I was hoping to show my daughter's new quilt in this fall's Blogger's Quilt Festival. (Thank you for organising this Amy!) The quilt was supposed to be done by the end of October, then by the end of this week...Well, I'm still stitching away at that one, so I'll share the quilt I made for my parents a few years ago.
This was the fourth quilt I made and was my very first attempt at making a quilt without a pattern. Looking at it now there are things I would do differently to balance the design a bit more and to even out the density of quilting, but as a first design effort I think it is quite respectable.
The quilt started with the nine patches in the center. They are the first blocks I pieced - ever. This is where I learned that a small variation from a 1/4 inch seam results in a block that is not the size you expected. I wasn't sure how to fit these into any pattern I had since they weren't a convenient 6 inches square, so I tucked them away in a box for 3 or 4 years.
With a bit more experience under my belt I pulled them out, stocked up on graph paper and coloured pencils and drew up a plan. Initially I was going to make a wall hanging, and the design stopped at the red border outside the flying geese border. Then I decided I wanted to practice my hand quilting skills more and would need more quilt to do that on, so I added more.
Having added more quilt to quilt on, I needed to choose what motifs to quilt. By this time I had decided this quilt would be for my parents, so I selected various motifs that told their story. At this point I learned how to make my own templates. Some of the motifs are derived from free clipart. Others are resized from stotre-bought quilting templates that of course were larger or smaller than the spot I wanted to quilt them in.
I sent my parents a picture of the finished quilt top that Christmas. Mom was very appreciative. She also didn't expect a finished quilt anytime soon. Of course knowing she didn't expect it I made a point of finishing before we visited the following June :) 
Now, if I could just finish my daughter's quilt... If any of you are following that progress, I have 3 blocks and 3/4 of the border left to quilt. The end is in sight! With time she has warmed up to the hearts in the border, too, so I guess it is taking me just long enough
The red white quilt looks fabulous, I love the combination, I call them Christmas quilts. Mine is still not finished two years later, maybe this winter I will get it quilted. Take care and enjoy the show.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty quilt. It's always fun to look back at where we started and see how far we have come;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Quilting!!!
Your red/white quilt is incredibly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour quilting stitches are perfect! ---"Love"
Congratulations, it is gorgeous. I love the color that you used:)
ReplyDeleteAwesome quilt! Love the card trick blocks in the corners!
ReplyDeleteLiri
The red and white combination looks really good together, its a great first quilt...Karen x
ReplyDeleteBella la storia della tua trapunta, belli anche i colori che hai scelto
ReplyDeleteCiao Domenica
Beautiful quilt! Wow that it is your first attempt at designing and only your fourth quilt - fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've seen this one before, but I'm guessing it's the quilt in your header? It's beautiful! What a treasure for your parents.
ReplyDeleteIt is very beautiful. You did a fabulous job designing it and quilting it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! I love the red and white. And the quilting is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love the red and white color combination and you did a great job with the design. This is a beautiful quilt. I think we all look at our finished quilts and think of ways we would do it differently the next time, it is all part of the learning experience. I'm glad the hearts are growing on your daughter and you are almost finished. It is a beautiful quilt, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful quilt. I love that the quilting tells your parents' story. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteSandy
Beautiful quilt. The quilting is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteit looks beautiful! I love that kind of simple colours matchings.
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt and the quilting is super!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great quilt. I just LOVE red and white and this is stunning. Your design works so well!
ReplyDeleteIt's a stunning quilt Joanne and I really like the red/white combination - very striking. I think the design is well balanced. Don't be too critical of your great work. Ann :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and what a treasure for your parents!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn :)
Beautiful quilt! Going to start quilting soon. What is the pattern called?
ReplyDeleteThank you! There is no pattern for this one. It was my own design.
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