The biggest reason for not using it has been my rheumatoid arthritis. Most of the last 4 years my hands just couldn't hold a little quilting needle very well so I only quilted small little projects by hand.
But this quilt changed that. It just spoke to me that it needed to be hand done. I tried doing it in the hoop with a clam shell design and my regular quilting needle and thread but discovered that was too hard on my hands so I had to find a solution. I just can't quilt like I used to despite wanting too.
I can big stitch fairly easily though. I am using a chenille needle size 24 and size 8 pearle cotton. And not to forget the most important part- my mini piers. Even with a needle grabber I can't get my needle pulled through- I need those pliers.
I discovered I can only quilt directly towards me vertically or at an angle from the right. I can't quilt coming from the left, horizontally or away from me so my clam shells have turned into a straight grid- which I love by the way!
My stitches may not be as even as they used to be and I may only be able to put a few stitches on my needle before pulling it through but I am loving sitting in front of my quilt frame slowly stitching away.
I try to spend a half hour to an hour everyday enjoying the quilting process. It is quite meditative. Some days I sit in the quiet and some days I listen to an audio book or a podcast.
I am so grateful that I can still sit in front of my quilt frame enjoying the process even if I will never have small even stitches again!
I promised an update on Dear Jane... well I haven't quite gathered my thoughts on that yet. I keep changing my mind on color and size. My thoughts keep strolling to a red and white Dear Jane and I am seriously thinking of reducing the block sizes from 4-1/2" to 3". My husband thinks I am completely crazy!
What do yo think?
Happy Stitching!
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