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My First Quilt Top (pic)

16 years ago

I have finally finished hand-piecing my very first quilt top. I'm going out to buy a sewing machine later this week, but intend to quilt this first one by hand, since I've come this far without a machine.

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Comments (25)

msmeow
16 years ago
Wow, very impressive for your first one! Is "Avalon" someone's name? It looks really great!

Donna
bozogardener
16 years ago
Wow, that's really impressive! My first quilt was nothing that I would show anyone. Great points and the cornerstones are so square. Great job.
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quilt top pics and thank you Sooz
Q
Comments (19)
Thanks for all the sweet responses :o) I showed Jasper the thread and he was like "duh daddy!". Yes, he is super sweet... he has spoiled me for other cats and when I meet a new cat I can't understand why they aren't as lovely and sweet as he is. I know people that actually have mean cats and I just can't understand that! I think they all need to spend time with Jasper learning to be a proper cat. I don't know how many more quilts I will make or when I will do one again, this has taken over my life for the past month! I do so love playing with both my old metal and my plastic computerized sewing machines though, so I will not stop sewing :o)
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Bargello Quilt (top only) pics
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Comments (23)
Ok, answering questions about the bargello. I did it just to do it... I like the pattern and wanted to do one for posterity. The pattern really grabbed me. A friend has a ton of quilt books and I saw it a while ago and wanted to do one. While looking up some animal print patterns/quilts someone suggested a bargello and I was renewed with trying one out. So, I had a pattern; the curve was different, but you can curve the colors anyway you like. In fact the book I have is very intimidating with amazing wall hangings and quilts, but I stuck with simple... I liked the wave look. So in wanting to do one quick/easy just for the sake of doing one; I did buy 2 jelly rolls. I needed 10 different colors and 8 strips of each color. The jelly roll provided it with a few little exceptions (but its not too too noticeable) blue instead of purple - but I was able to successfully fudge it. The pattern was easy - putting it together was easy EXCEPT having to try and deal with the mess of the uneven strips! They made the easy project difficult! I was either trying to compensate or cut off uneven and not straight strips or I was tossing them into a pile of unusable strips! Then I had to go back and try and find the least curvy/uneven strip! This was compounded when I was trying to sew the cross cut strips together b/c the strips weren't exactly 2" (sewed). So lesson learned here cut my own strips! Quit size is roughly 88" (width of 2 44" WOFs) by 80" (10 fabric types X 4 fabrics at 2Â¡Â¨). That make sense? Just another plug the pattern was EASY and putting it together was EASY but like any quilt the measuring & cutting has to be exact (I took this for granted with my jelly rolls) but it's a great pattern! It looks so complicated, but it was really simple and I think it looks more painstakingly done b/c the largest square is 2X2 inches (smallest on this one being 2"X1/2"). I'm drawn to the patterns that when you have it together it has a bigger pattern - make sense?? (for instance I like a log cabin put together as a barn raising not open windows.) I would do this pattern again I really liked it and I thought (even though itÂ¡Â¦s far from perfect) it LOOKS like it is!
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Applique quilt top (pic)
Q
Comments (31)
Well Linda, Thx much for explaining, guess I'm recognizing the genie of the kindred spirit of hand dyes. In my late teens I got into making batiks & hand dying. Later went on to textile school & continued w/ dying, some batik & silkscreening. You bet it's addictive! I had to give it up after leaving the home my folks owned (our property, so it didn't matter if I got dyes on my laundry room studio's concrete floor). I poured my leftover Perclyethlorene (dry cleaning fluid aka Perk, used to remove left over batik wax, down the slop sink, poured out leftover dyestuffs on the back lawn, not too eco-friendly was I). I gave up dying & batiking after moving into rented homes w/ mostly white sinks & fixtures. I fell back into textiles abt 10 years later after I found quilting, as I needed to get my hands back in fabrics again, someway, somehow. Oh, to thrill vicariously thru your beautiful works -- those colors of the last pic of yr. fabrics look great -- I like their intensity -- congratulations to you on such superb work!!
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Signature Quilt top - pic
Q
Comments (15)
Thank you all for your kind words. Nina and Sharon - I decided to go with the sashing fabric first then a frame of turquoise. I will have to buy more turquoise since the piece I have is too small. I am thinking of making the last border the same as the sashing with cornerstones the same as the posts. Woodsy - The signature blocks are from an exchange we did here on the forum earlier this year. Lisa organized it for us and everyone chose a color that they would make their block in. Everyone did a great job. Sharon - I took the time to go to the gallery tonight and looked at all of your beautiful work. I don't go there too often because we are on dial-up and it takes soooo long to load all of the pictures. That is also why I don't post too often but I do lurk daily! Since I am working on UFOs, I will post a picture of the completed top on Red's thread "Girls with Goals" Mary
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vicky4x4
16 years ago
I too am WOW-ed that is great. You have done an awesome job.

