Thursday, March 10, 2011

Book Release Celebration!
Introducing Chapter 9: Window & Kristin

Today is Day Nine of our giveaway to celebrate the publication of our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge. As you undoubtedly know, each day, for twelve days, we are asking you a different question. For a chance to win a copy of our book, just leave us a comment on any of the Book Release Celebration posts with your answer to the relevant question. Feel free to play every day! At the end of the twelve days, one lucky winner will be randomly selected. (By the way, it is REALLY helpful if your comment is linked to a profile or blog that includes your e-mail address so that we can easily contact you if your comment is selected.) The book drawing is closed.  Stay tuned for the winner details.
My (Kristin's) chapter is about about Window, a theme chosen by Gerrie. This challenge offered up an image to me right away, but other challenges were not always so clear. Much of our book is about our individual thought processes and how each of us approaches the same theme but in different ways. It is fascinating to see not just one way of approaching a design challenge, but twelve! The variety of approaches to this specific challenge was wonderful, and I write about each of our reactions, and how I went about making my own vision a reality in fabric.
Defenestration by Kristin La Flamme

This small quilt takes advantage of machine stitching, highlighted with paint, which was a new technique for me. But sometimes hand stitching is more appropriate, as with my zen-ish piece for our latest Colorplay challenge - Bonsai Tree of Life

So, which do you prefer, hand quilting or machine quilting?
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38 comments:

  1. RuthMarch 10, 2011 at 1:14 AM

    For embelishment I like to use hand stitching. I don't think I can really call it quilting as I often don't stitch through all the layers. For quilting I have to say that I don't have the patience to quilt an entire piece by hand and don't feel comfortable working with a frame, so it's machine quilting for me. (I need to practise more though - still a bit wobbly and variable :-)

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  2. lag123March 10, 2011 at 3:27 AM

    I love to machine quilt!

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

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  3. UnknownMarch 10, 2011 at 4:15 AM

    Good Morning! I think it would be handstitching at this point because I am just starting to machine stitch. I love crazyquilting so therefore it would be hand but in this being the year I am branching out to learn new techniques (hence I could really use to win this lovely book) I am wondering if one day it may become machine stitching. Thanks so much for your support to all of us in the fabric and fiber world.

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  4. Kat CampauMarch 10, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    I am a machine quilter. I love doing it, it flows so nicely. Then in some cases, I hand embroider to embellish.

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  5. ElaineMarch 10, 2011 at 6:15 AM

    Definitely machine quilting for me. I'd never finish anything if I did it all by hand.

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  6. JBMarch 10, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    For me, it depends on the the size and type of piece I am making.

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  7. JanetMarch 10, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    I love both hand and machine quilting so it really depends on the look I am going for. Time factors in as well. If I need a piece finished quickly then machine quilting is the one.

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  8. UnknownMarch 10, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. MelissaMarch 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM

    I love doing both. I usually do what I think is appropriate for the project - this means I always have a pile of handwork to do though!

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  10. Cate RoseMarch 10, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    Definitely machine quilting. Although it has more to do with my hands falling asleep frequently when I do hand stitching, than anything else. Too much machine quilting is difficult on my hands as well, but I get a lot more done between rest breaks!

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  11. CreateologyMarch 10, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    I love the simplicity of your 12x12. The window is so open to anything you like. Since I don't machine quilt I must say I like hand quilting and many decades ago I did hand quilt small pillow piece that I love.

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  12. Penny Schine GoldMarch 10, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    I prefer hand-quilting, but I have to limit how much I do because of pain from repetitive motion, so I've been increasing my skills in machine quilting and finally am enjoying that also.

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  13. GillMarch 10, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    I machine stitch my larger pieces but I love to hand stitch smaller items - I find it so therapeutic!

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  14. CarolynPhiMarch 10, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    As a crazy quilter, I love doing handwork; but with all of the new machine-based techniques and materials, I am loving working with machine stitching!

    Carolyn in SoCal

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  15. JeannieMarch 10, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    Hand quilting. I just can't get the hand-eye coordination going for machine quilting. I know it takes practice and I have that on my list.

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  16. Barbara Strobel LardonMarch 10, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Machine for sure! Will use hand quilting for embellishment though or a very small quilt just to keep the skill up.

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  17. DottiMarch 10, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    I like both. For a quilt I'm sleeping under...I love the hand quilted look...for a artful wall quilt...machine quilting fits the bill! There is definitely room in this wide world for both!

