The Spiral Dilemma and A Solution
When the quilting bug bites, you just have to go with it right?!! After a good two month long blah feeling, I have been bitten. Please let me quilt! Why do I have to go to work today or sleep (not that I can)? I.just.want.to.quilt. That momentum inspired me to not only tackle our November OMG project, but also a little something else. Our Rainy Day Spiral quilt has just been eager to be worked on.
The Spiral Dilemma
One spiral or more was the quilting dilemma for me. When my eyes closed, I could easily picture either pattern working quite nicely on this flimsy.
Thankfully, several of you shared your opinion and led me to the many spiral path. Easily distracted though, I pondered the idea and took a parallel path. A path that involves stencils and a Pounce pad. Or so I thought, anyway.
Dilemma Explained
While each block is a ‘perfect’ square measuring 8″ in each direction, there are 35 of them. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of quilting a spiral 35 times and having 35 or more sets of thread to bury. So I took myself to the internet and found The Stencil Company. They have oodles and oodles of stencils – what a clever name they chose.
Two stencils were found on their website! One is an 8″ continuous spiral, and the other is called a 13.5″ oval spiral. I didn’t notice the word OVAL in the description, and ordered both of them. Nicely packaged for shipping, I was SO disappointed when I opened it to discover an oval. What am I going to do with that?? Oh well, it’s not like money hasn’t been wasted before. And then we mulled it over, and by we I absolutely mean me.
Oval Spiral – What??
Am I the only one that thinks a spiral has to be round? Apparently I need to step outside of my narrow box now and then, because there isn’t a spiral police. I held up the oval stencil to the flimsy and it fit perfectly over two blocks. How fabulous is that?!! Two blocks though . . . there are 35 blocks. Hmm. Sue, the genius best friend suggested the center block be quilted using the continuous style spiral stencil. The remaining 34 blocks could be oval. Brilliant! Isn’t it nice that I know someone so talented and smart?! I’m one lucky B. But that wasn’t going to quite work either. Not quite . . . but almost.
Spiral and Pounce Pad
The Finding Nemo quilt’s border was marked using the Pounce Pad without issue. It is SO easy to just line up the stencil and slowly drag it over it to mark stitching lines. Marking too far is advance isn’t recommended as the chalk does brush off easily. Caution was thrown to the wind, as I pounced the whole top at one time. I made myself a grid before I started to know which way to position the stencil. Of course, I lost the handy dandy grid when it was time to actually DO the pouncing. Here’s a mid-pounce shot. You’ll just have to wonder why it didn’t work out, and how we solved it. There has to be a reason to read a final reveal post, right? ~big teasing grin with twinkling eyes~
This project has been paused, because Baby Girl’s quilt is much more important. Right?!!
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Baby girl’s quilt IS more important, but I’ll be waiting to see what happened and how you solved the problem. I like the idea of a spiral oval. Now, you already got me into buying a Baptist Fan stencil (I think it was you – I’m blaming you, anyway!) for my hand quilting. Do I need spirals, too? Hmm … Maybe! LOL
I love the pounce method! I’ve only had one mishap using the powder thankfully it was a pillow. I will definitely check out the Stencil Company! Looking forward to the next installment….
Oh I LOVE the oval spiral idea. It’s unique and different! And you are being a naughtly little teaser. 🙂
That oval spiral is so interesting. I think it will look great on your quilt. Take care, Mary.
Good luck with your stencils. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
An oval spiral….I like it! I can’t wait to see it quilted up. Gonna have to check out the stencil site.
Hello Roseanne, This quilt is wonderful! It had to be fun to sew all of those lovely fabrics together. It has been awhile since I have done a patch quilt, I am looking forward to seeing how this quilt all comes together. Spirals are one of those designs that I have wanted to do but have never made the effort. I am also looking forward to reading about your thoughts on the pounce method of marking. I hope that you have a great time with the remainder of this quilt. Great big smiles are being sent your way!! Have a fantastic day!
Looking forward to the next instalment!!!
The quilt is beautiful and the spiral should be amazing when quilted. Glad you got your mojo back! 😉
I’m on the edge of my seat! I know you came up with some genius idea and it’s going to looks great!
Pounce pad? You are a genius! I love the oval spiral and can’t wait to see the reveal, but yes, Baby girl’s quilt is more important!
I love this. How do you like the stencils? I’ve considered stecils but not serious enough to shop for them.
I have never been able to get my pounce pad to work properly-want to come over and fix mine, hehehe. I use a sponge brush and it works just fine for the little bit of marking that I do. Looking forward to seeing your results!
I like the spiral stencils, and the pounce pad, too! I haven’t used either (yet), but it’s good to learn more about them. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out, Roseanne!
Thank you for the stencil info. I am not a free motion quilter. I have one spiral stencil but can see what you purchased are an even better addition to my tools.
I love your quilt! The colors in the solid 4 patch really anchor all of your lovely scrappy patterns. Thank you for the info about quilting patterns. I have the pounce but haven’t used it. Do you like it?
I knew you’d get your mojo back! Now off to discover what that Stencil company can do for me.
I can’t wait to see how this comes out. I’ve never tried the pounce method, so I’m eager to read about your results.
You are getting there! I’m sure it will come out looking great!