Boy, this sure feels good -- taking a just finished quilt out of the dryer is one of the best feelings!!
When I started this quilt over the summer, I thought I'd complete it in a snap, especially considering that the quilt top was just about finished as soon as I started it. My plan was to use it in my living room on my brown slipcovered chair. Well, since then, I got sidetracked and have totally redecorated my living room, including recovering that chair. When I chose to change things up in there, finishing that quilt was no longer a priority.
Now I think I'm going to use this quilt in my bedroom. It's the perfect size for covering up with when napping (wish I had more time for that!).
While working on this quilt, I came to the conclusion that I am a sloppy quilter, and this doesn't bother me one bit. Nothing is completely square, there are puckers on the front and wonky quilting lines. No worries, I think that makes my quilt even more beautiful. All those imperfections are proof that this was made by hand. My hands. There is beauty in imperfection.
For me, making a quilt is not just craft, but an artistic expression. I don't like to use quilt patterns, I find the freedom of random piecing exciting. I love mixing color and pattern. Very often, I am surprised at the outcome - I like not knowing what the quilt will look like in the end.
Right now, making quilts satisfies me. Everything about the process is interesting - picking out the colors, the fabrics, how they will go together, the backing, and the quilting process itself. I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot more of these...after I get a few more of my completed quilt tops made into quilts, that is.
**a few details: the back was pieced using the off whites that weren't the correct match to my original sashing. When I ran out of the off white sashing while piecing the front, I didn't bring a sample with me to match up in the store, so I ended up buying 3 different off whites. Who knew there were so many off whites?? I quilted the quilt using straight lines all around the perimeter (on the sashing), then I divided the quilt into 4 quadrants and did a big square spiral in each. I used off white thread for the top with red thread in the bobbin. My tension was a little off, allowing the red thread to show through on the front, but that didn't bother me. I washed the quilt with vinegar because I was afraid that the red would bleed on the off white - it seemed to do the trick because there was no bleeding. Overall, I'm very pleased with my work!!
