Machine Quilting Done Right on the Quilt for Japan

Today I am highlighting the terrific quilting job that P. did on the Embroidered Veggie Market Quilt for Japan.  

Not only did she do a great job, but she has inspired me to practice machine quilting.  The photos for today are pieces that I embroidered for the quilt.  They show me exactly how much the quilting has enriched the work that was already put into the block.

She did not say, but it must have taken quite a bit of time to do the stitching on the embroidered blocks.  There is just the right amount of stitching inside the picture to give it stability.  P. even did it in such a way that it highlights the picture instead of detracting from it.  She is a true artist.

The meandering quilting used on the quilt is commonly  called stippling.  While it looks simple, it takes a good eye to get it evenly spaced and skill to keep the stitching even.

P. was smart enough and generous enough to substitute the batting I sent along with the quilt for a better type, because it would quilt and lay better.  It is wonderful working with someone who pays attention to details.  

The batting is an 80 Cotton / 20 Polyester mix.  At the Rock Valley Quilter's Guild meeting the other evening some of the members were discussing how much they preferred that type of batting.  Way to go P.!

To learn more from Dear P. about how to do quilting right make sure to visit her blog The Way I Sew It.

On a different note, one of my quilting friends is a retired seamstress.  Although she likes scrappy quilts she cannot make them herself, because of all the years of not mixing prints and patterns.  We like to tease each other, because we are such opposites.

The way the variety of fruit and veggie prints came together in this quilt is quite wonderful.  There is everything from apples to oranges, and pickles to tomatoes!  They are all framed with a gingham looking border that is really printed quilting cotton.  

Opening up the  quilt to sneak a few photos really brightened up our day!