Vicky
toolgranny
16 years ago
Wonderful job. And, all by hand. Amazing.

What will your second project be?

Linda
damascusannie
16 years ago
I'm Impressed! What nice, nice points on those stars!

Annie
digger
16 years ago
Beautiful - much MUCH better than my first one - is Avalon in reference to Anne of Green Gables?

Digger
aka Marie in (Icy, Cold, Brown & Icky) Michigan
love2sew
16 years ago
I just love your quilt, you should be very proud. Everything is so perfect...just beautiful. TFS
Jean
stella526
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks so much! It's very encouraging to hear that other, more experienced quilters think it looks okay. I am happy with how it's turned out, and it will be hard to give it away since I've grown rather attached to it. It is for my sister's first baby, due this April. She recently found out that she's expecting a little girl, and will be naming her Avalon. I haven't told my sister about the quilt yet, just because I had no idea whether it would be presentable. I think I'm actually going to have it done in time for her baby shower, though. I'm very excited for her to see it.
mayme
16 years ago
Beautiful job for your first quilt. Can't wait
to see what you do next!
Mayme
easystitches
16 years ago
Very Nice!! Your points are perfect!
Your Sister will love it! Jill
nanajayne
16 years ago
You have something to be very proud of. Such a nice job and for someone so special. I am glad you will be hand quilting it as it will add to its heiloom quility. Your niece will cherish it in the yours to come as I know your sister will.
My first quilt 30 yrs. ago was also hand piece and hand quilted, and though I have made many more that one will always be special. Jayne
redpenny
16 years ago
You have done an awesome job!
Red
ddavisgray
16 years ago
WoW!! You are a brave soul!

What a great job you've done. All By Hand!!

Your Sister and the baby, Avalon, will cherish it forever.

I applaud youdoris
wendyfaye
16 years ago
Very nice job. I especially like your sashing. Lucky baby.

Faye
gerizone5
16 years ago
Beautiful job and a beautiful quilt.
fran1523
16 years ago
Your quilt is beautiful. Great job.
geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
16 years ago
Great job, Stella!!! What quilting design do you plan to put in the plain yellow blocks?

SharonG/FL

Marie, I used to live in MI..I understand how you feel..@:)
suellen_delawares
16 years ago
Beautiful! Great quilt making and I love the colors.
Suellen
day2day
16 years ago
You did a great job. You should be very proud. Lucky baby. Hope to see more of your work in the future.
~Geraldine
kathryni
16 years ago
What a beautiful quilt!
Kay
sew_self-taught
16 years ago
Holy Mackerel! ItÂs perfect! You should be so proud of yourself. Well done. I canÂt wait to see whatÂs next.

Nina
sunnycentralfl
16 years ago
Congratulations! It is beautiful!

Gwen
cziga
16 years ago
Beautiful quilt top!!! And especially done by hand. As a hand piecer myself, I know from experience how difficult it is to get perfect points, and yours look wonderful.
Nancy Morris
16 years ago
Looks like you did a really good job. I am sure your hand quilting will be equally as wonderful. The layout is great and the colors really pop. I like hand quilting as it seems relaxing. I have been practicing on machine quilting my tops but I will usually put some hand quilting in like one block in the center. Great job!
Nancy (Stitches)
laurainsdca
16 years ago
Oh, it's presentable all right! That quilt is gorgeous. Can't believe that is a "first" effort -- AND hand pieced, no less!!! VERY nice. Love the stars and the sashing. She will LOVE it!!!!

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