a walking foot…
I've made God knows how many quilts and my corners still always look like crap. It's my shameful secret…