Cindy here, reporting in from New York. The big GRAY BARN is in view through a misty rain. Mom, dad and I are just relaxing and hoping the sun will shine sometime today. Good thing I brought a few quilting projects with me!
A few months ago, Sandy scored big at an antique store…10 antique red and white Ohio Star blocks. These unfinished blocks measure 11 x 11 inches square.
I like how the blocks were pieced by hand, very special!
Sandy and I have created three different projects from these 10 blocks. You’ll see our feature project and pattern soon…Sandy is putting the finishing touches on it as we speak!
Meanwhile, since the blocks were pieced by hand, I thought I would hand quilt one block. I found a spool of red quilting cotton and a spool of cream quilting cotton in my vast thread stash and started quilting.
GASP…my thread broke over and over again!
Okay, so it took me awhile to admit my thread was the problem. Once I realized this…quilting thread stash went into the trash!
Question for our readers:
What is your favorite brand of hand quilting thread?
There are so many different threads to choose from, I definitely need some advice!
Cindy — this looks great! I have not started my block yet, but am almost ready to reveal the “big” project from these blocks. Maybe while you are here we can wander into other antique stores and see what we can find?
Thanks! I can’t wait for the big reveal!
Hi Cindy! You two are so cute. ~smile~ I don’t often hand quilt . . . but I use Gutermann when I do. I’d have to look at home to be sure, but I believe the All Purpose kind – the one that has the most color choices. It seems to not knot as much. Sue is our hand quilter – she almost always has a hand quilting project going unless it’s July or August – too hot. These squares are so pretty – red and white is a favorite combination of mine. I wonder how the squares ended up in the store for Sandy to find. I’ll bet the original sewer is thrilled they were saved and are made into a special project. ~smile~ Roseanne
Thanks, Roseanne! I have lots of Gutermann on hand AND it’s nice to know it doesn’t knot. I’ll give it a try! I have been thinking about where these blocks got started, who made them, what was going on in her life as she was sewing? I am glad Sandy could rescue them so their story continues!
Unlike that your thread broke but it looks like a very cool quilt! What a find on the blocks at an antique store! I use Aurifil for everything – machine quilting and hand sewing – I am addicted to it. Maybe it is not the best thread but it strangely makes me happy (and I have so much of it!) 🙂
Thanks, T! I’ll give it a try. I think I was too caught up in trying to use 100% cotton thread and it just wasn’t working for me. I think I’ll stop trying to be a “purist” and go with what works best!