Watching the paint dry...one stitch at a time...

People often make fun of home improvement shows and call the networks that carry them the "Paint Drying Channel," or some such insulting label.  They use their remote to find something more amazing and remarkable to watch to get their "buzz" or "high." 

It is not very sexy TV for the uninterested - the changes just don't happen fast enough for most viewers.  Although, I think the fact that the improvement took place before our eyes in 30 - 60 minutes is remarkable...I've DONE home improvements.  I really appreciate seeing every little detail because let's face it, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS...

The same jaded thinking happens in the quilting and DIY blog world...unless you are interested in the topic being detailed and expanded upon, it can be a snore-fest for some.  BRING ON THE SEEMINGLY INSTANTANEOUS FINISH OF THE QUILT/PROJECT IN QUESTION!

I say, "NOT FAIR!!"  Some things just take time.  Hand quilting is one of those things.

The thing I like most about reading blogs is seeing the details...good and bad.  While I like the lure of "Ta da!  Look at this fabulously complicated thing I just finished," I don't think it is very helpful to miss out on the pain and personal growth that it took getting from step one to step done.  

I like to hear that there were some problems that were overcome, because there are things about quilting that ARE difficult.   It is always helpful for me to see how people workout the tough stuff.

I have been frustrated with finishing the hand quilting of the music quilt.  Mostly, because there is a lot of quilting!  But also because there are many things that seem to constantly need my attention.  

A lot of the quilting is outline quilting which, let's just say it, is not very exciting.  I did it to myself...I appliqued all these tiny, little things that really need to be outline quilted to make them "pop."

What possessed me to design border swags with holes in them...holes that all need to be outline quilted?  I love how they look when they are quilted, so I am going to stop questioning my use of TWENTY-EIGHT of them...

Sometimes the edges of the motifs are straight so that I can fill the needle with stitches before pulling the thread through.

But most of the time, I can only take one stitch at a time due to the tightness of a curve...that "quilt pecking" takes more time.  I was literally flying on the cross-hatch quilting behind the blocks because I could load up the needle with lots of stitches before pulling the thread through.

And then, there is all the "traveling" between little motifs...times I am worming my way through the batting trying to get the needle to its next destination without knotting off.

Oh, don't get me wrong...I still love hand quilting.  It just takes longer to make what most people would call "progress."  When outline quilting the actual music blocks, it is hard for the untrained eye (my husband...LOL!) to figure out which blocks have been outlined and which ones have not.

I spent Monday and Tuesday finishing all the piano key and outline quilting on the border motifs (minus the corners).  When my family came home and looked, nothing looked all that different to their eyes.

Oh well...Teresa knows that she is getting closer to her goal.

I have been so thankful for a good thimble and a little pile of rubber finger cots.  The finger cots really help me get a grip on the tiny quilting needle, especially when I get a chance to really load it up with stitches before pulling the thread through...

I have a bad habit of thinking that when the center of the the quilt is quilted, I'm almost through.  Well, I calculated last night that the center part is 5184 square inches.  The outer borders on this quilt are almost just as much "real estate" - 4224 square inches.  No wonder I have been so hard on myself!  

It sounds like I need to be a little more patient with the paint drying MYSELF...

...while working on the details, the devil has definitely been working on me!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)