Over the last few days, I have tried to make a real quilt. OK, it is a crib quilt, but I did actually quilt it and piece it evenly and attempted to bind it. I know people devote entire blogs and websites just to quilting and now I can see why. This craft is tricky! But deeply satisfying too and I am already thinking of another quilt project.
When someone comments on this blog or links to me, I like to return the favor and look at their work ( I have trouble commenting since I can't quite figure out typepad sometimes!) and lots of people who look at my blog are big time quilters. Beautiful Quilters! I am so flattered these skilled people are looking at my creations.
For this quilt I went into my pink scrap bag (seen here) since it had expanded into two overstuffed bags. I cut any piece I could into a 5" x 5" square, and then the smaller pieces into 5" x 2.75" rectangles. I love how it is all mish mashed and I can see all my former projects in the different scraps of fabric. Doing this made me think about how interesting the history of quilting must be. Resourceful people using scraps to make something useful and beautiful for their families that is handed down through generations. Very cool.
The hardest part of this for me was the mitered corners. What a mess! I don't know why I couldn't wrap my brain around this. I read directions and descriptions over and over again. Finally I just did my own thing and it turned out OK. I couldn't do the teeny tiny blind stitch recommended, but I may go back and fix it after I have the binding all attached.
When I looked up binding the quilt, everyone recommended hand stitching the back to make it look nice and lay flat. "Just sit down with your needle and thread and watch a good movie" they said. WELL, I watched a whole NFL playoff game with my husband and finished less than half of my crib quilt! Those are some fast stitchers who can hand stitch a whole quilt in front of one hour & a half movie. We have more football to watch today so hopefully I will finish it up.
I can see now how quilts are a true labor of love and deeply satisfying to create. I love the thought of it being in a baby room and being something that that baby will grow up and pass down to their own baby girl someday. Do you think they will notice the messy corners? Does it even matter? I would love to hear about how you quilters feel about your quilts. Do you keep them for yourself or give them away? I originally though I would sell it in my shop but it took way too much time and energy to just put a price on it. Plus, I like it now. Maybe to hang on the wall in my girl's room? Or just put it away for 20 years to give to my own grandchild?
