I've been quilting since 2013. This blog is my personal quilting diary, that charts my progress (and occasional regression) from the start. I use it so I can look back at my past projects...and hopefully see my skills improve!

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Quilting Second Old Tablecloth

I am quilting my second old tablecloth.  I learned an awful lot from quilting the first one.  There are challenges not always faced with something I have pieced myself.  It is usually square for a start!  This tablecloth is posing some new head scratching.  There are lace inserts and lace at the corners of the tablecloth.  Solution: I've backed the tablecloth with pink cotton so the wadding doesn't poke through.  The tablecloth has a slightly scalloped edge.  I am hoping that the pink cotton will give me a straight edge.  I don't want to quilt the lace, so plan to use small pearls to anchor the lace.  All of the above solutions have been gleaned from Cindy Needham.  Thank you, Cindy!  I had a set of her background filler stencils arrive last week, and so far I've used the Ultimate Circle centre template for the medallion motif, the medium clamshells stencil for the medallion surround, the half inch grid template for the gridwork in the centre and corners of the tablecloth.

It is all going very well.  I added some wool wadding behind the motifs for a trapunto effect.  The wadding layer is polyester. The polyester is giving a slightly stiff texture where I have scribble stitched, so I may try something else next time.

I used my Westalee ruler foot extensively for all the straight lines and medallion curves.  It is a godsend!

So far, I've got two borders quilted...two more to go - then finishing and beading.  I'm having the best time!

Happy quilting, all!

Original tablecloth ( had started to mark up the centre)

Two borders still to quilt

Centre medallion

Centre of border


7 comments:

  1. Amazing,
    wonderful quilting, what a gorgeous tablecloth.
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  2. So lovely, your quilting is bringing out the beauty of the old tablecloth.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I bought an old table cloth to learn hand quilting. Love the look of yours. Will need to look up Cindy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an incredible beautiful heirloom this is turning in to, I have so many lovely old table clothes like this of my grandmothers and mums and never thought to quilt them, It now looks nothing like the original, I love how the centre jumps out at you and the first circle of lace glows with the pink showing through. Beautiful hand quilting what a credit to you. You have sent my mind reeling and my fingers itching to save some of my own old table cloths. Cheers Glenda Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Sue!
    I was just referred to your blog post by some of your admirers...WOW...This is beautiful!!! Any chance I could share you and your work on my blog???
    Cindy Needham

    ReplyDelete