This quilt started out as a throw. It sat unquilted for a year and every now and then my son would check back about who it was for. He was very clear about not wanting this one to leave the house. In the spring of 2009 I realized his bed quilt was getting worn and I decided his favourite quilt top might be expanded to a twin size. A few extra borders later I started hand quilting it and it finally made it onto his bed in October or November 2009.I learned 3 things while making this quilt.
First - don't take shortcuts when bias edges are involved. I thought I would cheat and sew the sashing strips on without measuring them, then cut the extra off the ends. Oops. The sides of the braids are all bias edge and they just stretched, so my quilt developed a very pronounced curve. I had to rip all the those seams, measure the sashing as I should have done in the first place, then sew then back on. Lesson learned!
Second - I hate having to pull thread through wax or some other conditioner to make it stronger for hand quilting. I'd always used hand quilting thread before, but this time wanted to try a variegated thread in the braid so it would blend more. It turned out just like I wanted it to, but I'm not sure I'll do it again.
Third - Traditions are easy to start. Back when I made my son's first quilt I messed up the first block and didn't have enough fabric to redo it, so I made one plainer block and embellished it by quilting his name onto it. Then it was expected that I would quilt my daughter's name into her quilt somewhere. When I started quilting this one my son's first question was "Where are you going to quilt my name on this one?" It's in there. This picture doesn't show it, but each letter of his name is in one of the coloured squares in the small innermost border. I'm now quilting a new quilt for my daughter and guess what she wanted to know?
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's quilts. I'm off to browse the festival now!
LOVE this quilt! Contrasty quilts rock!
ReplyDeletei love your quilt tradition! how fun for the kids to search for their names. next time, don't tell them where you quilt it!
ReplyDeletei made a french braid quilt a while back, and like yours, mine got curved. of course, i didn't take apart and fix the problem. instead i quilted and squared it up and ended up trimming about 1/4 of my quilt off to get it square! i'll never do a french braid again!
This quilt is just my style -- nice and bright! What punch the colours have set against the black. I love the name stitching too, a great tradition you have started!
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilt. I love the bright colors against the black background. That's so sweet that your kids expect their names to be sewn into their quilts.
ReplyDeleteI loved this quilt the first time I saw it, and I still do! And you are right --- bias edges do create lots of problems! But you handled it! ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, cheery quilt! Great tips too!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I love the bright colours.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is very colorful and the black makes the colors pop. What a neat idea of quilting their names into the quilting design. Take care.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt;) And the name thing is great;) I quilted my husband's and my initials in one of the quilts I made years ago. You really have to look for it, but it's there;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Quilting!!
That's a fantastic tradition and superb quilt. The bright colours are fabulous. Ann :-)
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is just amazing! Every time I see it I study it all over again and I love the way you did the borders. You have very luck kids!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful quilt work !
ReplyDeleteWonderful colour you have a world ?)
Love that quilt with all the colors! As if I didn't have enough project....LOL
ReplyDeleteLiri
Your quilt is stunning. Love your "Lessons Learned".
ReplyDeleteI love the color that you used:)
ReplyDeleteGreat colors, this quilt has a very happy feel to it! Love adding the names!
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt I have made a few
ReplyDelete"Braid" table toppers but not a full size quilt yet. It is on my to do list.! Love the colors...
Beautiful quilt
ReplyDeleteLove the colors, and I LOVE the black background. It really sets off the rest of the colors. My heart started beating way fast when I saw this :)
ReplyDeleteYour children have good taste. Delightful quilt.
ReplyDeleteLove the brights against black! Good work!
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is so bright and cheerful. Thanks for the tips. Great job.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt. Love the colors!
ReplyDeleteThe kids were right, awesome quilt!
ReplyDeleteLoving this quilt, can't blame the boy for being anxious about it getting away !
ReplyDeleteFound your post through another blog where she's sharing your quilt's photo and linky. You're famous !
wow this is so lively and bright and fun. great quilt
ReplyDeleteWow at the colors! It's really great. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this quilt. a lot of work, but so well worth it. and love your tradition.
ReplyDeleteThis is just beautiful; the brights just POP because of the black.
ReplyDeleteThe black sashing gives a real stained glass effect that is stunning.
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