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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

My first ever quilt!

So, for the past year or so I have been mulling over an idea to make my girls a quilt, something they can keep for always. To start me off, I decided I would make a "practice quilt" for my friend's newborn, due in early November 2010.

I used this "recipe" from the Moda Bakeshop (Christmas Table Topper) but I extended it at both ends with some extra sashing & piercing to give it more length.  It's basically a disappearing 9-patch block quilt, but I made sure that each block would have a different arrangement of fabrics.

I cut all the fabric in one night (the rotary cutters are amazing, totally worth buying + a green mat to cut on). It probably took me about 4-5 nights to sew all patchwork blocks. Some weren't square , so they are all about 1/2" smaller than they should be as I trimmed them all to the same size before adding the sashing. Sewing all the sashing on took another night (no rush). A lot of time is used pressing the patchwork as you go!

It was originally going to have navy sashing, at the suggestion of the quilt shop people (since it was for a boy, less likely to show dirt, etc). But once I had sewn the patches, I didn't think the navy sashing would show off the colours in the patches as much as a white fabric, so I decided to change to white sashing. I think the white looks great with the vibrant colours of the patches.

The star quilting was done by the local quilting shop (which I am so in love with, amazing range of fabrics). It took them 24 hours to get it back to me, so fast! I just gave them the front patchwork and the backing fabric (lime green with a small white spot). They suggested the star pattern and lime-green contrast thread for the quilting & selected a cotton batting for the quilt (its new home will be in Brisbane, Qld). The quilting came out beautifully.

I made the binding and sewed it on the front panel one night after the girls had gone to bed. It took me about 8-10 hours to handstitch it on the back. Two of the mitred corners didn't work so well on the back (look fine on the front though) but other than that, the binding was easier than I thought.

My friend just loves it and I have to admit, I was a bit sad to give it away!
Laid out on a single bed
(okay, maybe it's a little big for a newborn - he'll grow into it!)

 Hopefully you cab see some of the star and twirl quilting here

Full length photo (taken from above). 
It's about 48" wide and around 70" long.

3 comments:

  1. You have done a fantastic job on this - well done! You should be very proud of yourself and as hard as it is to give away, I am sure your friend will treasure it.

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  2. Amazing job on your first quilt. I love the colours. What a beautiful present for your friend. I came across your blog on EB recently so have clicked to follow it as I have just started my own as well. Will be watching with interest at what else you make.

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  3. Came across your blog thru EB. I absolutely love the colours you've used for this quilt. Just gorgeous. My little boy is just about to move out of his cot into a big boy bed and this would look perfect to go on it. Thanks for the inspiration!

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