Have any of you seen the Sweetwater Hometown Christmas quilt? Click on the photo above to enlarge and see the detail. It is simple patchwork, combined with machine applique and embroidery (eeeep).
The first step is to make twelve blocks that consist of a strip of 2 1/2" squares and two rectangles. On one of the rectangles you machine applique the shapes, and on the other you trace your embroidery design. The embroidery is super simple, easy block letters. I can do this, right? Hah. Talk about over confidence. I quickly discovered how out of practice with embroidery I was.
I have never been particularly good at embroidery, but I have enjoyed it from time to time. The last time I did any was when Sara was pregnant with Eva and I embroidered some onesies for the baby. She is now seven and a half. It has got to be like riding a bike. I thought I would just jump right into this new project and all will be good.
No. It turns out that embroidery is one of those skills that needs to be kept up with regular practice. My stitches were not straight, not all the same length, and quite sad looking really. My panels looked like a first graders first attempt at writing. I had two false starts with my blocks, but luckily the poorly embroidered panel can be un-sewed and you can start over with a fresh panel.
Clearly, what I need is some practice before I pitch myself into embroidering the blocks for the quilt. I am still rusty, but I think I can get up to speed again.
39 responses to “Hometown Christmas Quilt”
That is really a cute quilt. I hadn’t done any stitching forever and recently did a small bird from Kathy Schmitz. it turned out OK and I really did enjoy it. VIsions of embroidery blocks and quilt blocks combined were dancing in my head. WE will see how far that idea goes!
Mary
That is really a cute quilt. I hadn’t done any stitching forever and recently did a small bird from Kathy Schmitz. it turned out OK and I really did enjoy it. VIsions of embroidery blocks and quilt blocks combined were dancing in my head. WE will see how far that idea goes!
Mary
That is really a cute quilt. I hadn’t done any stitching forever and recently did a small bird from Kathy Schmitz. it turned out OK and I really did enjoy it. VIsions of embroidery blocks and quilt blocks combined were dancing in my head. WE will see how far that idea goes!
Mary
You are ahead of me. I do not even know how to embroider! Yours is looking good. Will be a sweet quilt.
You are ahead of me. I do not even know how to embroider! Yours is looking good. Will be a sweet quilt.
You are ahead of me. I do not even know how to embroider! Yours is looking good. Will be a sweet quilt.
I was very tempted by this quilt, so I’ll watch yours develop with interest. I have had a few old skills that needed a quick brush-up. But, they do really come back, and far quicker than the first time I learned them. I think the hand arts translate reasonably well to one another because our hands are practiced at making intentional delicate movements. Good luck!
I was very tempted by this quilt, so I’ll watch yours develop with interest. I have had a few old skills that needed a quick brush-up. But, they do really come back, and far quicker than the first time I learned them. I think the hand arts translate reasonably well to one another because our hands are practiced at making intentional delicate movements. Good luck!
I was very tempted by this quilt, so I’ll watch yours develop with interest. I have had a few old skills that needed a quick brush-up. But, they do really come back, and far quicker than the first time I learned them. I think the hand arts translate reasonably well to one another because our hands are practiced at making intentional delicate movements. Good luck!
I think you’re being too hard on yourself, enjoy the time spent working on this project, when it’s pieced and quilted the stitches will look wonderful I’m sure.
I think you’re being too hard on yourself, enjoy the time spent working on this project, when it’s pieced and quilted the stitches will look wonderful I’m sure.
I think you’re being too hard on yourself, enjoy the time spent working on this project, when it’s pieced and quilted the stitches will look wonderful I’m sure.
That’s going to be a really cute quilt! I also used to embroider & cross stitch…not so much anymore! I’ve found that bifocals make a big difference over what I did years ago! It takes some readjustment, but you can do it!
That’s going to be a really cute quilt! I also used to embroider & cross stitch…not so much anymore! I’ve found that bifocals make a big difference over what I did years ago! It takes some readjustment, but you can do it!
