This is my very first quilt! I was a little nervous about the whole thing. My mom is a fantastic quilter, though, so I figured some of her mojo would automatically transfer to me by birthrite. This project was a gift for my tiniest friend, Leona Belle, who is so little that she hasn't even been born yet! I am looking forward to making her acquaintance in March.Here's a close up of the fabric, which has a lovely watercolor-like floral design.
It's a cotton and silk blend that I bought at Mood last summer. I knew right away that I had to have it, but I didn't know what I would do with it. But it all became clear recently when I was planning a gift for little Leona. A cotton/silk blend may not be the most practical thing for a baby, but it is machine washable (I tested it!).Pip kept eying it jealously. I could tell she was disappointed that it was given away.
I kind of made up the project on my own. I cut two 37" squares of fabric and then sandwiched a layer of cotton batting in between. I diagonally basted the whole thing by hand to keep all the layers in place. Then I marked quilting lines with wide masking tape and stitched along them using a walking foot and a 3.5 mm long stitch. I followed the directions in this book to make the binding. That's it! It was pretty easy, and was finished up in a couple days. If you're in the mood to just sew some long, straight lines, this kind of thing can be fun.There! My first quilt! Now, back to the coat. As soon as this awful cold lets up, that is. Thanks for all the get-well wishes!
My mother is a quilting addict - and thank goodness (it means there's a high end sewing machine that I can commandeer from time to time!) It worried me when she said she was making one for every grandchild though D:
ReplyDeleteWhat a great surprise to see your first quilt - and it is beautiful! I know little Leona Belle will love it. I hope you enjoyed quilting at least a little. But now what will I do with all my quilts if you can make your own?
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I am also attempting quilting... though stupidly the sort where you sew all the bits together - I should have just done this, it would have been a much quicker and easier introduction!
ReplyDeleteI started quilting recently and I'm really enjoying it. Piecing is fun and relaxing, too! And, designing - that's fun too!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! What a sweet gift. I love the idea of using a silk/cotton blend for quilting. Will Miss Leona Belle be the lucky recipient of your little girl's dress as well?
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon too.
Gertie, how wonderful. I love the print on the fabric. I'm not a quilter; so I love this type of quilting, quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better real soon. Don't forget the chicken soup trick.
That's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteVery similar idea to how I did my first quilt about a year ago. The only difference is that I didn't sandwich the batting. I left it as the back and followed the lines that were already on it to stitch the top fabric to it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful fabric choice! A quick, easy hint... instead of basting your layers together, use safety pins about 4 inches apart. Just don't sew over them. :)
ReplyDeletelucky baby! get well soon
ReplyDeleteVery nicely done! My 100 year old great great aunt is named Leona. She is still alive and an awesome lady.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful quilt. Moms and babies should have nice and lovely things surrounding them, just as much as anyone. I was given a cashmere blanket for my first baby and I love having it and I use it all the time. It's not something I ever would have bought for myself, but it's wonderful to have that little bit of daily luxury. I appreciate it every time I use it. And the quilt you've made is so beautiful and also sophisticated it will grow up right with Leona Belle.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Gertie! Now, your next step on a quilting adventure is something scarier... Patchwork. Patchwork is fiddlier than plain sewing because Every. Single. Seam. has to be 1/4 wide. No more, no less. If the seam is too narrow, the patches pull apart. If it's too wide, you end up with unsightly puckers.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's a faster, easier, more efficient way to baste, too. If you go to your local craft store, on the quilting isle, there's a "Quilt basting spray". Stretch out the backing, secure it with masking tape, and glue the other layers to it. Takes about 20 minutes, and it stays secure through the machine quilting process.
I started quilting abut two years ago, and I started with patchwork. My sister and sister-in-law were both pregnant at the time with first children, and since my Grandmother had gifted all her grandchildren with quilts, Mom and I wanted to carry on the tradition. That was seven quilts ago, and I have a minimum of three planned for next year.
All of them are patchwork in varying patterns. I found a free class at a local church, because I know just enough to know how ignorant I am! :)
I'll second the safety pin recommendation - it's much easier than basting! You can buy specialty quilters safety pins which look like they are bent. They do make it a little easier to pin all of the layers together though.
ReplyDeletelove it!
ReplyDeleteI have some cute fabric that is just waiting for this project!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Beautiful quilt! If you want to progress in quilting, though, I wouldn't advise jumping right to patching. It's very time consuming. There's a middle step - strip sewing - and lots of good instruction boks out there. You can make some really cute quilts while saving a bit of time. Great quilt - cute fabric too! Good job!
ReplyDeleteThat is so pretty, I love the colours in that fabric. Little Leona is going to be so pleased when she arrives to find such a lovely gift awaiting her! Hope you shake that cold off soon.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's lovely! Great fabric, I really love what you've done with it. Flowery fabric can be a bit much for clothes sometimes. I like how easy you've made this seem. I think I'll go through my stash and have a go. Nice tip about the masking tape. Hadn't thought of that. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThat will be a welcome gift. I find that quilting, going back and forth with straight lines on the machine, is very relaxing. Just the hum of the machine and not having to think much about what you're doing.
ReplyDeleteWow! I just love how beautiful the quilt is! She's going to be one lucky baby. ;) hehe! I like the idea of just making a simple quilt--it seems less intimating as a first-quilt project. Not to mention a great way to showcase some stellar fabric....
ReplyDelete♥ Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com
As Leona Belle's mom I can safely say that this is the nicest, most wonderful, most beautiful quilt! It's not only lovely (as the pictures show) but it is also incredibly soft and cozy. Thank you again Gertie, Leona is such a lucky girl!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so gifted Gertie! All your sewings blow me away!! Well Done Miss =)
ReplyDeleteMasking tap for strait lines!!! What a great idea! I have always wanted to make a quilt but the idea of strait lines that would be noticed so much scared me. I will have to tackle a quilting project some day now!
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