The Quilt Skipper

quilting makes me skip for joy

Jenny K Lyon

Quilting makes me skip for joy

A finish, imperfection, VLC and a give away!

In the midst of a week filled to the brim with the creation of video content, somehow I had a finish. Granted, this was close to the finish line last week, but I am claiming victory and a finish:

I’ve written a little bit about this piece here and here previously. This is an art panel from Turtle Hand Batiks, a one-of-a-kind batik piece made by a young Malaysian artist. I love working with these panels and recently completed another one which I wrote about here .

The quick recap: I embellished the panel using hand embroidery, inspired by Catherine Redford’s Butterfly book. Little known fact – I did a lot of hand embroidery as a kid and I’ve always loved it. I just got busy and abandoned it, but this project rekindled my interest.

I have some points to make:

VISIBLE LEARNING CURVE:

You will see what I call “Visible Learning Curve” (VLC) on every project. Accept it, it is part of the process. In this case, my VLC was around the design of the quilting. I decided I wanted to do hunks of quilting motifs, not scattered like I did on this piece:

At first, I gathered the motifs in big hunks. About half way through, I realized I was not happy with that idea. I altered my plan in the upper left corner:

I much prefer this look to what is happening on the bottom. I don’t like those hard edges.

ACCEPT IMPERFECTION:

I so don’t go for perfect – it’s elusive and makes quilting tedious and unpleasant. Accept those small imperfections, they give beauty and humanity to the piece. Case in point, two actually:

I was getting skipped stitches (there are lots more than the one I point out) and I let a few happen before I decided to take the time to fix the problem. I let them be. I knew that in the sea of cross-hatching they would be virtually invisible.

And that’s another lesson: when you’re doing the quilting, imperfections loom large, but most times, once the piece is completed, you have to look hard to find the imperfections! Let. It. Be.

Another imperfection:

Both wobbly line and a big ole honkin’ skipped stitch n (to the right). Do I care? Nope. Let. It. Be.

I have quite the silk stash and wouldn’t you know, this gorgeous piece was perfect for the binding:

Nice touch, no?

Fun little detail shot:

So, here’s the give-away: I ended up with two copies of Catherine Redford’s Butterfly Stitches book (don’t tell me you’ve never done that!) and I am giving away my extra copy. It is a delightful book with beautiful hand stitching, color and wool butterflies. She has several very approachable projects as well instructions for a wide variety of hand stitches. It’s beautiful eye candy! In full disclosure, Catherine is a friend and a total delight – it comes out in her writing.

Here’s the fine print:
–   Comment below. You don’t have to write something clever or flattering, you can just write “book” if you want.
–   Close of the give-away is Th, April 16 at 6PM PST.
–   US addresses only.
–   I will draw a random number and announce it in next week’s blog post.
–   Shameless self-promotion: if you enjoy my blog, I prefer you follow it through my weekly newsletter, which posts almost every Saturday at 9AM PST. My newsletter has interesting articles, my schedule and always, a Quilt (sometimes a garment) of the Week. It’s not all about me and I get rave reviews, high open rates and lots of correspondence. I think you’ll enjoy it. You can sign up for my weekly newsletter here.

I’ll be linking up:

Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday

Finished or Not Friday

Comments

  2. I *love* your butterfly, Jenny! I also love your attitude about perfection — I need to stop stressing about little imperfections, so I’m going to try to take your advice. The book looks lovely — hope I win! ;)

  3. I love your dragonfly quilt and the quilting you did on it and can’t wait for your visit in September!

  8. I also love hand embroidery. After many years of practice I’m still on the learning curve.

  9. I would love to add the book to my inspiration library. Thank you for sharing your less than perfect stitches- shows me that I can quilt like you do- and with more practice the major portion of my quilting will come closer to your “normal”!

  12. I’d love that book! I met Catherine at Road2CA last year and have an embroidery kit of hers. She has great designs!
    Thanks

  13. Turned one of Shelly Stokes class(paint,stitch, bead) designs into a butterfly. This would be great inspiration to get it done!

  16. Thank you for reminding me imperfections are ok.
    Love that butterfly wool embroidery book.

  17. Book. Attended a lecture by Catherine and totally enjoyed her presentation. I would love a copy of this book.

  20. I recently had the pleasure of attending a Zoom workshop with Catherine and am loving doing hand work again.

  21. I just love butterflies, they are so beautiful. Would love this book. Thank you for the opportunity to win it.

  22. Love this piece Jenny! Such beautiful embroidery! Hand embroidery is something I remember trying when I was younger when I was cross-stitching. Seemed it was very tedious for my 12 year old self. :) I would love to learn more!

  23. I love Catherine Redford and her method of embroidery. I would love to have a copy of her book.

  26. Love Catherine Redford’s work. Thanks to her, I have been on a Dorset button kick lately.

  28. VLC – I like that, thank you. What a lovely book for a give away, thank you for that as well!

  31. Love the combination of your dense quilting and intense hand embroidery. The binding is perfect, but I would have had a very hard time cutting that silk into little strips–glad you still have more. Maybe we’ll see it in bigger pieces on something in the future. I love the scattered motifs on the bear.

  35. I took a class with Catherine. Lovely lady and I learned a lot from her. Would love her book.

  37. I like your quilting on both the butterfly and the bear. Can you explain why you like the butterfly better than the bear? Deciding how to quilt my tops is frequently my biggest challenge.

