Here's a quilt that I should have been able to make in a day...or even a week. Instead it took me more like 6 months. I made this quilt for my husband's brother and his wife who just had their first baby girl.
I asked Kylie (my sister-in-law) what kind of quilt she wanted me to make, and she told me she wanted a stripey quilt, with quilting that was similar to what I did on the Beach Umbrellas quilt. I asked her to send me some paint chips in the colors she wanted, and she did...cute pinks and greens. So for the next few weeks I shopped online, trying to find the perfect fabrics for the easiest quilt in the world to make. Previously when I have made stripey quilts, I have started with one main floral...usually it is a busier print, that has all the colors in the quilt (see examples here and here)...then I get coordinating tone on tone or 2 color prints in various patterns. Easy right? Wrong. For this quilt I found a few darling floral prints that I thought could have worked, but they always had some extra color like red or brown that Kylie didn't want to use. So due to a major fabric finding FAIL...I refused to start making the quilt for like 2 more months while I searched (in vain) for the perfect fabric. Finally the baby's due date was creeping up on me. I had a couple great fabrics --mostly from Sugar and Spice by the Quilted Fish for Riley Blake, and a couple Michael Miller prints. I wished I had more fabrics, but I knew I needed to just get it done, so I decided to grab a couple of solids to fill the gaps and just slap the dang thing together. And at that point I was sure that I was going to hate the finished quilt...self-fulfilling prophecy? Probably.
The piecing took me like 5 days...Five. For a stripey quilt. I did it while we were in Florida...and I pretty much had to force myself to work on it. I don't know what my problem is...but when I am not in love with a quilt it is hard to motivate myself to work on it. The quilting, however, was a different story...I was actually excited to quilt it. In my opinion, if you've seen one of my stripey quilts, you've seen them all...so I wanted to make the quilting on this one really different than what I have done in the past (flower pantographs) to make it more fun.
You probably have to blow this picture up to really see it well, but I decided to quilt different designs into each row. To give it a similar feel to the quilting on the Beach Umbrellas Quilt, I did curves and swirls and loops. And it was REALLY fun to do. I used rulers a lot with a little freehand thrown in here and there, tons of marking, and it only took me 2 or 3 days to do the quilting...hmmm...interesting. Here are some closeups:
Now that it is all done, it's not too bad. I think the quilting saved it. :) And hopefully Kylie will love it!
I do love the simplicity of strip quilts because they tend to last longer into maturity, but DANG that quilting! It really does make it something special, doesn't it!? I'm sure she'll love it. I love those, um, circle things with the diamond in it! (I'm so technical)
ReplyDeleteCynthia, this is the sweetest quilt!!! I love the colors and the stripes and the quilting is awesome! I tell ya, if Kylie doesn't like it, somebody should slap her around a bit! LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the quilting you've done on this quilt. Very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI REALLY like this quilt. And the quilting just makes it POP!!
ReplyDeleteohhhh..so sweet !!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out beautifully! The fabrics and the quilting are great.
ReplyDeleteI actually really like the fabrics you chose! But the quilting is amazing and I'll agree that it really makes the quilt.
ReplyDeleteThat is some SERIOUS quilting! She's going to love it!
ReplyDeleteI really really like this quilt! The quilting is gorgeous!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with the fabrics, and that quilting is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I love pink & green. The quilting is great, congrats on a wonderful finish!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she's going to love it. I sure do!
ReplyDeleteYour colors are really pretty. Your quilting is just amazing. How could anyone not love this quilt? Not possible.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree...the quilting on it made it something unique;) Great job;) And I know about the not being in love with a quilt and it taking forever to get done;) Hey, and I noticed you are developing quite a following;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Quilting!!
Very cute! I love the colors and the quilting is AWESOME!!!
ReplyDeleteNot too bad!...It is beautiful, from the fabric selection to the quilting. I think your solids help show off more of the quilting pattern, which you did an amazing job on. Lucky little baby!!
ReplyDeleteI have had a similiar experience with a baby quilt. If it is for someone really special, the pressure you feel to make it right is greater/ And then when it doesn't come together, it's maddening. The end product you made is exquisite! I love this quilt. Thanks for sharing the process and the inspiring results!
ReplyDeleteYou're too hard on yourself. I love this quilt and the fabrics you chose. Very darling baby quilt. I looked back at the other (very nice by the way) to see if you used a pattern or shared how you made it, even looked under free patterns but couldn't find it. Have you shared it somewhere? I love the quilting, makes a cute quilt into something very special.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt looks great, love all of the designs. You are too hard on yourself, it is just adorable.
ReplyDeleteAnother winner Cynthia...beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo truly beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! I seriously need to step up my quilting! Wow.
ReplyDeleteYou can be sure Kylie will love it.
ReplyDeleteDo you make and sell these quilts??!!! Your work is beautiful very talented!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCynthia, I love this, so of course Kylie and her daughter will as well. (smile).
ReplyDeleteYou are a genius! Thanks for sharing your process and thoughts from beginning to end. It's comforting to know that even highly gifted people struggle. I always imagine these ideas just pop out of your brain while you are making breakfast or something equally routine.
Loraine W