The Quit Quilt

New Year, new you: I've started 2010 by making a change. I'm quitting a certain bad habit that I recently picked up again. The lifestyle change has left me with fidgety hands and a bit of extra time to play with so I've picked up a hobby.

I'm quilting.

Now, come with me while I show you my quilt!

..........Okay, hang on a second. Shut the door for a minute, champ. Let's talk about this. I used to post stories about Stonehenge, the Vatican, Versailles, Turkish baths, German Christmas Markets. There was even a time when I flippantly glossed over a five-day trip to Milan and the Lakes. Now I'm posting extensively about a quilt. The irony is not lost on me, folks. But bear with me. It's new and different but it's still great, I promise. And believe it or not I'm loving life as much here as I was on the Continent. In a different way, yes, but I am so enjoying it. It sounds silly but it is so, SO true!

So shut up and look at my damn quilt!

I'm going to sew a patchwork blanket, stuff it, back it, then sew a pocket and use the whole thing to cover an old but well-loved goosedown throw.

I started by washing, drying, ironing and cutting my fabric into squares:

I know, roysh? Cute 5000.

Then I laid out my pattern. Well, actually I should show you my first picture because it is indicative of the mistakes I've made in EVERY STEP of this quilt so far. I forgot a color and laid out a 4-color quilt. And it looked great. And for a brief, shining moment, I felt awesome.


Then I realized things weren't looking red enough...


Okay that's better.

Then I sewed 7 strips and ironed the hems down. It also presented its share of challenges, for example how to fill a bobbin and how to....um, hem. Hey I'm new to this!




Next I sewed the strips together, ironed the hems down...


et voila! Quilt thing!


Next step is to add a 4" border around the edges, then sew batting and a back to it. Stay tuned.


And again, SORRY ABOUT THE QUILT POST. This is where I am now! Just fillin' you in! :)