My sweater quilt which I posted about awhile back is completed!
For the back I used a deliciously soft and supple velvet. It has a nice stretch making it a good match for the knitted side which is also surprisingly stretchy despite being felted. Lining this quilt would have been a bit much! The thick wool felt paired with the soft velvet is so warm as it is and has a lovely weight to it.
I did a very simple and near invisible tying of the quilt at the patch intersections. The sweater patterns seemed enough embelishment that I didn't want to have any ties showing.
Lilly likes to nestle down under the silky velvet. I learned a fair number of things making this quilt. Like you need a huge number of sweaters to make one. I thought it was going to be pretty large but it turned out to be a generous sized lap-quilt. My machine barely made it over some of the seams as some of the felted wools are so thick!
This quilt looks so warm and cozy... Lili realy seems to love it too.
Posted by: bu&bau | January 16, 2008 at 10:58 AM
This looks very promising! It was fun to hear that you and Melissa of Tiny Happy hooked up.
Have you considered coming to our Sn'B in Oslo?
http://www.snb-oslo.blogspot.com/
Posted by: strikkelise | January 16, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Hyggelig å lese om reisen din til Tiny Happy, - og dette teppet ble lekkert!
Nå har jeg satt deg på lista mi over bloggere som gjør dagen min god.
:: I've just put you on my list of bloggers who "make my day".
Posted by: mereteveian | January 16, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Oh that looks so warm - what a great idea!
Posted by: Jodie | January 16, 2008 at 11:50 AM
That's ultimate coziness and warmth in one quilt. Just meant for these weathers of rain and chill.
Posted by: Merruli | January 16, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Oh, it is gorgeous!
Posted by: Sarah | January 16, 2008 at 02:47 PM
oh my,that looks so snugly, just perfect for those cold days. I lust after the nordic sweaters that you used.They are not so easy to find here.
OT but are you originally from the USA?
Posted by: naatasha s | January 16, 2008 at 02:59 PM
ahh, so beautiful! make me want to curl up under there with a cuppa tea and a good book! It looks fantastic. One of these days I'll tackle the pile of sweaters and make this happen too. Thanks for the inspiration :)
Posted by: amanda | January 16, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Oh wow - I love that quilt - what a great idea and the deep blue velvet is just lovely!! I can understand why Lilly loves it so much!!
Posted by: Di | January 17, 2008 at 12:45 AM
That looks great. I'm making one but without the cool patterns- thanks for sharing yours. :)
Posted by: Sarah | January 17, 2008 at 05:49 AM
Oooooh how luxurious! It's absolutely beautiful! And how wonderful are you hauling that sewing machine over to Tiny Happy's new home!
Posted by: Louise | January 17, 2008 at 11:52 AM
You have inspired me also! Like one of the others said, it's hard to find such beautiful sweaters like you have in your quilt. Maybe I will just go with solid colors, you've done a great job! That was nice of you to take the fabric and machine to your friend. Bet she will enjoy it all.
Take care, the quilt turned out wonderful, and I can just see how soft it must be!
Posted by: Jean | January 17, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Emily, I have a ? Do the sweaters that are to be used in the quilt need to be 100% wool? Because I did go to the used clothing store and kept looking for wool only sweaters and I did find some plus then when I looked I also found some sweaters that people had already shrunk (probably washed in the washer, by mistake) and some of them were not 100% wool. Just wondering. Also, I had a thought that maybe instead that I might try wool from suit jackets or long wool skirts, you would get more material out of a skirt than other things. What do you think? Jean
Posted by: Jean | January 18, 2008 at 12:58 AM
This looks fantastic, what a great idea. I also loved the hearts that you made over Christmas using the jumpers - very inspirational!
Posted by: Emma | January 18, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Looks fantastic! I'd love to see a photo of the blanket laid out flat...
Posted by: mimi k | January 18, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Thank you everyone for your kind words about my quilt. Jean, I have used only 100% wool sweaters for my quilt. I don't have experience with sweaters that aren't 100% wool. Use the other sweaters too as long as the fibers have felted together. If you want to use a sweater that hasn't been felted then you must machine zigzag an area that is larger then the intended patch size so that the sweater doesn't unravel before you can stich it together. Be sure to cut around the zigzag stitches so the peice holds together.
I think that trying to use wool from jackets and skirts would be wonderful on a quilt!
I hope that this has answered your questions.
Posted by: Ravenhill | January 18, 2008 at 08:42 PM
I love this!! How did you sew them together and not get puckered seams??? I know the answer really, but I have tried to make a quilt out of sweaters and I have yet to get the tension set so the seams aren't wavy. Guess I need a little more practice! Anyway, I love your blog, I'll definately be back!
Posted by: Penny | January 18, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Thanks Emily, I will have to give it a try... I really am tempted to try the skirts and such.... so much more fabric. Of course I need to try to find yard sales etc... right now it's sooo cold out I don't think people are having any. It's been around 16 degree's.... brrrrrr! Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Jean
Posted by: Jean-o | January 19, 2008 at 04:47 AM
What a wonderful idea - that looks so warm and snug.
Posted by: dottycookie | January 19, 2008 at 11:10 PM