I did reload the sampler quilt and add a line of echoing in the border. I like it better now.

Whew! I took this off the machine today.  It’s a big one, so it’s hard to get a full picture of it at once.  I will say that the border does not look the same in person as it does in the photo.  I like it much better in person.  It doesn’t seem to photograph well.  However, Erma, if you don’t like it, I can load it back up and add some more quilting.  I’m thinking that I might like to just add a line of echoing on each side of the design.  I also thought about stippling around it, which would take up the fullness, but and make the design really stand out, but…I’m afraid that would make the border too flat for the rest of the quilt.

The technical stuff: I used So Fine thread.  The batting was supplied by my client, and is Soft Shape poly batt by the Putnam Co.  Very high loft and gives lots of definition to the stitching, and held up very well during quilting. I used an assortment of tools on this one.  I used my Circle Lord to do the circles around the stars, and the feathered wreath spines.  I used these stencils:

And I used all these rulers.

I hope to get started on the next one tomorrow!  It is Erma’s, as well.  A big double wedding ring!

I got my quilt finished in time to enter the Circle Lord challenge.  I’m going to have to enlist some help from my two guys to get photos to submit.  It’s too large to lay out anywhere, and get a full shot.  So, when I have some good light coming into the living room, they are going to have to hold it up for me.  I’m going to leave the zippers attached, and later, when things have slowed back down around here some, I will zip it back onto the machine, to stitch the binding onto the front.  Now that I have learned to do that, I like it so much better than wrestling a quilt this large while stitching it on with my sewing machine.  I haven’t even made the binding yet.  That can wait.  I’m tired of this one for now…lol.

After I get my quilting room straightened back up, the machine and table cleaned, I’ve got some really neat customer quilts lined up to get started on, so stay tuned…more quilting to come! Happy Valentine’s day! 🙂