"Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least." ~Goethe~

07 July 2015

My second favoritest quilt...

   
     Oh this quilt!  I can't tell you how much I love this quilt.  It will never be better than my first quilt, but it is pretty stinkin' awesome and right up there on the list in second place.

     This quilt came about accidentally.  It all started as a special gift for someone but as I finished off the first block, I just couldn't part with it.  All the digging in the scraps and seeing all the bits and pieces of previous projects and the meaning I had put into those pieces of fabric was just too much for me to part with.  I knew what every little scrappy piece had been used for.  Would the person I first intended to make this for know all the history that was going into this quilt?  No.  Fabric from my first pair of shorts I ever made myself (yes, twenty years ago), remnants of dresses I made the girls, fabric that looks identical to a shirt that my father-in-law had, bits and pieces leftover from the quilt I made my Mom, plus so much more.  I can look at each piece of fabric and tell you what it was used for the first time.

     This quilt has grabbed hold of us and hasn't let go.  It never will.  It's definitely a family quilt.  Especially since everyone put their suggestions in on the planning and creating process of it.  There were a lot of "ohs and ahs" going on around here during the entire making of this quilt.  Even a few squeals came out from time to time.  Everyone has a favorite block.  And no one can agree on a "name" for it.  But it is loved and that is all that matters.




     I used the "quilt as you go" method for this quilt.  The first time ever.  I came across it while browsing at the quilting books at the library and read more about it on the blog of the author.  To say I love this technique is an understatement.  I would have never tried quilting this quilt the way I did with the traditional one big huge piece under the machine.  I would have gone mad.  I went through a lot of thread with this method, but it was so worth it seeing how the quilt turned out in the end.  My own version of match stick quilting.  Love it!!!  It's so crinkly wrinkly.  I can't help but touch it every time I pass by it.





(One of my helpful quilt holders)








     With this quilt being about special fabrics, I couldn't help but use two fabrics for the backing that I fell in love with and had been hoarding away for a bit.  It doesn't match the front at all (which bothered other members of the family at first) but I didn't care.  It was all about using what I loved.  Even for the binding.  I probably broke all the rules of coordinating somewhere with this quilt.  But it doesn't matter.  Quilts are suppose to make you smile.  And this one does, just like my first one.

     I worked feverishly getting the binding sewn on just so the quilt could be finished.  I even had my special guy standing next to me as the last stitch in the binding was put in.  He grabbed the quilt and wrapped us both up in it.  First snuggles in this lovely creation.  How awesome is that.

     This quilt has meaning, memories and love all wrapped in it and that alone is so worth the time and effort put into this beautiful quilt.  I'm so glad that it's home is here with us.


~*~

Kar



7 comments:

  1. So, so, so gorgeous, Kar!!!!

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  2. I love how you chose cool colours for the top and warm ones for the backing. It somehow says "I'll keep you warm and cosy while looking wintry". :-)

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  3. The quilt is so beautiful, Kar! I'm glad you decided to keep it. I think it's so neat that you were able to include so many fabrics pieces that mean something special to you.

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  4. That's amazing! I cannot even begin to imagine making something that beautiful. There is no way I would have parted with it either!

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  5. Oooooooooooooo....I absolutely LOVE it!!!!!

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  6. Your quilt is so beautiful! I love all of the different colors and patterns. Yes, ma'am, I could snuggle real good in that one. *wink* You have one of the (two) best quilt holders!

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  7. You inspire me to cut pieces from my children's saved, outgrown clothes . I can't part with them because of the special memories associated with them. I had thought of doing a memory quilt, but it just didn't feel right. After seeing yours and reading how your family was involved has made the time feel right and given me the vision I was looking for. Thank you!

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