It’s time for a very happy dance! I have finally finished my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt!
I started this quilt back in January 2017, it was a BOM by Sarah Fielke, my main aim when I signed up for it was to learn how to do needle-turn applique. It was great for that, Sarah gave excellent instructions and videos on how to do it. It’s a gorgeous design and I finally finished it in about March 2018. This is the quilt just as I had finished piecing it, it’s lying on the frame of the long arm quilter.
I had decided mid way through the quilt that there was too much hand sewing on this quilt to turn round and send it off to be machine quilted. It’s a big quilt, about 96″ square, so there’s no way I could quilt it on my machine either. I decided I would hand quilt it…
….there were several times over the last 18 months when I questioned that decision!! However, I did take it to a long arm quilter to be machine basted, I just didn’t have the floor space to spread it out on, so at least it was securely tied for the months I took to hand quilt it. She used a very fine quilting thread and although you can still see the lines at the moment, I’m happy they will disappear after a wash or two.
I’ve learnt a lot over the 18 months it’s taken me to quilt it, to be honest if it wasn’t for Kathy’s Hand Quilt-a-long then I think it would still be in a heap somewhere. Just knowing I had to write a post about my progress meant I at least spent an evening working on it, so huge thanks to Kathy!
My quilting has improved a bit during the 18 months, I’m very glad I chose a very busy backing fabric as you can’t actually see very easily where I’ve missed stitches or they’re not very even.
I tried various tools – I tried metal thimbles, leather pads, wrap-around thimbles, I eventually settled on a Clover silicone thimble which Kate kindly sent me, together with some Birch needles which also saw me through the project. My final bit of quilting having finished the big border, was to return to the centre, I’d not finished the Dresden circle in the middle. I quilted a daisy sort of shape along the spokes.
Having finally reached the end of all the quilting, I still had to bind it. My original plan was to bind it with the backing fabric, I knew I had enough left. When I laid it next to the quilt though I felt it was too busy. I started playing with pieces from my stash, in particular the pieces left from making the quilt. I felt it would be better with a green binding, I tried the mid green first, which wasn’t quite right, then I found a small amount of a dark sage green. It looked perfect and there was just enough.
It took me a couple of evenings to stitch the binding down – I use 2.25″ strips, folded in half. I machine stitch the front and then hand stitch the back.It takes a while to hand stitch the back but it’s the only way I get a neat finish.
I also remembered my plan to use buttons for the rabbit’s eyes, instead of trying to applique tiny circles…
The last thing to do was a label. Last year Sarah Fielke (the designer) came over to the UK for some workshops. I went to one of her talks and asked her to sign a piece of fabric. I then back-stitched over her signature and added my initials and the date before stitching it to the back of the quit.
I’m really pleased with my quilt, I love the design and the colours have worked out pretty well. It’s a learning piece when it comes to hand-quilting, there’s good bits and not so good bit’s! I can’t say I’m a great lover of hand quilting at the moment, but perhaps it was too big a project for a first time in 25 years. It’s so big that my family couldn’t actually hold it right out without fear of it trailing on the ground! What I can say is it hasn’t put me off and I’m already considering hand-quilting another quilt!
I’ve already planned my next project- but you’ll have to wait another three weeks to find out. All I will say is I have show it before 🙂
Hand Quilt Along Links
This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan, Nanette, Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi, Bella, Daisy and Connie
I’ll also be linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, please follow the link for more hand-stitching inspiration.
thecraftycreek 
What an amazing piece of work!!!! ❤️
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This quilt is one to be proud of. It is such a beauty. Congratulations of actually finishing such a large piece.
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This is beautiful! Hand quilting is a slow process, I commend you for stick with it for 18 months. There is a lot to quilt on an applique quilt. Enjoy looking at it and the sense of accomplishment you have. Looking forward to seeing what your quilting next, happy stitching!
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oh so pleased to see you’ve finished this gorgeous quilt – hope it’s going to be in pride of place on your bed?
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Oh yes, this one is definitely for our bed 🙂
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Well done! It’s beautiful!
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It’s stunning! You definitely learned how to needle turn applique! I love the colors you picked. The little structure in the photo is adorable! Enjoy this quilt for years to come!
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Congratulations! I would never have attempted it. May be now…..
Have a lovely Christmas. Suex
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Congratulations, Margaret! You have done a terrific job! I never would’ve taken on such a project! Hand quilting isn’t for me! Is your next project smaller? 🙂
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Congratulations! It has been so fun watching the progress on this and what a beautiful finish you have. Love the green binding.