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  18. AnonymousMarch 10, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    Definitely machine quilting. Not enough time in my life to hand quilt. But I do enjoy sitting and hand stiiching the binding! :-)

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  19. AnonymousMarch 10, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Maching quilting yes, never tried hand quilting. Even hate doing bindings. I really appreciate a well done hand quilted piece but also love a well done machine piece.
    Something to be said for both
    Marsha In Va Beach

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  20. DreamerMarch 10, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    I can still feel the needle pricks from my first attempt at hand quilting many years ago. I still haven't finished the piece. I prefer machine quilting for the speed and instead of pricked fingers, I have tight shoulders.

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  21. UnknownMarch 10, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    I like and use both, although the drugs I am currently on is making hand quilting very difficult.

    To me, hand quilting versus machine quilting is like oils versus acrylic or watercolor paints. They all do the purpose of holding the sandwich together (and here you thought it was mayo or mustard all this time) or conveying an image or idea in the case of the paints. However, each have properties which are inherent in the method...equally good, requiring equal (or in the case of good machine quilting, I think that is an art form harder to achieve excellence in than hand quilting) skill, but the results convey different qualities. Some of my paintings or subjects rather, cry out for watercolor with its fluidity and overlays of washes,
    others for the richness and texture I can achieve with oils.

    I view quilting the same way. You can use big and small stiches, uneven stitches, thick (like perle cotton) threads in hand quilting, just as you can use fine stuff...and when you use those very same threads in machine quilting the results are quite different....and the feeling conveyed is different as well.

    Just two tools in our art quilting box. :)

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  22. MaureenMarch 10, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    Never in a million years would I ever classify myself as a machine quilter, because I don't "DO" machine quilting at all proficiently (sad face)
    I DO enjoy hand quilting, because I can sit and dream (and plan) as I do it.

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  23. RenateMarch 10, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    When I quilt a piece, it is by hand. It allows me the time to think of what I'd like to piece next. I have yet to master machine quilting, but have become very adept at quilting by cheque!

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  24. oregonjudyMarch 10, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    I can appreciate all of the work involved in hand quilting but love the look that is obtained by machine. It's like painting a picture with thread.

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  25. wlstarnMarch 10, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Machine. I like to get things done, and it's quicker for me. Now, if I can just improve my free-motion!

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  26. dutchcomfortMarch 11, 2011 at 12:38 AM

    It depends on the project. I love the combination of machinepiecing and -quilting and adding a touch a handquilting. I’m really trying to enjoy the process more than making just another quilt.

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  27. Bev LongfordMarch 11, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    I have always loved machine quilting, not very good at hand quilting. The past year though I have been adding embroidery to my quilts, love that big stitch quilting has become popular. Some quilts I think just need some hand work added to them.
    Bev Longford

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  28. UnknownMarch 11, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Handstitching in any form is a relaxing and creative medium. I love it. I am working on the machine work.

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  29. BeverlyMarch 11, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Although I love the occasional bit of hand embroidery, I'd never get anything finished if it were hand quilted. It's all machine for me!

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  30. Vicki MillerMarch 13, 2011 at 4:09 AM

    i love to machine quilt...although it often strays into thread painting. One day I will learn to hand quilt.
    I love the Shelter from the storm best for this reason, because the patterns in it are so like quilting patterns and flow the way I like to quilt

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  31. GinaMarch 14, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Machine quilting! But hand quilting is on my to-do-more-of list.

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  32. Exuberantcolor/Wanda S HansonMarch 14, 2011 at 5:56 PM

    Machine quilting because my old hands can't take the hand stitching for any length of time.

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  33. Gladys LoveMarch 14, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I like both.....hand quiltig is great for when I feel serene, machine quilting is perfect for designs that would have to be turned too many times to enjoy if done by hand! To sum it up.....I love ALL kinds of quilting!

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  34. AliMarch 14, 2011 at 8:16 PM

    Do I have to choose? I love the way hand quilting lends itself to “channelling” … as in ideas, what ifs and quieting the party that happens in my head. I equally love the “whir” and textures that dance from under the needle when I machine quilt – not just for its speed but the sketching and the ebb and flow that takes me somewhere else …. I choose both … together … a marriage of equals on my cloth.

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  35. What Comes Next?March 15, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    I'm a machine quilter all the way!

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  36. magsramsayMarch 16, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    I hand quilted a double size quilt -it took me 7 years. So I mostly machine quilt (although I get very tensed up doing it ) and relax with handstitching adding texture with heavy threads and bold stitches. Best of both worlds!

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  37. BethMarch 16, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    Growing up as the granddaughter of a hand-quilter, I was quite the snob before I ever quilted a stitch. Now I have grown to appreciate machine quilting, especially the simple, straight-line variety.

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  38. LindiMarch 17, 2011 at 12:38 AM

    I like both - whichever is the most appropriate for the piece.

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