It's not perfect....but I am SO in love with my very first quilt!
Full View
Hanging...
The back...
Binding, front view...
Binding back view....
Lil ole bitty name tag lol
What did I learn?
This is NOT some old lady hobby. I am FAR from being an old lady and I LOVE THIS!!
This is TIME CONSUMING lol.
Don't rush.
ONLY use gutermann thread or you will end up with a loopy mess like this one...
and a pile of thread like this one...
Seriously. The gutermann thread works WONDERS!!!!
Stippling (free motion) takes time and practice first...NOT on your quilt lol.
Since this was my first quilt, I wasn't trying to do anything fancy...I purchased this kit a couple years ago from Joann's in Atlanta. This is the LAST time I will buy a quilt of fat quarters and use them as is. All my squares weren't the same size so it's a little off.
I doubt if I will ever make a quilt bigger than this one. I didn't even measure it for the finished size but I can wrap up in it comfortably lol. Tony has already tested it lol.
I'm so smitten y'all it's a shame! LOL
Instead of doing the binding the traditional way, I cut strips of what fat quarters I had left, sewed them together into one strip...pressed open the seam allowances, then folded each side until they met in the middle...pressed it, then folded it in half length wise and pressed that. Rolled it up, then pinned it along the edges of the quilt. It put the quilt in the middle of the binding, kinda like a sandwich. Once it was pinned down, I just sewed it. So it has a finished edge on each side. Does that make sense?!
I am so excited to start on some new ones! LOL I already have a few patterns and some fabric lined up. I want to do maybe 7 for Christmas gifts so I need to get to working on them lol.
I used the little embroidery feature on my current sewing machine to do the little name tag. I can't WAIT until I get my embroidery machine!!!! I have already played with the one I wanted and sent Tony all the details lol.
That's it you guys! Thanks for sharing in this little piece of happiness with me lol.
Toodles!
Bold! I like your effort Virginia J
Posted by: Virginia J | August 11, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Loved it. I was waiting for you to finish yours before I even tried it.
what embroidery machine are you looking at. I saw one on QVC that I love.
Posted by: Carla | August 11, 2009 at 01:38 AM
I feel the same way about my first quilt and quilting in general. It's more fun than I expected it to be. Stippling isn't as easy as it looks. Yours looks fantastic!
Posted by: Elaray | August 11, 2009 at 05:41 AM
Great job on your first quilt. It will feel extra wonderful getting underneath it this winter!
Posted by: Arlene Murrin | August 11, 2009 at 06:40 AM
Looks good....I "might" be tempted to try one. :-)
Posted by: Pam W | August 11, 2009 at 07:20 AM
I think it looks FANTASTIC!
Quilting is something I really would love how to do..and your right..it ain't for no old ladies!!!
Posted by: vanessa | August 11, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Congrats on your first quilt.. You did a beautiful job.....
Posted by: opal215 | August 11, 2009 at 08:03 AM
Your quilt is beautiful! Love all the details. My grandma used to quilt, and made one for each of her children before she passed. I want to learn how do it too, and I ain't no "ol' lady" either, LOL. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: NC Peach | August 11, 2009 at 08:04 AM
BWAA-HAA-HAA your thread disaster looks like my sewing looks all the time!! Love the quilt and the colors are really nice!
Posted by: Sue McFarland | August 11, 2009 at 08:14 AM
You AMAZE me!!!!! This is gorgeous, and your crafty/sewing/etc. skills pretty much make me sick! lol
Posted by: Cheryl | August 11, 2009 at 08:17 AM
It's Gorgeous!!!!! You did an awesome job!
Posted by: Neecha | August 11, 2009 at 08:24 AM
Great job. Stippling is definitely not the easiest finish for a first quilt, as always, you continue to impress me.
I SO need to start working on some stuff.
But gotta pack to return to LV for 6 more weeks.
Posted by: katie | August 11, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Great job for your first quilt. I've always wondered about problems with the free motion quilting. Now I see what can happen. Keep up the good work:)
Posted by: Tracy | August 11, 2009 at 08:28 AM
So pretty!! I love the back with the free flowing thread. Loves it!!! The colors are nice too.
