This is the one and only large quilt that I have ever made this large. I did do a couple of simpler Sues that were twin size but they weren't this involved.
I was having health issues and couldn't climb a ladder to paint my ceilings so my neighbor offered to paint my ceilings if I would make her a quilt.
She bought the fabric and all I had to do was make the top and quilt it down. I hate to bind a quilt. I just don't bind anything! So she did the binding.
Took me all of one winter (before I started selling my stuff). I don'tknow how to quilt in the border areas so I made a pattern of the Sue all put together and pinned those around the edge of the border and hand sewed those down all around the border. This quilt was 100% hand quilted. No machine and no rotary cutter or long rulers. I did this one the old fashioned way! Cut each piece by piece. This was before I even knew rotary cutters and long rulers even existed! And I did not know how to sew a quilt on a machine.

More Sues and quilts

Those are really nice - I love the Sunbonnet Sues!

I don't do anything complicated. They are just a simple design I draw myself. Nothing fancy.

I love your quilt. Please tell me the secrete of the curves in Sun Bonnet sue?? I would love to accomplish even a baby size quilt of her.. and her little guy too..

The curves kill me..

Ellen

I cut a dress from a pattern I draw myself and I baste (hem it)the edge of the dress under. I do the same with the hat and the pocket and the boot.

I sew the pocket onto the dress baste the boot onto the bottom of the dress and baste the hat onto the dress so I get the right angle. Then I lay the whole Sue on the fabric and sew the Sue on with my machine.
I clip and pull out the basting thread when I am done. A pain to do but easier than sewing the applique turn under method for me.

It is not hard. I baste with a running stitch with a needle and thread by hand. Start at the top of one side of the dress and turn the edge under and take a running (basting not a whip)stitch with your needle but make sure you have a decent tail so you don't lose your thread in the baste. It can get pulled out accidently.
Your thread should run through the fabric as if you were going to gather it. But you don't gather it. It holds the fabric in place til you sew it down.
I did this quilt with hand stitching but now I sew the Sue on the fabric with the sewing machine. I still do the running stitch by hand.

OH my ! My husband and I traveled the rural roads in a '69 VW, 8 track player with 5 speakers ! I would love to do this quilt !! All the curves though.. oh please, tell my your trick with the curves !!
Really excited about this one !
Ellen

I baste the pieces with a running stitch and then baste the pocket on and the boot and the hat and then sew the whole thing onto the fabric with the sewing machine. It's not hard. It's like hemming a cuff.

By the way I used to ride to college with a friend who drove a 69 or so VW or slugbug! My husband and I also listened to 8 tracks and My DH also collects all the differant turntables and LPs and 45s and yes 8 tracks and we have an 8 track player. I have 4 6' shelves full of records and players etc.

I love your little Sues, Rhonda, and the cars, so cute!

K x

Your little Sues is so cute and I admire the hand sewing and quilting too.