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?
Lovely! The pinks are so pretty together!
Posted by: Jessica | February 9, 2011 at 02:45 PM
Hello,
I want to congratulate you on your first quilt. It is charming and looks to be very nicely made. And I guarantee the next one will be MUCH faster ;) I think all of your creations are lovely with pretty fabrics and well thought out designs.
I've been making quilts for about 8 years now. I have NEVER sewn down the binding by hand. I always sew it down by machine. Here are the reasons why:
1. Tons faster then by hand.
2. Sturdy potentially sturdier then hand sewn.
3. Not noticeable after the quilt is washed.
I make quilts that I want to be used and washed and loved. And tiny details such as a slightly imperfect mitered corner or hand sewn vs. machine sewn binding are not that worrisome. Besides after they are washed those small details shrink so much that I don't even notice them(let alone someone who doesn't sew).
I do try as I piece to meet my corners, iron my seams, as well as square the edges of the quilt to make sure it lays down flat. I make sure it is as pleasing to the hand as it is to the eye. The rest I try to be laid back about and enjoy the process.
I believe a lot of the perfectionist rules/suggestions/commandments come from entering quilts into competitions. That's when those details really do matter.
I would hang the quilt on a wall or give it to one of your kids to use gently. This way you and they have the pleasure of seeing it everyday.
Best,
Marianna
Posted by: Marianna | January 15, 2011 at 12:18 PM
There is a trick to fast hand stitching it so that it will hold. I'm not a quilter, but my Mom is, and I've seen her do this a thousand times. I will try my best in explaining.. but it's hard wihtout visual instructions:
You take an enormously long peice of thread (she uses embrodery thread) and tie a knot at one end. Then you pull it through the bottom of the blanket. You then go to the next place that you want the stitch to appear and sew down to the backside, and then back up in the same area.. you continue this all the way to teh end of the blanket. So basically you will have one long giant stitch ------------ like that along the top! ha ha.
Then with your sissors, just cut inbetween each one and tie it so the stitch holds.
I hope that made sense.
Beautiful quilt!!!
Posted by: Julie | January 12, 2011 at 05:51 PM
quilting is tricky!!! I have a perfect idea for a quilt for my son's bed BUT I have no idea when I will ever get around to actually making it. Yours is fabulous and I am also looking forward to that feeling of satisfaction looking at a finished quilt. I say "TO QUILT!"
Posted by: urban craft | January 11, 2011 at 05:47 PM
If that is your first quilt then you MUST keep it for any future grandbabies. My Mum's first quilt was made from scraps of fabrics she'd used to make us dresses and we loved (and still would love) to sit on it and remember our favourite outfits. Also, I remember hearing somewhere that many quilters deliberately sew an imperfection into a quilt (perhaps to highlight it's handmadeness) and I like to see a few stitches here and there to remind me of the person who made it.
Posted by: Cate | January 11, 2011 at 05:50 AM
Personally, I always sew bindings on by machine. I found some great instructions in a book that uses a 1 inch bias tape maker and then you just use the double folded bias tape for the binding. Just fold it and then put the raw edge of the quilt in the fold of the binding and stitch it down about 1/4" inch from the edge. It works great! I'll see if I can find more instructions. I don't have time to stitch binding by hand unfortunately. But what a cute quilt!!
Anna
Posted by: Anna | January 10, 2011 at 07:23 PM
I was just introduced to your site over the weekend and must say it's such a treat. Thank you for sharing, you are awesome! :)
Posted by: Mae | January 10, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Your miter corners turned out better then mine. No matter how many tutorials/videos I watch I can't seem to get them right. Also I must be a slow stitcher since it takes me a really long time to get my binding down. I have even taken it on long car rides.
Posted by: Tiffaney | January 10, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Love the fabrics! I love looking at all the beautiful quilting blogs too! I like to piece but when it comes to quilting and binding, that is when it gets all sorts of messed up!
