Friday, July 4, 2014

My First (Quilting) Birthday

It was about a year ago that I embarked on my first quilt. This project was a humble affair—just 8-inch blocks sewn together, quilted with a cross-hatch, and finished off with a zigzag binding. My agenda was clear: decide whether I liked jamming all of that fabric through my sewing machine enough to do it again.

Quilt #1 fabric facts: DS Quilts

I wasn’t sure about giving quilt #1 away (did I mention it was humble?), but I did, to the perfect recipient. My friend was not expecting a birthday gift from me last summer, and she was touched that I took the time to make her something. I saw her everywhere around town last summer, quilt in tow—at the farmer’s market, at the playground. She bragged about me and the quilt to just about everyone she encountered. She made me feel like a million bucks, and I couldn’t resist sewing her a special something for her most recent birthday.

Quilt #2 followed, my version of Liesl Gibson’s Travel Quilt, from Little Things to Sew. It seemed impractical to make for a baby girl (perhaps a stain-hiding puke green or poop brown would have been more apropos?). But I wanted to see if I could make it, and I could.

Quilt #2 fabric facts: Denyse Schmidt Chicopee, American Jane, Kona solids, and RKF Quilter’s Linen

It’s fun to look back over the past year and the projects that took root in my imagination and now are quilts that are used and loved and snuggled under and picnicked upon.

I’ve gotten to know my machine better, including its strengths and frustrating weaknesses. I’ve become more confident in fabric selection and sewing accurate seams. And somewhere along the journey, I’ve transformed from being a sewer to being a quilter. Imagine that.

I’m linking up this post to Finish It Up Friday and TGIFF!
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14 comments:

  1. PaigeJuly 4, 2014 at 1:06 PM

    Congratulations on your first quilting birthday! I found you through the Crazy Mom Quilts link-up.

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  2. Kristyn @ Melon Patch QuiltsJuly 4, 2014 at 1:47 PM

    Love the name of your blog!

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  3. audreyJuly 4, 2014 at 2:08 PM

    Yay! Congratulations on your first quilting birthday! That's such an exciting day!! :)

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  4. lelandavestudiosJuly 4, 2014 at 2:24 PM

    Happy quilting birthday! Such a great amount accomplished in just one year! Here's to another exciting year ahead!

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  5. Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the EdgeJuly 4, 2014 at 3:31 PM

    Happy birthday! Clearly, if you're still at it a year later, the bug must have bitten you. Your first quilt shows a wonderful sense of colour - something that was NOT evident in my first quilt (more than) a few years ago!

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  6. Gemini Jen NZJuly 4, 2014 at 3:47 PM

    Congrats! We all have to start somewhere!

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  7. charlotteJuly 4, 2014 at 4:06 PM

    Great job. I have wanted to make that quilt from the Little Things book.

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    Replies
    1. Michelle @ From Bolt to BeautyJuly 5, 2014 at 6:45 AM

      It was a fun second quilt to do. Lots of cutting, though. I think this quilt is what turned me on to using white in my projects -- love all that negative space!

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  8. VeraJuly 6, 2014 at 5:26 PM

    I like the color combo in your first quilt. Thank you for leaving lovely reply on my blog. Not sure if you are aware of being no-reply while you comment elsewhere. You might want to check this post> http://thewindyside.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/how-to-stop-being-no-reply-blogger.html

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  9. Sallie B.July 7, 2014 at 1:41 PM

    Happy birthday, and welcome to the quilting family!

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  10. KarabetaJuly 8, 2014 at 6:50 AM

    I love humble just-squares-sewn-together quilts. Yours is a particular beautiful one and not so humble at all!

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  11. Christine SAugust 10, 2014 at 3:26 PM

    For a first quilt this is great! The colors are so pretty and you can never go wrong with simple patchwork squares, they are my favorite!

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  12. NolesgirlJanuary 4, 2018 at 9:14 AM

    I am a beginner quilter and really don't want to take a class at the quilting store (don't feel comfortable there). What is your advise to someone like me? Where do you begin and how to continue to develop your skills. Have very limited skills with rotary cutter, ruler, etc.

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    1. Michelle @ From Bolt to BeautyJanuary 4, 2018 at 8:03 PM

      Nolesgirl, you're a no-reply blogger ... I hope you stop back to read this response! : )

      When I started out quilting, I had a bunch of books on hand as reference. Most quilt books I have bought cover the basics of quilting. I found it helpful to read how people used different approaches.

      There are probably some classes at Craftsy or Creativebug that could provide you the information you need, but I haven't taken any to recommend. Another possibility could be a beginner online quilt-along. I've seen one on Diary of a Quilter (check out the "101" posts at the bottom of this page: https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/tutorials) and two at Stitched in Color (https://www.stitchedincolor.com/blog//2010/09/colorbrick-beginner-quilt-along_16.html as well as https://www.stitchedincolor.com/blog//2013/10/penny-patch-beginners-quilt-along.html)

      Good luck!

      Delete

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