I don't do much quilting, the mood only strikes me about . . . oh . . . every ten to twelve years or so. But when I taught the girls at church to quilt I had a bunch of leftovers squares in my craft closet that I used as an example and once I had a perfectly good top pieced so beautifully I couldn't just let it sit there.I spent approximately eight months in agony before I finally got to it, not wanting to actually get to such a long, drawn-out project but knowing that I might as well get started because I'd feel so much satisfaction once it was finished and what do you know? It worked. I finished it just this week.
It only takes me a couple hours to piece a top like this (I don't do particularly elaborate patterns but prefer some of the more simple and traditional ones such as the Irish Chain) but what takes forever is the quilting part.You see, in my book if you go to all the trouble to piece a quilt top it would be heresy to tie it with yarn. I know people who hire others to machine quilt their quilts for them but then it seems like that's cheating. I don't have the skill or ability to machine quilt it myself so that leaves hand quilting and I love the way hand quilting looks, it gives a quilt the perfect touch that no other technique can rival.
But darn it, hand quilting takes FOREVER. This one represents about 60 hours worth of work, give or take, though with all the interruptions around here I don't know that that's an accurate representation of how much actual quilting went on.Anyway . . . it's a beauty.
Just in time for the 4th of July. I almost hate to part with it but I've put it in my Etsy shop if any of you are looking for a real peach of a baby gift for any summer time babies you might have the pleasure of knowing.
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11 comments:
It is too cute! I am hoping to try some quilting this next year in Malawi. There is a quilting club there so I can hopefully learn some tricks to making it come out right.
Do your hands ache when you do a lot of quilting?
you did a great job! lovely quilt
It is beautiful. I'm impressed!
Oh Michelle it's BEAUTIFUL! Do you have any on-ling quilting resources for a newbie like me? I'd love to do one but I don't know where to start, really.
Thanks! I took a quick class on quilting that got me started (though it wasn't that great or informative really) but I"d recommend this book:
Quilter's Complete Guide
for a good step-by-step instruction manual.
Oh and to answer your question, no my hands don't get sore in the muscles but my right hand thumb and left hand middle finger get completely raw from the needle pricks. It tears the skin up and makes it look all yucky.
it's beautiful! 2 of my girls just started a quilting class today! i am so jealous er...i mean excited for them!
My daughter is quite crafty and got a sewing machine for Christmas. She is considering making pillowcases or quilts out of her old t-shirts - the ones with cute sayings and pictures on them. If she follows through, I'll post pictures!
Beautiful quilt, M! Quilting is something I definitely plan on trying, but unfortunately it'll have to wait a few more years until my kids are a little older and I've got some time to dedicate myself to learning the art!
I love the quilt. I would love to make a patriotic quilt or maybe I should be realistic and aim for a small pillow!
BTW, 2 of my daughters spend their summers in AK with their dad, it is quite a state -- I lived in Anchorage and Seward for 3 years.
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