quilt.
I’m thinking that my next big project is going to be a patchwork quilt. I’ve never made one before, and I want to try it because it’s such a practical thing to make. I’ve been looking through a lot of really beautiful patterns, but really, I just want to find a pattern for a simple one that is just a bunch of squares sewed together (does that have a name?)
My inspiration for the quilt is our orange desk. I’ve loved the colors orange and turqoise together ever since I ate in a farmhouse-turned-resaurant that had a powder room in that color scheme. We’re thinking that in our (future) house, we’ll put the orange desk in our guest bedroom, and paint the walls a turqoisey-teal color. This quilt can tie the two colors together.
((our desk with a pretty notecard my mom sent me)).
I’m excited, but I don’t really know what I am doing. If any of you have ever made a quilt before, maybe you can give me some pointers!
July 14th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I’ve never made a quilt either… I’ve started one, and the only pointer I can give you is to actually measure your pieces instead of just eyeballing them.
Oh, and wash your fabric BEFORE you cut it, otherwise you have a bajillion little frayed pieces of wrinkled up fabric.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Jamie can probably give you a few pointers… she did recently (and successfully) complete a quilt.
my aunt is a quilter… ever since I saw some of hers, I’ve secretly wanted to make one. but I lack a sewing machine and direction.
a square patchwork quilt sounds perfect. my mom has one that somebody made years ago and she took it to college. I love that quilt. It has a hole, but it’s still great. Actually … it’s in my linen closet. I should cuddle with it.
I feel like 3 different people (personalities??) left a comment. Odd.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:53 am
I made a quilt once! I was young (13?) and it ended up being throw size, not bed sized, but I love it and we always use it!
Strip piecing a quilt is probably easiest. You sew fabric into strips, cut it, and sew it again. http://www.sewaquilt.com/strip-piecing.html http://www.quiltingassistant.com/stripquilting.html
July 15th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Seven: Good thinking! I wouldn’t have thought to wash the fabric first!Ann: I’ll definitely have to ask Jamie about her quilt… I remember seeing it when she was still working on it and it looked amazing! She is so talented. Maybe you could make one? If you did the one with just squares, you could cut out all of the pieces ahead of time, and if you borrowed someone’s sewing machine, I bet you could sew it all in one day!
Katie: ooooh! I’m going to have to try the strip piecing… it looks much easier than what I was thinking I would have to do! Thanks for the tip!
— Jen.