It’s been an intense experience all along. Making something this large without a plan was intimidating to me. I’m not a spontaneous soul so I had to fight myself most of the time I worked on it.
Some of the fabrics I chose for the top fought me as well. I thought the old white curtain with the eyelet lines would be a fun addition. It does look neat, but that fabric in particular did not want to be stitched. Most of the time I had to employ pliers to get a needle through it.
Old linen also frays and pills. A lot.
I worked exclusively with a limited palette of perle cottons and silk blends for the embroidery. This was the best choice I made; I think the threads held up beautifully with the often heavy needlework. The colors make the work look more cohesive, too.
Spending months slow-stitching this quilt helped me grow in many ways. I’m definitely more mindful now whenever I pick up a needle. I love being able to give new life to old fabrics. This gave me a chance to find out more about myself, too. If there was ever a visual expression of my soul as a quilter, this is it.
The quilt is pretty heavy, thanks to all the stitching and buttons, but it is a functional piece. I’ll be keeping it in the office for the cold season ahead. I give away almost everything I make, so I don’t feel selfish in keeping this one for me.
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