You never know! I've seen stranger things than that before. We might actually have two converts! :lol:

Steve, I gotta tell you, you're my kind of guy. I have two sons, both in their thirties, and they are quilters, and the best cooks. It is a good thing I taught them everything they needed to know about how to take care of themselves and a household, because both of them married women that don't know how to cook, much less all the other things they need to know. I really admire a man that will dive in and learn. That is very macho to me.

Ok Steve, here is a link to the afore mentioned Toegate scandal, http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/15/1340.page check it out and give yourself a good chuckle :mrgreen:

Hi Steve! I'm a Flying Geese fan! The first whole quilt that I designed & um, completed (can't bring myself to use the "f****hed" word), was a flying geese quilt. If you go to the topic "Pictures of your sewing room!" here - http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/15/1371.page - you can see it hanging behind my sewing machine. That one was made the "old fashioned" way, actually using real triangles! Since then I've learned to make them using rectangles & squares instead. (Put the square on the corner of the rectangle & sew across the diagonal & fold back to make the triangle). I've also paper-pieced them so they can fly in curves instead of straight lines (See the picture here of the name tag I made for a friend) AND I've just learned how to make them using only ONE seam!!! I am going to try to write out directions for that technique that others could understand, and when I do I'll post it here.
I admit, I don't know why they are geese and not ducks, and sometimes they turn into star points too. Maybe just because "geese" sounds smooooother than "ducks". :D It's one of those secrets lost to time....like most quilt block names!
I can't wait to see more of your quilts!
Tried to change to a brighter picture, but it won't let me, but if you click on "download" you can see it better.

who turned out the lites?!!!!!!

I like the flying geese Sue. I’ve seen a lot of variation browsing the net this morning and just added one to the to do list (growing ever longer).

The “toegate scandal” was funny Shelly, I figured it had something to do with his picture. I’m rather surprised someone hasn’t sewn it into a quilt yet.

The free hand quilting (without frame) around the borders has proven easier than I had thought. I just keep reminding myself to stretch the fabric after each run to keep it tight. The ¼ I’d planned on turned out a bit bigger in order to miss the seams underneath, but that aside am encountering few problems. What I planned on spending a few days on should be done in a couple. It’s also giving me time to work on the running stitch a bit more since they are straight lines. I like the way it puckers a bit more than when in the frame, it makes my stitching more even provided I don’t get tense. The only spot that it’s a bit wonky is where I tried to hurry it a bit in the center before the string gave out. Silly really because the stitch will be waiting no matter when it gets done. It’s easy, “There is no timeline” is what I need to constantly remind myself. Sit back, relax and quilt.

I’m planning on using flannel for the batting in my next quilt and see if it hand stitches a little easier. Being in sunny California, I figure that the baby will need the heat of a poly filled quilt anyway.
:D

Thank you to Kathy, I think it was her, for making sure it was really Steve and not Tim.

I think it's cool that we have 2 guys on here...both with personality.

Steve, I took a quilting class 4 years ago (my first and only so far) on beginning quilting. It was a sampler that had 9 patch, half square triangles, hour glasses, and *#(*&!#($*& flying geese. I'm not sure which is worse the flying geese or those *#@(*&% hour glasses. I absolutely HATE triangles. I've tried the old fashioned way, I was originally taught with some short cuts, I've even had friends show me their neat tools for working with triangles. I have a very good friend who is currently making a 1000 pyramid with all the triangles being of different fabric. I tell her every chance I get that I think she was dropped on her head as an infant.

I LOVE to hand quilt, and was just given my first frame. I quilt for charity and we meet once a week. We always have a quilt in the frame so I've learned different things to. To answer your question from your first post...when there are bulky seams that are together in the same spot I will do one stitch at a time and use a backstitch if I have to. One of the most talented quilter's I have EVER met quilts very fast. All of her stitches are perfectly even and she makes them ONE AT A TIME!!! I "rock" my needle and am only comfy with 3 or 4 stitches at a time. I stitch in the ditch as often as I can. It hides the stitching on the front and will give it a cute look on the back.

I have yet to try any decorative quilting, so I'd love to hear your impressions on it. If you would like to see my latest venture (4 years but I'm still very much a beginner), http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/3122.page I have some pics posted there. I'll quilt according to the pic in the magazine. Diagonally across all the little squares. I don't know what I'll do with the prissy cut part yet.

Again....great to see another guy on here. I hope I can get my boys interested in quilting.

Melissa

I love to hand quilt, I wish I had the time to hand quilt all the quilts I do. I love the look, and feel great when it is complete Oh but when do we ever have the time we would like to?
Deb :mrgreen:

I also love to hand quilt, but then I love the quiet of the mornings before the world begins to come alive and also enjoy quiet any other time. I just find it peaceful and relaxing and it gets something of a meditative quality to it, much the same as hand piecing does, for me at least!

Helen

I'm glad this topic came up. I'm just learning to hand quilt and found those pesky seams were causing me alot of trouble. I thought it was just me. I'll try the tips and see how it goes.