Finished!

I finished my first quilt.

New Beginning

Let's pretend my blog begins here.
I have a friend from college who is currently a quilter. But more than that; I remember her as a girl with a soft heart who loves God. She was also quite to fun to be around. So she started quilting and starting blogging, and I started following. I was enthralled by these works of art she made. And when I saw her first recipe, and the site it was on, I thought, I have to try this. (By the way, her name is Tracey and traceyjayquilts is her blog) So now I can quilt (not well at this point, but I am learning) and have a blog about it.
What I have learned from Tracey is that Wednesday's are the day to update on what projects one is working on. I have noticed this WIP acronym on other sites too; so to fit in, I am beginning this weekly update habit.
This week I have finished quilting my first quilt. There are more pinches on the back than an elementary school student gets on St Patty's day when he doesn't wear green or cute baby's cheeks get seeing a bunch of old ladies. Okay, so those were cheesy examples but I had try to be creative. Now where was I? Oh yes, I finished the quilting and the only thing I have left to do is begin the binding. (I could really use a cutting mat larger than 12 inches. My next coupon is going toward that.) Next week I am going to be at a conference for work, and I think hand stitching might be what I do with my evenings. The other option is machine binding, which would be faster and stronger, so I am not sure yet. I do plan on keeping this quilt in my living room, so it will get a lot of use.
I also got some fabric in the mail yesterday. Two jelly rolls, both Moda: A Breath of Avignon and Freebird, and a Half Moon by Moda fat quarter stack. I got a few coordinating fabrics, but wish I got more. A fat quarter pack of the neutral Bella Solids would have been a great addition to my order from Burgundy Buttons.



Now, I am telling myself that I won't start something new until I finish my first project. But looking at my fabric doesn't hurt.... I wove together some strips for a pillow (my next project). I like that simple design and with the exception of possible (no, likely) fabric swaps, I am going with that idea. I will likely make multiple pillows next. They are smaller and more manageable than a blanket. I have already promised one friend, and I might surprise my mom with what is left of the jelly roll… the wheels are spinning. But guess I will leave those ideas for when they come up another day.

(I will add pictures later. The bf was using the computer last night to finish up his last paper for the semester so I couldn't kick him off.)

Quilting

I just quilted my first seam. It certainly isn't perfect, but I did it. I'm excited. It's slow! This is a big blanket and it is going to take a while...
it took a while to pin.
I ordered fabric over the weekend. I hope to finish this one before another, but the size of it is intimidating. I am going to do a pillow case next. or a few...
My pinning (I thought I would use my good camera this time)

A learning process

This has certainly been a learning process; I have run into several bumps along the road. But I think this is normal; quilting is not an easy thing to do. I have enjoyed it though. And I am looking forward to trying my hand at another.
All I have left to do is put the quilt sandwich together quilt and bind it. Wow, that actually sounds like a lot. But first I will have to go back to the store. I didn't buy a large enough piece of batting. I guess that I will have to make another, smaller, quilt. Perhaps I will do one that is more artistic, and could be used as a wall hanging. I would like to make it as a gift. So I will think about for who... hmm. I am also interested in using just black and white. Maybe I will do something small like a pillow... oh this can be fun.
Yesterday's thoughts:
I was looking at one of the quilts Ruth has in her office. There are lots of small pieces put together. And they don't all line up perfectly. I thought that was great. I figured her blocks would fit nicely, and mine would be a mess, but mine weren't off any more than hers. That makes me proud. I am looking forward to finishing it. In fact I would rather be home righ now that sitting at work with nothing to do.

It's looking like a blanket!!!

Last night I came home from work and my boyfriend was there finishing up dinner for both of us. He said he did that so I could relax. So sweet!
Although relaxing was not what I had planned for evening, I was happy to alter my plans since he was so nice to do that for me. So I thought, just a little quilting, then I will get busy. As the hours passed I thought of all the other things I could be doing, like exercising and cleaning. But I repeatedly just wanted to get the next part finished. It was getting so close, and looking less like a pile of random fabric and more like a blanket. The nine-block square I was forced to make turned out well, and I like the smaller pieces so much better. (not enough to change the rest though. next time.) So once I had my strips done, putting them together seemed like just a little step.
The only thing that stopped me from completing the top was that I couldn't find my last square. So I ended the night with one strip short of the whole quilt top. Doesn't it look better?!

Amish block

I messed up. I knew it would happen. I guess it was inevitable. I have blocks of all sizes. I am supposed to have 9 inch squares. I have one 9 by 8.5, one 9 by 8.75, one where I trimmed the wrong side and replaced one strip. So I asked my boss for help; she makes great quilts. Her suggestions were what I suspected... I could probably shrink the seams enough to give myself at least close to the quarter inch I need on #2. The third one, well I might just have to use another fabric. ... and #1 (the biggest problem) I will make as she calls it, an amish block. Apparently it is tradition not to make a perfect quilt, so I will have one 9-block instead of this 3 strip thing I started with. She said the type of quilt I am making is scrappy (I know that is not supposed to be an insult, but it kind of sounds like it); I have lots of fabrics and no clear design. The other option, trim everything down.... I'll settle for the amish block thank you.
We shall see how it all turns out. Most of my squares are lining up, so that is good. If I end up with a comfy, colorful blanket, that was my goal. And that is what I will likely get. ...and it gives me a use for some of the fabric I like but didn't have a place for.

On its way

I thought I would take a little time out Friday to work on my quilt between all I needed to do. I never got back to my chores that night. But I did get my squares pressed and trimmed. I'm looking forward to putting the pieces together and getting the front done. If only it will look at cute and cheery and my scraps.
(do I keep or toss these 1/2 inch strips?)

Ugly Quilt Contest

So I was clicking through some links of admirable quilters and came across a contest for ugly quilts. I thought, I hope it's not over, my quilt in progress is a definite contender. I like most of the fabric individually, and even though it is supposed to match, I don't think the way it looks is very attractive. I hope someone doesn't think it is terrible (maybe I can find a cold homeless person), because 1- I really don't need any more throw blankets and 2 - I don't know if I would want it around my living room.

Pressing

After I wrote the last entry I decided that I should just do it. So now I have a bunch of blocks that need to be pressed. I hate ironing...and I understand that pressing is different. But I still have to use the same ironing board. I don't like it. For my infrequent de-wrinkling of a shirt or pair of pants, it is fine. But I have one of those over the door ones and the door doesn't close all the way with it on there, the foot between it and the door is always falling off, and so it just moves a lot. So far my experience with quilting is not worth investing in a sturdier ironing board; this being my first one. But I don't know what is next. It won't be so bad I guess. It was nice yesterday to just relax and read a book. That is pretty much all I did after work. So now I have to prepare for my mother's arrival. Guess I won't have time for a while. Had I done a little everyday, I might be done by now. (or at least have the front completed)
Well, it doesn't seem I have really got lost in this. But I suppose I haven't let myself either. I am looking forward to summer when I have more time. ...but I also need to start exercising... hmm.

On hold

The next day I re-arranged my pieces and decided it looked much better. I still think it would be cuter with smaller pieces, but I am not ready to tackle that yet.
Then I realized how much I needed to care for the rest of my apartment and put it aside. I haven't been brave enough to pick it up again. The sewing part is next and that is a little more final than the pinning. Not to mention that the more I read about quilting, the more nervous I get about the millimeters I could be off and I'm afraid of messing up the whole thing.