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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

christmas quilt - finally!

Though not the most intricate, this quilt means more to me than any other I've ever made. Technically it is my first quilt ever. I don't know exactly how old I was when I started it, but it was right around the time I began to learn how to sew on a machine. I can't give credit to any one seamstress in my life (my mom, grandmother, or aunt) for teaching me, but I learned everything I know from the three of them.

I made this quilt top during the long summer days I spent at my grandmother's house. She gave me a stack of Christmas fabric scraps that were hers, my aunt's, and my great aunt's left over from their own Christmas projects. I cut big 12" x 12" squares out of my favorites and laid them all out on the floor, deciding how to arrange them. I remember being concerned that the reds didn't touch other reds and the whites didn't touch other whites. I think I did pretty well except in one row! I also remember being concerned that the blue fabrics didn't match my color scheme but they were my absolute favorite, so I had to incorporate them somehow!

A few years ago my grandmother found the quilt top in her back bedroom. We were both overwhelmed with nostalgia, thinking back to my first days on a machine and how I pored over quilting books. It was also fun to see my beginnings compared to how hooked I am now! She gave the top to me and I took it home with the full intentions of finishing it soon. I bought the large print poinsettia fabric for the back (her favorite) and the batting. A few years and about five quilts later, I decided to stop letting it sit there and just get it done. I found the cutest candy cane fabric, perfect for the binding. Since binding is my favorite part of the process, I think that was the real motivation to finish.

Through pressing and pin basting the quilt, I realized how very little I cared about seam allowance when I was young, and how very important it really is to me now! I had to take out a lot of seams or reinforce them by hand. This was my first time pin basting, and I can't say that I hate it...but I really love fusible batting most. I did a simple diamond quilting pattern all over (also one of my favorites). One of these days I'll get fancier, but I'm not quite ready for more detailed designs just yet.


This quilt is also an odd size, but I decided not to add another row in order to maintain the charm of the old days and keep it exactly how I originally made it. I snipped all the threads, washed it, and gave it to my grandmother this weekend. She immediately recognized the fabrics and was so happy to see them again after all this time - a finished quilt! I couldn't be more happy with it. This is what quilting is all about to me. Making meaningful gifts for the people you love that they'll cherish forever.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

carpenter's star & hand quilting




This quilt is, without a doubt, my greatest accomplishment thus far. Every quilt has a story, so I'll share it here. I fell in love with Urban Cowgirl by Moda many months ago, and bought a layer cake when it went on sale this summer from Fort Worth Fabric Studio, my favorite online fabric shop. My original intention was to make a quilt for myself because this fabric speaks to my country girl side. I wanted something I could take to picnics or cuddle up with in the winter. My house has a ranch feel to it, so the fabric worked perfectly.

A few weeks ago, I realized I was bored with watching TV, uninterested in books at the moment (weird, I know!), and needed something to do. That's when I remembered the stack of awesomeness I had stored up! I immediately started researching quilt patterns that would work well for a layer cake. (I've never used pre-cut fabric before - LOVE it!) I love big, central star patterns and decided on a Carpenter's Star design and got to cutting! Half-square triangles were so easy to work with and all the measuring and math were already done for me. Couldn't have gone any smoother. For the background fabric, I used a sheet that tore during our last garage sale. I was frowned upon by an older quilter that I know for not buying new fabric, but after sulking on my way home, I decided to forget her - quilts were originally made out of leftover clothing and sheets anyway. Nothing wrong with it at all. I'm proud to be thrifty :)




When I quilt, I have the TV on for background noise, but my mind is far from whatever show is on. I kept thinking about my friends' upcoming wedding. Their shower was at the end of the week and I'd need to go shopping at the places they were registered. The more I kept looking at the fabric, thinking of them and their dynamic as a couple, the more I came to realize...I could give this to them as a wedding present. They love the country. The fabric spoke of them as much as it did of me. And who wouldn't love a quilt as a wedding gift? It had to be done.

Unfortunately, this gave me quite a deadline to reach. I still had to find fabric for the back and the binding, as well as get batting. So I started shopping online again, but knew I needed the fabric the next day if I was going to reach my goal. I went straight to Cabbage Rose Quilting and asked for help! The woman took me straight to the few bolts they had left of Urban Cowgirl. It wasn't my first choice, but I had to settle on Pony Ride Grass Stain for the back and find a coordinating fabric of a different line for the binding.

I also used fusible batting for the first time. It's magic! I've always heard bad things about it, but decided to give it a try because the #1 thing I hate about quilting is trying to keep all three layers together. It's next to impossible for me. But I finished the top, sandwiched the quilt, and outlined all of the diamonds easily and quickly. I knew I wasn't going to be able to finish the rest of my idea by the shower, so I had to bind the quilt, give it, and take it back home! I felt terrible, but the couple really loved it and couldn't see how I wasn't finished. But you will soon! (And yes, I'm aware that I was working out of order, but I had no choice! Quilting after binding turned out fine in the end.)


I had quite a task before me. I decided to hand quilt a range of different patterns on the squares, triangles, and corners. I have such a great respect for hand quilters. I don't think I'll ever do it again myself! (Though I do really enjoy the look of hand quilting.) I worked every evening, and sometimes all day on it and finished in about a week and a half. Here's a close-up of the designs.


Ugh I don't want to give it away! But at the same time, I really, really do. I'm excited about the wedding this weekend and can't wait to see this in their house this winter!