New Year's Quilting Resolutions!

As we head into 2015, I thought I'd share something I was particularly proud of this year: I finally finished the Kaffe Fassett bed quilt I started in 2011!  I'm embarrassed that it took me that long, though to be fair this was the first traditional quilt I'd ever made, and for some reason I decided that as a novice it was a good idea to make a king size quilt...anyway, I'd pieced all the squares together to make the quilt top by late 2011 (stage 1), but I think it must have languished in a corner for a while.  Then at some point I layered up the quilt with the wadding and backing fabric (which in itself I had to piece together a bit as it was so big) and added strips of the same backing fabric to the edges of the quilt top (stage 2).  Stage 3 was hand-quilting on the diagonal.  With a few days off this Easter I finished off the hand-quilting and bound the edges (stage 4), and it was done!  Here are some shots of the finished quilt on our spare bed.  And what of my 2015 resolutions?  Well about 18 months ago (yes, really) I bought some sea-inspired fabrics on a trip to Florida, intending to make a lap or throw-size quilt.  And with a few days off over Christmas I'm just getting started...

2012 Festival of Quilts

I visited the Festival of Quilts at the NEC on Friday, where I'd entered a quilt (based on rock layers) - see photos.  I wasn't as pleased with my quilt this year (only leaving a month to make it didn't help!), but am inspired for a new quilt for next year.  So as well as looking at all the quilts on display, I used the opportunity to stock up on threads, silk fibres and yarns for my next one.  And I'm determined to start earlier next time..!

Quilt Diary - Weeks 3 & 4

The last 2 weeks have been all about sewing the quilt - firstly sewing some wavy quilting lines with embroidery thread, and then sewing lots and lots of crystal beads on top.  My deadline for getting the quilt to the post office was today, and to be honest I would liked to have sewn a few more lines of beads on (as well as more quilting lines), but I ran out of time and had to stop (I was also running out of beads, despite making 2 orders!).  Still, I guess I should be pleased that I managed to make a quilt in such a relatively short time.  The next time I see it will be at the Festival of Quilts in August, so the final quilt will be revealed then!