That’s going to be a really cute quilt! I also used to embroider & cross stitch…not so much anymore! I’ve found that bifocals make a big difference over what I did years ago! It takes some readjustment, but you can do it!
Love the quilt and I agree, your embroidery stitches are just fine.
BTW, the quilt photo doesn’t enlarge when clicked on, it gets smaller. Go figure!
Hugs!
Love the quilt and I agree, your embroidery stitches are just fine.
BTW, the quilt photo doesn’t enlarge when clicked on, it gets smaller. Go figure!
Hugs!
Love the quilt and I agree, your embroidery stitches are just fine.
BTW, the quilt photo doesn’t enlarge when clicked on, it gets smaller. Go figure!
Hugs!
I’m certain you were being too hard on yourself, but you are the only one that needs to be happy with it. I think it would lend some rustic charm to it to be more folksy than perfect anyway. 🙂
I’m certain you were being too hard on yourself, but you are the only one that needs to be happy with it. I think it would lend some rustic charm to it to be more folksy than perfect anyway. 🙂
I’m certain you were being too hard on yourself, but you are the only one that needs to be happy with it. I think it would lend some rustic charm to it to be more folksy than perfect anyway. 🙂
Love the quilt. A little practice should get you feeling better about your work. It seems many of us have done embroidery in the past but put the skill on the back burner. My dad passed last month (at 94!) and a lot of my work from many years ago has surfaced. We used to do more embroidery and cross stitch it seems. We should get back to it. You can do this.
Love the quilt. A little practice should get you feeling better about your work. It seems many of us have done embroidery in the past but put the skill on the back burner. My dad passed last month (at 94!) and a lot of my work from many years ago has surfaced. We used to do more embroidery and cross stitch it seems. We should get back to it. You can do this.
Love the quilt. A little practice should get you feeling better about your work. It seems many of us have done embroidery in the past but put the skill on the back burner. My dad passed last month (at 94!) and a lot of my work from many years ago has surfaced. We used to do more embroidery and cross stitch it seems. We should get back to it. You can do this.
It’s a really nice project. And of course you can do it. Practice makes perfect! You, go!
It’s a really nice project. And of course you can do it. Practice makes perfect! You, go!
It’s a really nice project. And of course you can do it. Practice makes perfect! You, go!
Don’t be hard on yourself. It appears the letters are being done in the back stitch. I am working on a Crabapple Hill design that calls for back stitch and was not happy with the look. So, I changed to stem/straight stitch and really like how it looks now. More than one stitch to get the look you want.
Don’t be hard on yourself. It appears the letters are being done in the back stitch. I am working on a Crabapple Hill design that calls for back stitch and was not happy with the look. So, I changed to stem/straight stitch and really like how it looks now. More than one stitch to get the look you want.
Don’t be hard on yourself. It appears the letters are being done in the back stitch. I am working on a Crabapple Hill design that calls for back stitch and was not happy with the look. So, I changed to stem/straight stitch and really like how it looks now. More than one stitch to get the look you want.
Cute quilt and for me your embroidery looks pretty good.
Cute quilt and for me your embroidery looks pretty good.
Cute quilt and for me your embroidery looks pretty good.
It really is a cute quilt. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll get your embroidery groove back quickly. ;p
It really is a cute quilt. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll get your embroidery groove back quickly. ;p
It really is a cute quilt. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll get your embroidery groove back quickly. ;p
I recently completed a similar project- my quilter teacher told me to realize that the letters are free drawn for a primitive charm look. It appears the O Holy Night is that way too. I think it looks great and will continue to look great!
I recently completed a similar project- my quilter teacher told me to realize that the letters are free drawn for a primitive charm look. It appears the O Holy Night is that way too. I think it looks great and will continue to look great!
I recently completed a similar project- my quilter teacher told me to realize that the letters are free drawn for a primitive charm look. It appears the O Holy Night is that way too. I think it looks great and will continue to look great!