Posted by: urbanknitrix | August 11, 2009 at 08:56 AM
Great Job!! it does take a lot of practice! Esp. that free motion quilting!!!
Posted by: Michelle | August 11, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Your binding idea is my favorite thing about this quilt.
Just imagine, at the CA museum of women, there are some HUGE hand stitched versions of this kinda stuff.
I can't imagine taking on yet another craft, but if you keep showing these lovelies...
I'm planning my bedroom makeover too? Giiiiirl.
Posted by: RealHustla | August 11, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Like Julia Child, you were fearless. I think it is a great first effort, we all have to start someway. I love the fabric and it's a good job.
Posted by: Sheri D. Maple | August 11, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Good job! I love it.
Posted by: gold | August 11, 2009 at 10:39 AM
It looks great! One of my first quilts was all fat quarters, too, but yours turned out much prettier. Nice job!
Posted by: sheree | August 11, 2009 at 10:45 AM
It's beautiful girl!! Congratulations!!
Posted by: Andrea | August 11, 2009 at 11:04 AM
It looks great!! I was too afraid to do free motion on my first quilt and still too afraid! Yours looks awesome! Thanks for the thread advice.. now I need to try some free motion quilting!
Posted by: Angela | August 11, 2009 at 11:28 AM
It looks great, thanks for the tip with the thread. What embroidery machine are you looking at. I've been thinking about one also. Amazing I never thought I would be thinking about purchasing an embroidery machine.
Posted by: Delia | August 11, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Love it! Now get started on mine...
Posted by: Dee | August 11, 2009 at 12:07 PM
What a great first quilt! I love the colors. If you can wrap up in it, then it's perfect!
Posted by: Alyson | August 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM
It looks GREAT! Congratulations on your first quilt. There's nothing like your first quilt. It will always be near and dear to you. That's some awesome stippling for a first timer!
Posted by: Jeanine | August 11, 2009 at 03:18 PM
Very nice. I've still yet to stipple.
Posted by: Necia | August 11, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Your quilt looks so nice! Great idea for christmas presents as they will definitely cherish it.
Posted by: Teka | August 11, 2009 at 08:42 PM
Yay, it's absolutely fabulous!!! Reading your post title in the reader gave me a HUGE smile. So glad to see you finally made it over to the quilt side :) Given you enjoyed the first one we all better watch out, I know you're going to crank these things out like crazy.
Posted by: kathy | August 11, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Nice quilt. Great details on the back. You did a good job on your first quilt. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Cassandra | August 12, 2009 at 08:09 AM
it's gorgeous! i knew it would be ;)
Posted by: lisa (momy4him) | August 12, 2009 at 09:52 AM
There is no such thing as perfect, so don't sweat that. You made a beautiful quilt! Love your color story.
Posted by: Toni | August 12, 2009 at 11:55 AM
You did a WONDERFUL job!
Posted by: Nikki | August 12, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Very nice Adrienne!
Posted by: Kim | August 12, 2009 at 02:15 PM
It turned out wonderful!!
Posted by: Tany | August 12, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Wow! First of all, I really like your blog banner...it says it all. Next, congrats on your first quilt! It's awesome!
Posted by: Judy | August 12, 2009 at 09:03 PM
You did good. My great-grandma made all her by hand, some when I was little. My grandma has one or two still. I am amazed at the work she did by hand.
Posted by: shai | August 13, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Wonderful quilt. One day I'm going to try one. You did a great job.
Posted by: Claire S. | August 13, 2009 at 08:36 PM
your quilt is AWESOME!
did you use the same color thread on the top or did you use the invisible thread for the quilting part?
Posted by: toya | August 13, 2009 at 09:44 PM
love it, love it, love it!! I plan on starting a new one tomorrow!! WOOT!!
Posted by: MsMica | August 15, 2009 at 08:01 PM
Love the quilt, Adrienne!!! My hubby and I cherish the quilts that our grandmothers made for us. We have given our baby ones to the kids but still use the huge ones for ourselves. Quilts are so special!!!
Posted by: Tiffany | August 21, 2009 at 10:05 PM
It does take time. I also finished my first and had many of the same challenges - I didn't bind it the traditional way (just seems harder than it needs to be, right?), either.
Posted by: Heidi | August 30, 2009 at 09:13 PM