    BTW, books are some of my favorite things. :)

  38. The book looks like fun. I would love it!
    Your newsletter & teaching style were discussed at lunch today. All very positive comments between two of your sewing guild friends. ?

  41. I love many of your pieces–but I think this one is my favorite. The colors? The critter? The minor blips you point out to us? Not sure. Just love it.

  44. That art piece is amazing!! I like how you quilted it – and you are always allowed to change plans in the middle – its kinda like the quilt starts talking to you….. I really like that little bear too! the scatter quilting is so interesting!! Good Job!!

  45. I avoided stitching for years because way back a teacher had told me my work wasnt perfect. Then it occured to me it was my work and I liked not following all the stitchy rules. I even often preferred the way my methods looked good and often ‘mistakes’ were pleasing accidents .. so they stayed in place! Love your sentiments and remarkable work!

  47. Once again you have skipped into my life with your oh so cute butterfly panel! I love your quilting.

  48. I would love this book and I have been getting your newsletter forever and love it.

  49. I always love your posts! Would love a copy of the Book. I have a turtle hand batik that has a future of hand stitching?

  50. I so look forward to your posts. I love your comment about perfection. I am working on that myself. The book looks wonderful, and I would love to win it.

  51. This is stunning. I really love the stitching on that fantastic blue, and you are correct – the binding is a perfect complement!

  52. I am eager to learn more hand stitching and have a work in progress that will require a great deal of embellishment. I would love the butterfly book.

  56. Hi Jenny,

    I have a question/request only slightly related to this week’s blog. In one of those moments of insanity we get, I agreed to do a wall hanging using silk georgette which will have applied fabric pieces to it. I’ve never worked with silk before, let alone georgette which was trailing long fibers floating from every side as I took it out of the packaging. Do you have any suggestions about working with silk or any reference books you could suggest for articles that might help me out? I work on a high end domestic machine so thread type? needle size? Info on wrangling those floating threads?

    Oh yes, the book too. Thank you

  57. I to did embroidery in my younger years but put is aside. I have gotten back into it and am incorporating it into my quilting.

  59. Love the Butterfly book. It reminds me of my mom who loved butterflies. Thanks!

  60. W O W. I don’t know what else to say. I love both pieces. Your quilting, oops and all, is fantastic. It’s nice to see that “professionals” like you are human after all. ?
    I’m starting to get into embroidery on wall hangings.

  62. Jenny, Sweet of you for buying Catherine’s book twice to support her and for having this give away. Heard y’all had fun together competing in the Iron Quilter a few years ago in Chicago.

  63. I am so inspired by the embroidery! Now I’m jonesing for the book! Thanks for the opportunity

  65. Thank you for the reminder to embrace our imperfections. As a reformed perfectionist, I’m happy to practice your wisdom on every project. It’s so much less stressful! AND I’d love Katherine’s book.

  66. I am so into hand embroidery and would love to get the book. Thank you and love your work.

  67. Beautiful panel, wonderfully finished. Thank you for reminding us life is not perfect and let.it.be is preferable.

  68. This piece is so FUN. And, yes, the binding is perfect. I love those stash finds that make the finished piece look like you bought everything together. Bravo!

  69. Love how you added colorful stitching to the Dragonfly wing! the Background colors make the “bug” pop! (Also my favorite colors!)
    I adore butterflies too!

  71. I’ve heard wonderful things about this book! Thank you for sharing your abundance!

    I have shared your news/email and blog with many for inspiration and motivation! Thank you for keeping us all going!

  72. I, too, did a lot of hand embroidery as a child (“idle hands…..”). I have recently started doing more of it and I find it relaxing, almost a meditation. Your quilt is stunning!

  74. Love the butterfly ! I also love hand embroidery, so would really enjoy the book, too. Thanks for giving it away.

    Linda

  76. As always, your work is awesome! I learn something new each time. Butterflies are a favorite of mine and you did a great job with it. I would totally enjoy the book.

  77. I love your newsletter too! I’m beginning to want to wander a little away from piecing and try my hand at something new- you’re the motivator!!!

  78. Jenny, I just re-read your post about the book give away. It says Thurs. 4/16! I’m pretty sure Thurs. is the 15th ?
    That’s the day the Pixeladies are giving their zoom event for our ASG chapter. Hope to see you there.

  80. Jenny, I took your Frills and Thrills class at the 2019 Grand Rapids Quilt show. Loved it and still using what I learned. I’ve been reading your weekly blog and have love the way you share your adventures.
    Onward!!!

  81. Love live Catherine & her work & would love this book! Thanks for such inspiring share outs!

  82. The butterfly piece is glorious — and I’m *so* glad you are able to live with imperfections! (“Do I care? No!” is a mantra for me!) And yes…I’ve been guilty of having 2 copies of something (usually magazines but not always)…another delightful “imperfection”… Happy stitching!

  84. I would love this book. Thanks for the giveaway and congrats in advance to the lucky winner

  85. I just came from Catherine’s blog. You and Catherine are two very talented ladies! I will definitely sign up for your newsletter!

  86. Lovely work and photos – I learned some stuff today. Would love the book since I’m getting back into embroidery lately.

  89. So much to love here~hand embroidery and creative quilting from two of the best!

    Thank you for the inspiration.

  90. I’m embarking on a new quilt project of butterflies for my daughter, so this would be an awesome asset in book form to have. Thank you for your generosity.