Before beginning, I sketched a design for my "first block". Here it is. When I took it to the quilt shop for tips on how to piece it together, BOTH ladies behind the counter laughed. Apparently curved lines aren't so easy to piece.
So I decided on something simpler, a different flower design, and came up with this. You can see very few of my seams lined up (you'd think at least I could have matched up the center seams!), and that it doesn't resemble a flower at all, but I don't care. I'm just glad it turned out in the shape of a square overall! :)
15 comments:
That is funny you think quilting would be harder, I quilt but moderate a sewing forum and I think the little girls dresses are harder *smile*!
I love your fabric choice and your block turned out soo nice! I'm currently working on a bear patch and after years of quilting none of my points are matching, oh well...my son still loves it!
Thank you for sharing your gorgeous handiwork. I am trying some quilting, too, and have chosen a patchwork pattern of simple squares to start. The fabric just came in the mail yesterday, enough for a girl bedspread in "Darla" and two boy bedspreads in "Tiny Tots." Must get past the stage of admiring the fabric and reading the pattern!
Kristen,
It's lovely. What a challenging design to try for your first block! You are much braver than I was. I also happen to like quilt squares with unmatched points. I think they have a charming handmade quality. Some quilters even do such things deliberately. Even now that I am a much better seamstress and can manage to match them up, I still sometimes go for the mismatched, wonky look. In my book triangles are almost as hard as curves. I didn't try them until I' had more than five quilts under my belt. I'm with Kathryn, I think making clothing is so much harder than quilting. The few times I've tried to make skirts for myself, I ended up with amazingly crooked hems.
It's beautiful! I'm like Kathryn...I think quilting is easier then making little girl clothes! (although I've never made clothes so...). I try to match my corners and such but if it doesn't come out *perfect* I think it has it's own charm....it is handmade after all!
I agree with you Kristen, quilting is harder. I love how you made the fabric "work" for you, creating a square flower :) I much prefer to make a new dress or blouse. I am working on a new quilt for the Master Bedroom. It has taken me awhile and I am not even close to being done. Quilting has definately taught me persistence and lots of patience!! Good luck. I look forward to seeing the finished piece.
Thanks, girls! I agree, wonky quilts have so much character.
Mary, this was just a practice block - it won't be part of a finished quilt. Perhaps the next one... :)
How lovely :-) And that practice block will make something special of its own, I'm sure - a quilt for your girls' teddies or a cover for a side table. It really is too pretty for just putting aside.
Kristen, I love quilting. In fact, I just started a new quilt this week. I'll post a pic of the topper when I finish it sometime this weekend. Look at some books like Super Simple Squares by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith. You may not like the fabrics they chose for their quilts, but imagine your own fabrics in these quilts. I find that it's easiest to start off with simple block patterns like and Irish Chain. I think you will be addicted soon. There's something about a building block of squares of all sizes. I hope you enjoy quilting as much as sewing children's clothes. Clothes seem so hard compared to quilting!
Check out Fatquartershop.com They always have collections of coordinating fabrics that you can buy in yardage, pre-cut squares or strips (called jellyrolls). It's a fun website for the quilter! Have fun!
That came out great!! You are ambitious!!
peace,
amy
i love your fabric choices and how the lines and patterns flow together so nicely. beautiful! :)
It's beautiful Kristen!
Hi Kristen, It's me again. After I went to bed last night, I thought about something else I wanted to write. Don't worry about making your quilts "perfect". They sometimes have more character when they're not. I read somewhere that Amish quilters always put in one mistake in their quilts to show humility. As you can tell, I love quilting!
So funny that you and Margaret are both doing this...I just got invited to join some Catholic moms, locally who are willing to teach me...
Hi there. I just found your blog again. I thought you had stopped. I have missed your blog. Good luck quilting. Check out my blog. In the midst of a move, I still must quilt. Blessings.
Post a Comment