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Having just finished hand stitching down the binding on a similar sized quilt (as you know) I can’t even imagine actually hand quilting it so I am full of admiration for your efforts and you have ended up with a beautiful quilt which you will enjoy for years to come.
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Absolutely gorgeous! This was a huge undertaking, you pressed through and the result is stunning. This is an award winner for sure 🙂 Dancing along with you ~ Sharon
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A beautiful quilt, gorgeous colours. Well done.
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Wonderful write up about a very special quilt!!!!! Besure and print a copy to stay with the quilt where ever it goes in the years to come. The label is icing on the cake…….. Bravo!!
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Congrats on your completion… love the quilt and quilting and the label is genius too ❤
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Gorgeous!! Stitched with much love and care. Such a wonderful label too, fabulous!
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Beautiful – I have been following you the whole time and I bought the book, but have not started it yet along with 100 other projects! LOL Excellent job and know you are happy!
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What a lovely finish! I’m so glad you decided to hand-quilt it. Even though I am a longarm quilter, I also hand-quilted my Down the Rabbit Hole 🙂
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truly stunning!!! i’ve been watching your progress from the beginning, and have been blown away every three weeks … so so SO GORGEOUS!!!
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Congratulations!! This is such a huge accomplishment! The quilt is beautiful!
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That is a magnificent crafting tour de force. Congratulations on its completion.
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Well done for sticking with it, you have made a fantastic quilt.
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Congrats on your finish! So glad you decided to hand quilt this large quilt, I am sure it will now always have a special place in your heart! Merry Christmas!
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Absolutely beautiful, outstanding work. I love the idea of getting the designer to sign fabric and then stitch over it – brilliant idea. Look forward to your next project.
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Wonderful!, Congratulations on your finish. We had only seen pieces of this while you were diligently working away, so it’s great to see it call now, so nicely quilted and bound.
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What a gorgeous finish! Congratulations!
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Congratilations on your amazing achievement! The quilt turned out wonderful
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Hi,
Awesome Quilt! Love the colors you used…have a great day!
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Such a happy, happy post Margaret! A vet hearty congrats on the finish of this heirloom!
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Thanks Kathy, I couldn’t have done it without the HQAL – it would still be in a heap!!
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I’m with you on that, Margaret! Happy Christmas to you!
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There! I always knew you could do it! A big piece like this is always so intimidating at the start, and about halfway through you wonder what possessed you, but by the end, there’s *such* a sense of achievement. And you won’t be afraid to do it again – time will pass, and you’ll forget stages 1 and 2 and just remember stage 3! (A bit like childbirth, maybe?). It’s a beautiful quilt, very well done.
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Thanks Kate, and thanks especially for all your tips, help and encouragement along the way 🙂
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I was cheering you along all the way 🙂
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I love your quilt. A beautiful design and brilliantly appliqued and hand quilted. It was definitely worth hand quilting.
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What an accomplishment! Very worthy of a week of happy dancing! I can’t believe you got all that binding sewn down “in a couple of evenings!” I don’t use a thimble though, so maybe that’s the difference. I have to stop to give my fingertips a rest so it takes me a couple of days to get a much shorter binding sewn down. Congratulations!
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Thanks Sue, I don’t use a thimble for general sewing, but slip stitching doesn’t tend to make my fingers sore.
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I’m so proud of you! It’s a beautiful work of art! Well done!!!
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Congratulations! Wonderful early Christmas present!
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Thanks for showing us the whole process. It was definitely worth it!!! What a treasure!
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Congratulations on finishing. It is lovely!
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This is an amazing quilt and I am so happy for your finish. Aren’t you glad you persevered and and made it to the end? You have almost inspired me to give it a try… but perhaps on a much smaller piece.
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Thanks Lynda, I’m very glad I stuck with it, I wouldn’t recommend such a big one!
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Yes I second all the comments – congratulations and that is amazing! It was fun to follow the progress of this piece on your blog. You are definitely one of the most talented people I follow in the blogosphere!
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Margaret, this is just fab.u.lous❣️❣️❣️
Your efforts are incredible and so deserving of all our praise multiplied by thousands. 😘😘😘
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WOW, WOW, WOW. So good it needs three wows, but I shall miss it. A real heirloom for certain sure, well done you.
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Oh my goodness… in the Christmas busyness I missed your grand finish… it’s amazing!
It must be in quilt shows for people to enjoy in 2020!
Congratulations on all your hard work and perseverance… very inspiring!
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Thanks Kathy, though I’m not sure it would stand up to close scrutiny at a show 🙂 Glad you’re feeling better.
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