BOW TIE Vintage Quilt Top

My Own QuiltsQuilting RulersVintage Quilt

Feb 20

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**Beautiful, bow tie, vintage quilt top, 3' x 7'**

YES, the back of a hand pieced top can be overwhelming. How would you ever press this? Well, I don't do it from the back, that's for sure. However, this one has been precisely pieced and was done well. Each one of those little pieces is about 1" in size, finished. Honestly, I can't imagine!!

I never press these from the back! I gave this a good press from the top, not concerning myself about the direction of seams because there is no way to properly press those from the backside. I do give it some starch and try to make it as flat as possible.

I 'float' all my tops, which means I don't attach them to the bar that is sitting on the top. Many times, people will pin their tops to that leader and bar, but I like the ability to manipulate my tops, especially the hand-pieced ones. I am constantly tugging gently, spraying some starch, and steaming here and there to shrink the excess fabric. I find I can get the best results by keeping the top free. You can see the starch and steam trick on my YouTube Channel.

**Fabrics are mostly 1930's and 1940's**

I've chosen to put a swirl in the white spaces and simply ditch stitch around the bow ties, hoping to pop those shapes and fabrics without interruption. Small stitching will create the best curves, so I am stitching at 14 stitches per inch. This is also a continuous line of stitching. No need to break the thread if you don't need to. I try to get through most quilts without cutting threads unless, of course, there is a color change. It saves LOTS of time and thread burying, which I do with all thread tails.

I did a quick video on how I travel through these pieces. It's all about looking ahead, and getting a quilt path figured out. This always reminds me of the puzzle mazes on paper that I loved as a kid!

The rulers (for domestic OR longarm quilting) can be found in my online shop. I use different lengths and shapes, depending on the work I'm doing.

Click here for more information on rulers

I decided to only ditch stitch the blue and white squares, hoping they would create a frame around the bow tie blocks. I want those bow ties to pop out and be the stars. I think they are!

You may ask what those red things are at the top of the photo. I use RED SNAPPERS (aff link) from Renae Haddidin. I ordered them way before I even had my long arm set up, 8 years ago. I knew I would never be a pin girl, so snappers are a clamp-type set up. I can pull a quilt off and put it back on in a matter of minutes.

This is the look of a finished row. Walking away from the quilt at night really has a great look. I only have a few squares left to finish and then I can do the big TA DA!!! I always look forward to that!

Feel free to ask questions. I post daily on my Facebook page, so follow me there for progress. Have a wonderful day everyone!

QUILT UPDATE!!!