Why Not, Why Knot Quilt

I spent much of last year making quilts for one publication or another, for this fabric line or that fabric line but almost all on some sort of a deadline.  I started 2019 telling myself that this year was going to be different and I was going to make some quilts for me, taking my time and enjoying the creative process but before I knew it I'd booked several quilts for publication and had made four quilts all before QuiltCon in late February.  After QuiltCon, I caught my breath and decided to change course and make a quilt for me, my Why Knot quilt.

Why Knot 49" x 63"

I really didn't have to much of a direction.  I knew what colors I wanted to use and pulled them from my stash and I knew I wanted to use the arc shape so I started designing and playing with layout.  I finally decided to just start making!  I used Jenny Haynes' 7" Double Drunkards Path template which comes with a great squaring tool.

Trimmings

I settled on a layout and before I knew it I had my quilt top finished and I started on a quilting strategy, this step took the longest.  Sometimes I use Photoshop to test out quilting motifs but most of the time I print out a copy of my quilt design, grab a pencil, ruler and eraser, must have, and tryout motifs low tech.

Quilt Top and Quilt Plan

Once I had a plan I started quilting; have I mentioned that I'm in love with my Gammill Statler Stitcher?  and much to my surprise I was ok with leting my quilt sit on my longarm for days at a time without working on it.  It felt so good!

Why Knot Quilting

It took me around 30 hours to quilt this design.  I use the design software that came with my Gammill and quilt section by section.  My longest session was 12 1/2 hours, why too long, but I was determined to finish and, I thought, I was so close to be done but really I was 4 hours away.  My feet were killing me after standing for 12 1/2 hours on a basement floor.  I did change my shoes half way through, a little trick I learned working retail, but it after hour 9 it really didn't matter any more, and yes I have an anti-fatigue mat but I really haven't noticed that it helps any.  Anyway... after 30 hours I had my design quilted!

Why Knot Details

It feels so good to take three weeks to complete a quilt, instead of one week or less, and to do it on my timeline.

Why Knot

I have a couple more "for me" projects planned including quilting my Coral Commotion top from Honest Fabric for this year's Pantone Quilt Challenge.  I definitely can't wait to share more!

Coral Commotion