Working on a quilt

My beloved pincushions from my dear blogging friends are helping me in my latest projcet. The square log cabin pincushion is from Mette and the mushroom is from Kristin. I think the presence of these gifts from such experienced and talented quilters in my sewing room is giving me courage to attempt this.

I didn't plan on it. My tummy was still growling and uncomfortable, but somehow I found myself picking out fabrics, sewing them together and making a quilt. The bright colors seemed to offer comfort and distraction. I looked into a box I've stored of charm packs, I found 3 that seemed to work together: Erin McMorris, Kaffe Fassett and a third which I don't recall.

Each part of it is so pleasurable: selecting the fabrics, arranging them, the repitition of the sewing and ironing, all the while being completely engrossed.

The best part though was when my kids came home after a Sunday matine with daddy. When they saw the quilt top all laid out on the floor just like this their eyes lit up and they exclaimed and oohhhed and ahhhed. I couldn't have been happier.

Now, as you can see I have to sew the white strips on the ends, figure out a backside and then even tougher, how to quilt it. I haven't ever made anything this big and it isn't even very large, crib size, it says on the cottong batting (60"x46"). That makes me laugh, because it seems huge to me! I think it will make a good lap quilt for the children. I rearranged the squares until my head was dizzy, and I still see some annoying repeats, but well, hopefully my eye will improve with practice.

Right now I am a little nervous about the how to make a quilt back exaclty the right size. It is just a tad bigger than my usual matryoshka dolls and a bit bigger than my comfort zone of the familiar. Just don't put any pressure on me for a deadline for being finished...

Comments

[Jamie]

The colors are beautiful. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Shannon]

I love all the bright colors. I'm sure however you decide to quilt it, it will turn out lovely. :)

[Sol Stensland]

Nydelige farger. Ikke vær nervøs for bakstykket. Lag det litts større enn toppen, og skjær til når du er ferdig å quilte. Du kan sy enkle quiltesømmer på skrå eller kanskje bare knutequilte.
Lykke til.

Hilsen Sol

[Sylvie]

I love all these bright colors. Can't wait to see how the quilting goes as I have just started working on my very first quilt too and am stressing out about the quilting.

[Una]

Det blir et vakkert teppe! Fargeterapi for små sinn:) Ja, hele arbeidet krymper i quilteprosessen, så det er lurt med ca. 10 cm kant som overskudd rundt hele toppen. Det er koselig med en fin bakside. Jeg pleier å sette sammen stoffer jeg liker, oftest bare tre eller fire i store rektangler. Det blir gøy å se resultatet! (null tidspress:)) Håper magen roer seg snart også!

[Maureen]

So very beautiful. The colors and texture blend so well together. Real eye candy!
Maureen

[vadjutka]

wow! it looks truly amazing!

[joy]

it's beautiful and I absolutely adore it! I love quilting and the beauty of random and pattern all at the same time.

[emma]

The other fabric is by Valori Wells; I think it's Sole. Have fun quilting it, thats my favourite part!

[gretchen/juneatnoon]

It's lovely.

I'm not a highly experienced quilter, and most of what I learned I did by searching online, but I can certify that it's easier than it looks. I was intimidated too, so I can say that with empathy!

Just make your quilt backing larger than the front all around, pin the layers together, do your quilting, and then trim it down to size when all three layers are together. The backing will "shrink" a little as it's pulled in by the quilting, so waiting to cut it to size until the quilting is done will ensure you get a good fit! :)

[Jennifer D]

It is wonderful. You have made great color choices.

[Andi]

It's absolutely gorgeous!!

I agree with the previous commenter.
Make the backing bigger, then trim back after the quilting.

Also, I suggest you follow Rita's basting tutorial:
http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2009/06/basting-and-batting.html

and her binding one too:
http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2009/11/binding-tutorial.html

Have fun!!
Andi :-)

[chicago sarah]

It's lovely- I didn't see the repeats. I have a very hard time putting colors/patterns together so I admire you for doing so!

[rhea]

Hi Emily!

Your quilt is lovely!

Don't worry about making the quilt back the same size as the front: the backing and batting should all be a few inches bigger than the quilt front and you will trim it down later.

That way any shifting that happens while you are quilting will be absorbed by the extra backing and batting.

Are you going to tack your binding down by hand? That's my favorite part I think: very calm and "full circle."

Lovely, lovely work.

XO,

Rhea

[Tayla B]

These colors make me happy :)

And I think it is beautiful so far. Just take it step by step. That always makes large projects much easier for me.

