A Sampler Block, a Custom Ironing Table, and a Custom QOV for Harold

Lest you think I've not been making any progress at all on my own projects, I have this block to show for myself:

Another 5 inch Block Completed for my Retro '80s Sampler

I've actually finished several more 5" blocks for my Retro '80s Building Blocks sampler quilt besides this one -- I only have six left, plus borders and corner blocks.  The photo below was taken a few weeks ago and doesn't show any of the new blocks.  What it does show is my new, fancy-schmancy custom ironing table, built by my "Handy Husband":

Rebecca's Fancy-Schmancy Custom Ironing Table

24 x 48 Custom Ironing Table

I have been searching in vain for an ideal quilter's ironing board, and I finally talked my husband into building one to my specifications.  

Y'all, I am RIDICULOUSLY excited about my ironing table!

Plywood, Pinnable Foam, Padding and Canvas Cover

It's basically a miniature version of the worktables used in custom drapery workroom, and I got the materials and instructions from the Rowley Drapery Supply company.  It's built of plywood topped with pinnable foam, then a layer of worktable padding (like a really thick quilt batting, not sure what the fiber content is but it can withstand moisture and high heat from a steam iron) and covered with heavy duty canvas wrapped tight over the surface and stapled to the underside of the table.  When the canvas gets too worn or duty, I'll just rip it off and replace it with a new piece.  The table is sturdy so it doesn't tip over, it has locking casters so I can move it around the studio easily, and the 24" x 48" rectangular surface is perfect for pressing full widths of quilting cotton.  No more silly pointy-ended ironing boards in my studio! 

Full 45 inch Width of Fabric Fits My 24 x 48 Ironing Table

A Custom Quilt of Valor for Harold

The United States Air Force fabric I was pressing in the photo above was the backing for this very special Quilt of Valor made by my client Dianne for her husband Harold.  Dianne and Harold came together to drop of the quilt top and to pick up the quilt when it was finished, and I enjoyed getting to know both of them and learn about Harold's adventures in the service of our country.  When he retired from the Air Force, Harold had flown over fifteen thousand hours.  

Dianne found this majestic eagle panel for Harold's quilt and framed it with flying geese borders that reminded me of fighter jets.  I quilted the panel with Anne Bright's Scroll Stars B2B (Border to Border) design in Aurifil invisible nylon monofilament thread (affiliate link), to add texture and movement to the panel design without detracting from the image with thready "scribbles."

Scroll Stars B2B Design Stitched in Aurifil Invisible Thread

I know not every quilter is a fan of invisible thread, but there is no other thread that would have disappeared so completely into both the white of the eagles' feathers as well as the inky navy background areas.  I love how the Scroll Stars quilting design brings this panel to life -- isn't it cool how that star landed right above the eagle's eye in the photo below?

Aurifil Invisible Thread Enhances the Panel With Subtle Texture

For the flying geese border, I found a Karlee Porter design for the triangles that played up the idea that they are fighter jets flying in formation around the central panel.

Karlee Porter's Triangle 7 for Flying Geese

Computerized custom quilting is more involved than you might think.  It's like having a blind quilting assistant -- the computer can't actually see the quilt it's working on, so you have to map out the whole quilt as you go along, individually positioning, reshaping and resizing each motif to fit precisely within the seam lines of the actual patchwork on the quilt.  I did all of the SID (Stitch in the Ditch) first, working freehand with rulers.  Then I quilted the B2B design on the central panel, and then I switched from invisible monofilament thread to So Fine in Snow (affiliate link) before quilting the border designs. 

Custom Quilting with Bernina Q-Matic, My Blind Quilting Assistant

I used a separate digitizing software program called Art & Stitch to combine two of Karlee Porter's square block design for the corner rectangles:

Star Explosion Block (Modified) and Air Force Emblem, Both from Quiltable

I also used Art & Stitch to edit the Star Explosion block (designed by Jen Eskridge for Quiltable) to fit the irregular pentagon patches.  The Air Force Emblem was also sourced from Quiltable, and just needed to be resized and carefully positioned to fill the outer corners without encroaching into the binding seam.

Computer assisted custom quilting probably doesn't save much time over completely hand guided custom quilting.  The biggest advantages of using the computer are that you don't have to make any markings on the fabric of the quilt (that may or may not come off afterwards) and that the computer can stitch the designs so precisely and repeat them identically throughout the quilt.  There is still a tremendous amount of time involved in planning a custom quilt, sourcing and altering designs to fit, as well as actually stitching it all out.

Here's what this quilt looked like before quilting:

Harold's QOV Before Quilting

...And here's what it looked like when it was ready to go home:

Harold's 67 x 72 Quilt of Valor

Thank you for choosing me to be a part of this very special quilt for you, Dianne and Harold, and thank you Harold for your service to our country!

This Week's Sewing Goals

So, what's next for me this week?  I think I might actually finish the last blocks for my sampler quilt!  

Can You Spot the Newest Blocks?

I've got a sewing play date planned with a friend on Tuesday and I'm hoping to get the last few blocks cut, prepped, and packed up with my Featherweight this afternoon.  I'd like to move forward with the tulips for my FrankenWhiggish Rose appliqué blocks as well, but right now my cutting table is piled high with all the different Kona Solid fabrics I'm using in the sampler quilt.  

Prepping the Final Blocks for FPP and Template Piecing

Harold's quilt was the last custom quilt in my queue and I still have one last vintage restoration waiting for my attention that I'm hoping to wrap up by the end of the month.  Going forward, I'll only be offering edge-to-edge quilting services for clients.  That should help me predict turnaround time more accurately while also carving out a little more time for finishing up projects of my own.

Have a wonderful week, and happy quilting!