Posted by: Teresa Satterwhite | January 10, 2011 at 08:28 AM
tres joli j adore bises jojo
Posted by: jojo | January 10, 2011 at 05:04 AM
gorgeous! such fun prints and colors. gives me motivation to try to finally finish my first 'real' quilt. oh, i'll be email you tomorrow. today has kicked my behind and i'm off to sit on the couch and crochet. that or pass out ;)
Posted by: Vanessa | January 9, 2011 at 10:24 PM
I love sooo many of the sweet fabrics you chose!! BEAUTIFUL work! :)
Posted by: Becca | January 9, 2011 at 09:43 PM
Looks great! At first messy corners, etc. on my own quilts bother me, but by the time I finish I've (mostly) forgotten about it. I definitely think quilts get better with more washing, so you should be able to let your children AND grandchildren use it.
Posted by: Katie | January 9, 2011 at 08:54 PM
I think you did a fine job for your first time quilt....and the binding looks pretty good for a first timer.
I love to sit and watch tv and finish off a binding. It took me a while to understand how to do it, but now that I do, binding is my favorite part of the quilting process. I make 'em and give 'em away.
Posted by: Cheryl | January 9, 2011 at 04:46 PM
Oh it is cute, it's cute, it's cute! Good job.
Posted by: Sue | January 9, 2011 at 03:45 PM
I'm not really a quilter, but have made a couple. Right now I'm planning on making a "quick" quilt for my son's new toddler bed. Greens and browns.
They are definitely a labor of love, and are beautiful to look at imperfections and all.
Posted by: Julie Weaver | January 9, 2011 at 03:35 PM
What a great first attempt. I'm not a quilter and I doubt I ever will be, but I often dream of making quilts for the kids' beds. There's something really satisfying about seeing a quilt thrown over a bed.
Posted by: Jolene | January 9, 2011 at 02:51 PM
Your quilt is sweet. I'm sure it would be cherished by whoever received it (if you chose to give it away). I wouldn't even show my first attempt at quilting!
I keep most of my quilts but I've given away lots too. I always worry that my work isn't good enough or that the recipients won't appreciate the time and effort that went into making it. I suppose that's the same with any handmade gift. I am quite picky about who gets a quilt ;)
Posted by: Rachel | January 9, 2011 at 02:43 PM
This is a beautiful quilt. I love that you used scraps for it. I think it would be fun to use it as a wall hanging now & pass it down to a grandchild in the future.
I have only made 1 quilt, but have more planned. I agree, it truly is a labor of love. For this reason, I can only see making them for people I care about instead of selling them. (Plus I'm just too slow and don't think it would be worth it to sell & make a decent amount of $) I do think hand stitching the back of the binding is well worth the time. It looks much better, in my opinion. With my quilt, I started finding a rhythm & was able to finish stitching the binding in a decent amount of time. I find the handstitching oddly soothing, too.
Anyway... thanks for sharing this beautiful quilt! I hope you make many more in the future :)
Posted by: Stephanie | January 9, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Very pretty! It really is nice sharing the fabrics between quilts. Especially if it is over a few years -I recently used up some scraps from a quilt I made for my neice before she was born 11 years ago really nice because it brings back memories.
Posted by: arianwen | January 9, 2011 at 12:41 PM
What a sweet quilt! I love the pinks!
I usually watch Pride and Prejudice while doing a binding. I think it is about 5.5 hours long or something and I usually need several hours to hand sew it down. :)
Posted by: La Mañosa | January 9, 2011 at 12:06 PM
You did a wonderful job and I love all the pinks in there! Sewing takes practice and the more you do the more you will learn and strengthen you skills. I've been sewing for more than 50 years and I still learn lots of new things with every project. Enjoy the process, make things you like and give them with love. Nothing is ever perfect and the little imperfections give the quilt it's character and charm.
So far I have either kept my quilts or given them as baby and wedding gifts. Someday I want to make some for Project Linus. Enjoy your sewing during the games today!
Posted by: Marsha B | January 9, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Great job, congrats.
Posted by: Anita | January 9, 2011 at 11:17 AM
It is so beautiful!!!! Great job!
Posted by: Amy Dunn | January 9, 2011 at 11:07 AM