When people ask me about my sewing, I always tell them that I sew, but I do not quilt. Quilting has always seemed like it would be so tedious and involved - like, too much time spent on too-small details. Like scrapbooking (to me!). But lately, I've been having a change of heart!
It all happened like this: I was messing around, wasting time on Pinterest one day. (So MANY of my stories start out this way, really.) I was checking out Sara Lawson's boards and just couldn't stop looking at her quilt links. Such gorgeous-ness! Such awesome colors! The designs! I was totally hooked. Well, it snowballed from there. I spent about a week just looking at quilting blogs, flickr groups, Pinterest boards...and I knew what one of my 2013 new years resolutions was going to be: to learn to quilt.
I'd finish up my UFO's, and then I'd learn to quilt.
That's what I'd do.
Yep.
Oh, screw the UFO's, I couldn't wait that long!
I wasn't feeling quite ready to dive into a queen-size Moda Bake Shop advanced level quilt or anything (tempting though it may be), but I remembered that I'd won this pattern from a sewalong a while ago. So I dug it out of my pattern stash, and decided that it looked fairly easy...and it was!
It really helped that I already know how to sew. And that I already had a bunch of fabric! The only thing I actually had to go out and buy was the batting. I know everyone out there seems to like Warm n Natural, but not knowing how this was going to turn out and all, I went with a slightly less expensive one...something like 80/20 something? (You can always count on me for accuracy and specifics, right!) Oh and I got basting spray because there is no way I'm messing with all those pins.
These owl appliques...they look really cute. They weren't my favorite thing to do, though. I thought the applique part was a little bit tedious, especially the smaller pieces.
Did I make it hard on myself? I sewed around the edges, and had to "pivot" every time I wanted to go around a corner. I'm assuming there's an easier way...?
But I did enjoy the "sketch" technique; it was nice to not have to be too precise, and I love the way it looks! It'll be neat when I wash the quilt and the edges fray. I think that will look really cool.
After the quilting is done, I'll sew button eyes onto the owls. So cute!
The pieced blocks were really easy; they were just large strips of fabric sewn together. That I can do.
Oh and check out the mitered corners! :)
So the top is done. I was shocked at how not long it took to do. Just two evenings. Now it's ready to get quilted, and I'm not sure what to do!
Those of you who quilt: How should I do this?
I could do all vertical lines. That seems like it would be easy.
Or I could dive into the deep end and try the free-motion thing. That does not seem easy. But it's totally in my nature to get in over my head like that.
Or I could do something else. What, I don't know!
Suggestions?
I think this will be a Christmas gift for my daughter, since the dog has since commandeered the last blanket I made for her. :)
Linking to Freshly Pieced
Your quilt is ADORABLE! I love it! The appliqued owls are so sweet, and the colors are tons of fun.
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts, though keep in mind I've only been quilting about a year: I would say to be sure to practice FMQ on other quilt sandwiches before trying it on this. If you're a perfectionist and can't handle any wonkiness or wobbly lines, straight line quilting is probably the best place to start as FMQ takes lots of practice. (I know from experience as I've just started learning it myself!) If you use thread that matches your quilt, the lines won't stick out as much, and mistakes will be harder to spot.
I wish you the best of luck, and whatever you choose to do, I'm sure your daughter will love it!
This is a real eye-catcher. You chose a wonderful selection of colors to create your masterpiece. Love the owls.
ReplyDeleteFree motion quilting does take loads of practice but once you get bit by the bug it's hard to resist. You could do an all over pattern to keep the look uniform. You also could echo around the owls in those blocks and do let the motion of the other fabrics in the remaining blocks give you inspiration. Either way have fun with it. Allow yourself to make mistakes. After all you are human.
You are braver than I. Your quilt is darling! I always wanted to try quilting (think back to when Jonathan was a baby....he is 12 now!) but never had the guts to do it. Maybe you are inspiring me! Good luck and let us know how the final product turns out.
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