STUDIO NOTES---HAND QUILTING

Lorna said a quilter's stitch is a signature, as individual as the person. That is what my grandmother said. Quilting by hand sculpts the surface of the quilt. The hand stitching becomes a design element as well as the function holding the layers together.

I like the quilting to be expressive so I improvise. I do not mark the lines to be quilted. 
Improvise and "you have a unique identity."---Wynton Marsalis 
Wynton and Lorna, voices you can trust!

Here is a brief look at the supplies I favor:

Thread for hand quilting is labeled Quilting thread. I use 100% cotton, favoring Gutterman with a pretty and functional glaze. If the weight is listed, look for 40/3. I like color and do not limit my choice to a neutral color thread. It is good to try multiple thimbles until you find what you like. The one I use, shown in the photo, has a raised brass top with a lip to control the needle. It has a serious, heavy duty look, as if you should don a hard hat. I started hand quilting by using a quilting hoop. This looks like an embroidery hoop, but it is more substantial to secure the layers of the quilt. I now mostly quilt in a frame, a simple home made device, and more about that later.

As with finding a thimble, I tried many needles first buying a package of assorted "betweens". I now use a John James size 11 Quilting needle/between. I rarely work without the Needle Grip It, discovering that this adhesive dot gives me a good grip on the needle minimizing strain. (Kudos to the naming dept.)

here is another look at my thimble

If you can shop at a local quilt shop, please do. If you internet shop, here are some links. The Colonial Needle Co. markets the Needle Grip-It and a similar thimble called a Raised Edge Thimble/Side Stitcher.  colonialneedle.com  nancysnotions.com  purlsoho.com

I am offering classes in hand quilting, and one is coming up soon! 

AQS QuiltWEEK August 16-19, 2017 Grand Rapids, MI quiltweek.com/grr17-pam-beal/

2018 Madeline Island School of the Arts--A five day workshop! Studio Hand Quilting at MISA

AQ MAGAZINE

CLOUDBURST is in AQ---and there I am too!  American Quilter, July 2017

Another expression of appreciation to AQS, the judges and Horn of America Collection. My profile photo was taken by my friend since forever, Dennis Murphy. Congratulations to all of my colleagues with quilts in the Paducah show. I have been marveling at your fine work in the Catalogue of Show Quilts 2017.  www.americanquilter.com

QUILTWEEK 2017 GRAND RAPIDS MI

Improvisation for Squares--Thurs. 8-17 & Studio Hand Quilting--Fri. 8-18

Two short afternoon classes so you can take in all of the great events at QuiltWEEK

Registration information

You are invited to ask questions before or after you register--email me, I'm friendly! 

AQS QUILTWEEK--AUGUST 2017

                                     
                                  CRAYONS 45" X 44"   

by pam j. beal

The beauty is in the mark. The expression is in the mark. The quilting stitch is a series of marks. Possibilities are in the mark. 

I have fun with all the steps of making a quilt, even naming the quilt. Here we have--show title: CRAYONS  Working title: Ink & Crayon  Other considerations: Runs With Crayons--As if Crayon--Crayons Sans Box

I hope to see you in Grand Rapids, and I'll be teaching www.quiltweek.com

Crayons will be exhibited with 272 other quilts from 43 states, and 11 other countries. August 16-19, 2017 Grand Rapids, MI

NEWS FROM GWEN MARSTON

I have it on good authority that Gwen has only a few copies left of the award winning book, 37 Sketches. I previously posted about how influential this book has been on my quilting practice and it is very artful in terms of the photography and narrative. No wonder it won a New York Book Award!

If you would like your own copy---write to Gwen at: P.O. Box 155, Beaver Island MI 49782

Include a check for $33.00 and let Gwen know if you want her to sign your book.


Most of you know that Gwen is retired now, and maybe I should say she is in the process of retiring much as she has followed a process in quilt making. She recently offered a lecture about Mary Schafer, and reflected that this was a full circle event. Her professional work seemed to begin and end with Mary Schafer. 

The Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA is hosting an exhibition of the traveling collection of Mary's quilts contained in the Michigan State University Great Lakes Quilts Collection. 
www.mercermuseum.org

Gwen shared a story about Mary looking at one of Gwen's Liberated quilts and Mary exclaimed, "Oh I wish I could sew so crudely!" Mary said that with appreciation mind you.