A Quilt for Me!
One of the goals on my 30 Before 30 List is to make myself a quilt. Over the past few years I’ve made more than 25 quilts. And I didn’t have a single one to snuggle with. The first quit I made SHOULD be on my couch, but it is on Creamie’s bed until I finish her big girl quilt. Which, ahem, has been cut out and half sewn together for more than a year! New goal: Get on that. But instead of finishing hers and reclaiming that first quilt, I made a new one for me. Whatever, goal completed. Number 29 is crossed off my list.
I was at work at my little quilt shop a few weeks ago and saw the pretty Heather Bailey dotted paisley fabric that is in the border. (It’s a reprint from her FreshCut line.) It’s not really my colors, but I couldn’t stop staring at it and touching it. So I grabbed some more things that went with it and a little ricrac and came home. That was on a Tuesday. On Friday I cut it out and started sewing and by Saturday at lunch the quilt top was finished. It was a record.
I dropped it off for my friend to quilt (she longarmed it) and waited for my turn. In the meantime I sliced off the edge of my finger. That day she called me to say it was done. And then she was super extra nice and when I told her what I did she told me to bring in the binding and she’d trim the quilt for me and machine stitch it on. And so with my less than 24 hour old wound I did what anyone would do and spent 3 hours watching a movie and stitching that binding down by hand. With a lot of Tylenol and a huge bandaged finger. The first 12 inches or so was pretty awkward, but after that I got in a groove and it went much better.
My favorite part of this quilt, other than the fact that it is done and I’m using it everyday…. actually, wait. That is my favorite part. But I really like how the ruched strips turned out. They took FOR.EV.ER. I don’t know that I’ll do that again. Maybe. They are really cute though. And I love the ricrac. And that I got to use some of my favorite print, Henna Garden from Sandi Henderson in there too. (It’s the green on green circle/floral print.) But mostly I love that it is done.
I backed it with minkee, which is the softest stuff on the planet and my friend Kellie quilted it with feathers in the big border, leaves in the small green stop border and then loops and swirls in the middle. And if I was making it again I’d probably choose the darkest blue polka dot fabric for the binding instead of the bias stripes, but whatever. Live and learn and snuggle down in your finished quilts and then don’t worry about it. The quilt is finished at 58″x72″. I didn’t use a pattern, but I’m making another one for a friend and I’ll share more details when that one is finished.
Also, I woke up to snow this morning, I’m sure it will be melted by tomorrow. Which in my book means that it doesn’t count. Stupid Lame Winter 2012 is over and we are officially in Spring. Which means I’m on medication for allergies. Yeah, they have already started. Sigh.
pinksuedeshoe 
Awesome! I love the different effects and textures, and the colours are lovely as well! Good job, and well done doing something for yourself! I think all of us who are crafters end up making things for everyone but ourselves (I’m guilty of that as well), so I applaud you! (And I hope your finger is feeling better…) 🙂
Very pretty! I love the ruching.
I can identify with this post. Whenever I finish something, my husband asks if we get to keep it. I’m getting much better (selfish) at keeping things! 🙂
It is just gorgeous!! Like sleeping under an Art Journal!! Hooray for doing something for you!!
So pretty! And I know it isn’t pink, but I may just like it better than your original “you” quilt… plus you just can’t beat the minkee for snuggliness. 🙂
Incredible! That is a labor of love, right there. And, I LOVE the rushing parts! I’ve never seen that on a quilt before. Way to go, girl!
This is BEAUTIFUL!
I would totally buy the pattern for this (especially if it includes how to do the ruching). For realsies. Pretty please 🙂
First pic: look at my pretty quilt! and my giant, bandaged finger poking out the top! Haha!
xox
Pink,
LOVE it! I love it even more now than I loved it when you sent me photos of it in the middle of the night while working on it! Love the colors. Love the stripey bias binding (I think it is so pretty). Love the ruched strips. Love the Henna Garden. Love the ric-rac. Love the minkee. Love the quilting. Did I mention that I LOVE it! Great job!
xo -Elizabeth
P.S. Shameless plug: I would love it if you linked up at my March Finishes linky page.
How gorgeous. I am definitely coveting that quilt. Majorly. And I love the ruched strips. LOVE.
so very very very pretty! I love the ruched strip. hope your finger has healed up.
Love it! It is beautiful!
25 quilts in the last few years?! wow! that’s quite the accomplishment. i’ve made one (a small one at that), but it feels so good to put so much effort into something and end up with such a beautiful finished product. i’ve been feeling like i need to make another one. maybe sometime soon.
i love the quilt! all of the different textures, paired with the coordinating color theme make for a beautiful piece. good job!! i’m glad you get to keep it, too! ; ) that’s always nice, for a change.
Sooooo pretty! Well done. I don’t know if I have it in me to try quilting yet. One day. One day.
it’s so pretty… I love the colors, and all the little you touches. 🙂
Hi, what a beautiful quilt. Thank you for taking the time to share. And take care of yourself. I enjoy reading your blog. You are a special young woman.
Thanks again for sharing.
That is so beautiful. I hate to sew but looking at your beautiful projects I want to make a quilt too. Maybe a tiny one.
It is beautiful. I love the ruching but would probably never try it because it would take so long. Great job!
Be still, my heart! I never would have thought to put ruching in a quilt but it is simply gorgeous and adds a whole new dimension. You are so talented. I haven’t had the time to look at blogs much in the past year, but I made time today and yours was the first craftyish blog I stopped by and I’m so glad I did! Hooray for fun, beautiful things.