![a close up of a quilt top that has been partly pin basted](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Pin-Basting.jpg?resize=1000%2C1000&ssl=1)
Nearly two years after finishing the quilt top, I’m finally hip-deep in quilting Bright Sisters. This is my version of the Color Block Quilt designed by Carl Hentsch of 3 Dog Designs, which I first saw on an episode of The Midnight Quilt Show. It was love at first sight. I couldn’t wait to make the quilt and I had a blast piecing it. Plus I learned a lot along the way.
When I completed the top, I didn’t feel ready to quilt it. I hadn’t quite gotten comfortable with free-motion work, I was planning a move from California to Seattle, and I was terrified of “ruining” the quilt with unskilled stitching. So I folded the quilt carefully and placed it inside a clean pillowcase for safekeeping. I did want the quilting to be something special, so in the meantime I planned an involved and challenging design for it.
![a photo of a quilt with drawn lines over it to show where the quilter plans to quilt it](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Original-Design.jpg?resize=1000%2C789&ssl=1)
I spent a lot of this year (2019) practicing my free-motion quilting, and I finally felt like I could tackle this baby. Before I could do anything, it needed a good pressing and a thread or two trimmed on the back.
![a pile of colorful clipped threads in an open wooden box](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Threads.jpg?resize=977%2C1024&ssl=1)
After layering and pin-basting it I was ready to go. Oh, and by the way, you can measure twice and still cut wrong, in case anyone ever asks. Luckily I had some extra batting lying around.
I wanted the quilting to be very dense and to enhance different parts of the quilt design. I also wanted to match the top thread to the fabrics so it would blend in and hide any not-so-perfect parts. I planned to work from the center out, so I began by looking at my original quilting design for the inside of the center circle (see above). It didn’t really grab me this time around so I consulted some quilt design books and started doodling other patterns.
I came up with a feathered one that I really like. Before starting on the quilt itself, I made up some practice blocks and took a few runs at it. The fourth attempt came out pretty well:
![a practice block with blue thread on black fabric showing a feathery "S" shape](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Center-Circle-Practice.jpg?resize=1000%2C1000&ssl=1)
So I took my courage in both hands and quilted the center circle. It was while working on this design that I finally grokked how to quilt bump-back feathers. Now I can’t get enough of them.
![a single quilted circle showing a feathery "S" shape](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Center-Circle-Final.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
I continued to work my way out from the center. Before each new color, I spent some time looking at my original plan and re-drawing it using my iPad until I came up with something I liked and was confident I could quilt.
![close up of part of a quilt showing a feathery "S" shape](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Center-Circle-Quilted.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1)
![a close up of a quilt showing swirls and feathers](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Orange-Square.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1)
![a close up of the center of the quilt showing different quilting designs](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Center-of-Quilt.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1)
![quilted texture on a blue quilt back](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Center-of-Quilt-from-Back.jpg?resize=1000%2C1000&ssl=1)
![a close up of quilting showing swirls, feathers, and lines](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Pink-Ribbons.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&ssl=1)
![a quilt and a sewing machine showing a portion of the quilt](https://i0.wp.com/quiltsmith.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Orange-Circles.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
I’m working my way out toward the edges now, and nearly finished with the yellow and lime square-in-a-square that you see in the photo above. I’m planning more feathers for the dark green circles and I can’t wait to get to those. I’m doing minimal marking as I go, so it’s moving along quickly. More soon!
The previous post in this series was Bright Sisters: Ready to Sandwich. Next up will be more detail on quilting the lemon-lime squares. (Hint: More feathers!)
This is such a beautiful quilt and your quilting is outstanding. Great job
Thank you, Lisa!
beautiful!
Thank you, Carleen!
I am so excited! This is beautiful! I can’t believe how many practice runs are needed to perfect your art. You’re so patient. Writing a book is so much easier—copy, paste, delete, undo.
This was my favorite line from the post: “Oh, and by the way, you can measure twice and still cut wrong, in case anyone ever asks.” 😀
I’m really glad you like it. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted the “undo” button on my sewing machine. No such luck.
The wrong cut was so funny — I folded the batting wrong and ended up cutting it in half when I shouldn’t have. I used it for another project and swapped in a piece I was planning to use for another quilt in progress. After I stamped my feet and used bad language, of course 🙂