I've started three more quilting projects, picked up a knitting project, pulled out my crochet hooks and even started practicing some new embroidery stitches. It's a craft-a-paloza in my apartment these days. But I have actually finished something. I finally picked back the corners on Moulins Rouge and sewed them back properly. It's not perfect, but it's finished.
It's been washed and has that nice crinkly look to it.
Solid pink for the backing.
I just LOVE scrap quilts and was glad to have so many different kinds of pinks and reds to use.
- The colors, obviously
- The wavy quilting lines
- It's a classic pattern, and I just love the simplicity of it.
What I learned from this quilt:
- I've 'learned' this a couple of times but I really need to put more time, effort, and planning into the actual quilting part. Well, either that or I need to accept that I don't particularly enjoy quilting and find a professional quilter to start sending all my finished tops to. But I'm an independent sort, and I take pride in doing things myself, so if I'm going to be a quilter, I may as well *be* a quilter and put as much time into the quilting as I do the piecing.
- It didn't occur to me until *after* I'd pieced all those bright reds with the crisp whites into a beautiful top that I hadn't pre-washed anything and could very well end up with a big pink bleeding mess the first time I threw it in the wash. Either the gods of quilting were smiling down at me or the fabric manufacturers have mastered the science of red dyes. But miraculously it didn't bleed. I'm torn, I don't usually pre-wash my fabrics, but in the future I'll at least do a little test with reds or hand dyed fabrics.
Overall, I'm really happy with how this one turned out, simple, quick, cute and very fun. I'm so happy to have my first finished object of the summer. I hope to have several more FOs before classes start again!
4 comments:
Well I really like this one too because I love pink and red. I think you are beating yourself up too much about the quilting. The only way you improve is by doing more so each one will be a little better than the last one. The better the thread matches the colors in the quilt the less obvious the quilting is too. I think the style of quilting looks great on this one.
Truly beautiful!
I find some of my cheaper fabric from Joanns bleeds like a mo-fo. I guess they sell those color catcher things, but I've never actually used them.
If you ever do want to farm out your quilting let me know. My mom just bought herself a giant machine quilter. I don't know what she'd charge, but she used to hand quilt for $5/sq. foot back in the day...so I imagine she'd be cheap--lol!
Thanks Kaye... I have used a color catcher before and it worked well, I just didn't have one around this time so stuck with cold water and crossed my fingers.
There's a gal here (friend of a friend) who does long-arm quilting at a reasonable cost. I'm thinking of sending her my long neglected Flying Geese quilt... but I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
So glad I found your blog. I was searching on google for pictures of the 2011 Sisters quilt show and happened upon your blog that way.
And congratulations on getting a quilt into the show. It's gorgeous! Love your colours.
Thanks for sharing the eye candy! I couldn't make it this year but plan on being at Sisters in 2012.
Mavis
www.dayspringquilter.blogspot.com
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