What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

First design is interesting …

… but the second is my favourite of these two.

I love playing with Strings of Beads, and in the real world they are easy to add to quilts, table runners, placemats, cushions etc. Fusible web and machine stitching has made the beading simple and quick.

I love the second design!

I rarely complete a design without a contrast frame … even if it is only a contrast binding … but with this design I would use the background fabric for the binding. The big question is … how to quilt it?

Too much quilt stitching would detract from the fabric beads. I would outline every bead about an eighth of an inch ...

Applique designs using just a simple leaf shape as beads are the simplest form of applique I have found. I first saw String of Beads hand appliqued with seams turned under, but then fusible web came on the market and I found I could cut four layers at a time with scissors so it was quick, then iron them onto fabric and machine stitch. Quick and easy!

I like both of these designs, and have many others which I also like.

Nice one!

The colour of the border/binding makes it look like it has just been added to a very old and faded quilt!

I do like the old part of the quilt though!

Interesting tangle of beads!

An even more interesting tangle … love it!

Nice, but missing something.

That’s better.

Interesting. I like it, but would have to find just the right quilting to use in the centre.

My first thought is Double Wedding String of Bead outlines … with something in the centre.

That centre is what I was thinking of quilting in the first design!

Very pretty.

Love the centre of the second design.