The Makings of a Quilt (Top)

1: Interview the fabrics.





2: Make a selection.







3: Cut into the finalists.


4: Decide who goes where.



5: Add a little bit of this and that.






6: Sit back and enjoy the view.

Now to decide - a quilt, or just a blanket...

This Quilt : That Boy

No doubt, if you have been following me long enough, you will have seen this quilt in various stages of completion. From inception, way back when, to updates along the way, through to quilt top finishing, basting and the labourious prospect of hand quilting (the quilt top already being hand sewn. I know). This quilt has a long history - three blogs long, in fact. It seems to have been a constant in my life for a long, long time - the never-ending quilt that sat taunting and mocking me from the WIP pile.

But back in November, with promises of keeping me warm in the afternoons as I worked on it as it draped over my knees, mindful of a nearing deadline, I picked it up again and began to consistently quilt it block by block. Illness, and various other deadlines and meet ups, meant that towards the end of December the pace had slackened again and it was only with a concerted push after the new year, working all spare moments I had that eventually - EVENTUALLY - this project was finally finished. Just in time for the recipient's 12th birthday.






















He was genuinely delighted with the quilt, knowing how long I have been working on it, how much effort I have put into it - seeing it, day after day after day taking up my time and effort. He was so generous in his praise for it, "it's the best thing I've ever had - I love it more than Minecraft", which is high praise indeed, and a sample of what a kind heart this boy of mine has. Because, even if he didn't mean it, he knows the value of this quilt; he knows it's more than just a pile of fabric.

Wrapped at night under it for the first time, he marveled at all the different fabrics, how WARM it was, how orange it was (and delighted to know I picked orange because it's his favourite colour). I told him that any time he was sad, or lonely or needed a hug from his mummy and I wasn't there, that this quilt would be my hug to him. One day when I'm not around and if this quilt is still standing I can still be there to keep him warm and let him know how much I love him.

He hugged it around him and said, "and when I'm a daddy I'll give it to MY son, so that he gets hugs from both of us".

And right then it was all worthwhile. The whole lot of it. The whole five years in the making.

Oh, this boy of mine. Such a good, good heart. Masha'allah.

Quilt

You might think all I do all day is knit and spin, educate and feed and wipe never-ending detritus up. Not so. I also hand sew a quilt too.

This project is soooo old and I'm not digging the links out to prove it, but I have only a little way to go... so so near.... can I do it before another birthday? I don't know. But I'll give it my best shot.

Flying the Flag

I'm a bit late to this game, but Shannon over at Aunty Cookie is doing a quilt along, and I've hopped on board.

This is a first for me: I don't usually follow quilt patterns, and when I do I've kind of drawn them up myself. I've also never done a group thang before either. Goes back to the lone wolf thing I suppose. But this project spoke to me - it bounced off a few ideas in my head and before I knew it I was dusting my fabric shelves down (literally, um, yuck) and picking out a palette.



It reminded me of this bunting and thought it would make a nice accompaniment to it ... and there is a birthday coming up... a big one... hmm .. she reads this blog which kinda ruins the surprise (invite me over to yours at Xmas and I'll open all your presents for you too), but, well, no harm no foul.


This is the schedule, and I have no idea whether I'll stick to it, because I'm going to be out of town for some of it, and well, life can sometimes knock you off your feet.

Week 1. (Finish by 16 August 2013) Pick it! Fabric selections – in a show us your flags kind of way.

Week 2. (Finish by 23 August 2013) Cutting it! cutting out & making the flags – ideas for personalizing flags, tips on making it fancy.

Week 3. (Finish by 30 August 2013) Sewing it! yes that would be sewing it all together.

Week 4. (Finish by 6 Sept 2013) Quilt it! ideas and inspirations and techniques.

Week 5. (Finish by 13 Sept 2013) Bind it! And lets perve at your finished quilt….

Week 6. (Finish by 20 Sept 2013) QAL Wrap up & the awarding of awesomeness.

It's a bit intensive, I have to say. I work in two modes: do it in one day, or do it in one decade. This will be an interesting, but pretty challenge.

So here are my fabric choices.





I wanted a carnival feel to it and to break up the white by having pops of colour of aqua, purple, orange and yellow (trust me. It will work). I'm treating the pattern as the bare bones starting point and hopefully will work some of my own ideas in somehow.

So that's me sorted for the next six weeks then. Because I honestly don't have enough to do.

If you want to join in, pop over to Aunty Cookie's and get on board!

Another Crazy Quilt

Well, it's finally done! The crazy colourful throw I started a little while ago after splurging on an insane amount of cotton lawn fabric. I did choose to back it with blanket fabric instead of a vintage sheet in the end - it hangs better, and what's a blanket for if not for warmth after all?

It currently resides in the sitting room for snuggles before bedtime, snuggles after bath-time and snuggles in the morning when reading a book. It's for snuggles, our new go-to blanket. My little nod to Cassandra Ellis and the magnificent quilts she creates.