Thursday, November 13, 2014

THIRD GIFT FINISHED...

My Dear Hubby is patriotic to every bone in his body.  He has never served our country in the military, but I firmly believe if he could have...he would have.  Unfortunately his parents were both ill and there was a lot of responsibility in his life at a young age.  He picked a local college and lived at home while getting his degree...working full time to support himself and help his family the whole five years of his degree program.  But his love of country has never wavered. 

For Christmas he asked me to make him something "patriotic" to hang in his office at work.  Several years ago I had made a patriotic panel kit to hang in our finished basement.  With a lot of online searching, and even a cancelled order due to lack of stock, I finally found another panel.  It's not exactly the same, but similar enough that it will look good along side the other panel should he bring it home when he retires.  This wasn't a kit like the last wall hanging, but I knew I had plenty of batting and suitable (free) fabric for the backing and binding. 

I don't know about anyone else, but I find quilting panels of this type really difficult.  The coloration includes a lot of shading and detail that does NOT follow easy to quilt lines!  But, I did my best...cursed more than I would like to admit...and finished it up a few minutes ago.  I love it and am sure Dear Hubby will too.  Sorry the picture doesn't really show my quilting.  My camera is acting up and I'm having trouble getting a closer shot.  I KNOW it is something I have accidentally "set", but I'm too flustered to play with it right now!  I basically outline quilted everything with some detail quilting of the wings.  I didn't do any fancy FMQ because I know my husband would have said "flags don't have little swirls in them, etc."!  He just doesn't "get" quilting, LOL. 

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a wave along the edge of this panel, too.  Once again, I have not pressed it yet...but I have a feeling there is something "I" am doing to cause this.  So, my fellow quilters, can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong???

I am also considering adding a few star embelishments, but I am going to make my decision after I have had a chance to stare at it a while.  

Oh, I almost forgot the picture!  Tada....


4 comments:

  1. Wow, you are going gang busters on those Christmas gifts. Nice job. As far as the wave goes, I have no idea. Hope it comes out with a bit of steaming and a good press.

    God bless.

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  2. Thank you! I'm getting a little panicky because there is so little actual sewing time left for me before Christmas comes.

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  3. It looks brilliant, I'm sure your husband will love it. As for the wavy-ness, I'm not sure, but it could be that the backing fabric was pulled a little too tight when you basted the quilt, and then when it was released it caused the wave.

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    1. Thank you, Jen! Good thought. I will try to pay closer attention to now taught I pull my backing when I am making my sandwich. It sounds to me as logical an explanation as any other as to why I am getting wavy-ness. It's tough when you work so hard and then see it at the end! Maybe diligent pressing will help some!

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