As far as the actual quilting goes... well I don't really know how to do that either so please share when you're finished! lol

[Beth]

Make the backing bigger and trim it after it is basted to the beautiful top you have created. Good luck and have fun! Beth

[Christina]

Oooh, so lovely! It is awesome picking out the fabrics and seeing it come together before you. Best wishes for the backing. I agree with the others, it is harder than it looks and I surprised myself with how easy it really was and how good it looked afterwards! :)

[Marit]

Emily, it is such a cheerful, happy quilt top. Have fun finishing the quilt...
; )

[Emily Moss]

Hi Marit!

Thank you so much! You are one of the people who has been inspiring me to do this project! Thank you for the inspiration! Your spider web quilt is a masterpiece!!!

Looking forward to seeing what you will make next!

Hugs from Emily

[Florence]

The quilt is gorgeous - what beautiful colours and how gratifying that your children were so enthusiastic.

I was about to give exactly the same advice as June at Noon - that's how I do it too. I also tape the backing to the floor with masking tape, then use some basting spray to stick the batting temporarily to it, then another layer of spray to stick the top smoothly to that...then starting in the centre I pin it all over with quilting pins, working my way outwards in circles. The masking tape is the important bit...everything needs to be completely smooth at the start.

I've always found that odd about the crib size too - it almost fits a single bed.

Lordy, you're so right though...it is a little bigger than a matryoshka! x

[mereteveian]

Åja, alle "gamle merker" sier at bakstykket og vatten bør være noe større før herligheten quiltes. Og alle har vi vel (vi lappesøms-quiltere) startet med rette linjer?
Fargesans og fargeglede har du, - så flott toppen din ble!

[Julie]

What great bright colors its going to be such a cute quilt. I aways make my back 3 to 5 inches larger. Then after it is quilted I cut it down to match the front before putting the binding on!

[britt]

i love the mushroom pin cushion!!! where did you get it???

[britt]

ok. brain fart!! ha ha me. i see now where you got it!!! read britt, read.

[Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY]

This is really gorgeous. Such pretty fabrics.

[Rachael Rabbit]

Beautiful! I'm too much of a glutton and have to stop working for a cookie if the tummy growls too much!

[Beth]

Hi, Emily,

I wanted to see if I can use a picture of your creations for a posting about matreshka dolls on Acorn Pies. Please get in touch with me to discuss the possibility! love, Beth

[Emily Moss]

Hello Beth,

Lovely to get your comment. You are always so sweet and leave me some nice words on my blog. Thank you so much.

I would be happy to appear on your blog. Thank you! It will be fun to see your post.

We are getting hit by quite a snowstorm today. It is blowing hard and really coming down. I wish I could just stay in today, but I have to take Lilly to the dentist for a checkup. After that we will have to warm up with some tea and cuddle on the sofa.

Hope that you have a fine day.
Warmly, Emily

[maya]

This is so refreshing and gorgeous! I can't wait to see it finished!

[Jean C.]

No pressure here... I too jumped in yesterday to work on a project that I really had not planned on doing. I have some old scrap squares of Valentine fabric. Black background with old time cute Valentines on it. Anyway I've been thinking that a table runner would be cute! So I will have to take pic's and post them. But I got all the way to a finished back and now have to cut out the batting. I'm hoping to quilt some Hearts on it and maybe use some of the decorative stitches on my machine here and there.
Keep up the good work... your doing fine!
If you were to do a running stitch on the inside of each block or print with a color that compliments the colors from your charms... with embrodery floss or knit crosheen or something of that sort... it would look really cute. And not difficult!

[Emily Moss]

Hi Jean,

You are so sweet. Thanks for your words of encouragement. It helps having so many friends to urge you on.

I loved hearing aobut your scraps of Valentines fabrics and how they are fast on their way to becoming a runner. I look forward to seeing it. It seems to me that making up the front goes fairly quickly, but finding the time to finish off the backing, quilting, etc, takes some time! I loved your idea of hand quilting with embroidery floss on each block. I might just do that! And the idea of using different colors for it is great, that is perfect for the very colorful quilt.

Could you explain something thoug? What is knit crosheen?

How are you doing on your diet? This is the time of year when I notice my pants getting tighter. I simply dont get out as much and eat the same amount. I am fairly lazy. I dont like to go out so much when it is so dark and cold.

It is a delicious feeling to think of spring being on its way soon though!

I hope you are having a fine day and thanks again for your wonderful ideas!

Hugs from Emily

[sab]

wonderfull , exactly the color to work with big eyes and eat the life even the weather is not find

[xue]

i love this post & all pics, i am doing a similiar wip ( one of a few wips! ) with similiar cheery colours & pretty colours like these! i am quite lazy about basting so i use safety pins all over & this seems faster to me.