Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Grandma's Quilts
Below, are three of my grandmother's quilts that I still have. Because of her, I have always wanted to learn to quilt, but it took grandkids of my own to actually get me started.
Progress on Mystic Ribbons
I have all 24 blocks finished and have 12 sewn together in three rows of four. When this one is finished, it will have two borders...one the yellow of the lattice and the outer will match the background. Hopefully, the effect will be that of the yellow lattice with entertwinging ribbons floating on the celestial looking background. We'll see how that works out in reality.
Just a Swingin'
Of course, there are more grandbaby projects. I got a wonderful old style wind up baby swing at a yard sale for five dollars, but the seat cover was awful. I challenged myself to create the pattern and make one totally "from scratch". I also made a support pillow for his little head that matches the ruffle on the seat cover.Pounds to Quilts
(NOTE: The above is NOT my quilt. It is a picture of what my quilt will hopefully someday resemble. The picture is from page 53 of the August 2008 issue of McCall's Quilting magazine and was designed by Beth Hayes, machine quilted by Asta Dorsett and called Summer at Mom's)
This started out as a project for the HGTV message boards where a group of us are joining forces in support to lose weight. Face it, quilting isn't exactly a physically active hobby and as the quilts grow, often too do the bottoms of the quilters. So, as a reward and incentive, we have each set a quilting related thing to correspond to each pound lost.
This was supposed to be mine, with each pound lost being represented by each block made. So far I've lost six pounds and made three blocks. But, while I wasn't looking, this project got hijacked as a Christmas present. I realized this would be perfect for my mother in law. So, now it is going to be her quilt and I'll have to think of another pounds to quilts reward. Maybe a string quilt...I've been wanting to try one of those.
Here are my first three blocks.
Back to the Quilts
Finally. This is NOT for one of the grandkids. It's not for my husband. It is for ME!
I like pink and green together and have always been drawn to the Yellow Brick Road quilt pattern so I'm making myself a pink and green version. Every fabric is either a botanical or is a swirl or other look that reminds me of the ornamentation in an English Cottage Garden.
The second picture is a layout of the border fabrics. The top is finished, but still needs the borders. I'm going to try something different with this one and attempt a Celtic like twist at each corner.
Mrs. Santa
Oh my...I forgot about my real first quilt! LOL
This is a little quilt, sham, and dust ruffle that I made for a doll house that I've been working on for years (with no end in sight). It's my vision of the Santa home at the north pole. Here, Mrs. Claus pauses for a cup of warm cocoa before settling into bed for the night.
Another Non-Quilt
Since I posted the first thing I made for Grandson #2, I thought I'd post the first thing I made for Grandson #1...even before the first quilt. The second picture was taken with my new camera and it shows the true colors. Obviously, the first camera had color issues.
I sort of designed this as it went. It is basically one huge Granny Square except that every few rounds I did a few rows of Double Crochet. That created a problem of how to get back to the Granny Square stitching. I figured that out, then continued on alternating between a few rows of Granny Square, then a few rows of Double Crochet.
By the way, this is the first, last, and ONLY crocheted items you'll see from me. I finished this set, but I'll never again start a crochet project. I'll leave that to those that actually enjoy torture.
Fleece Blankie
Obviously, this isn't a quilt. But, I'm on a roll and this was the first thing I made for Grandson #2. It's a tied fleece blanket that I made for the baby shower and used it as a liner for the "bedtime basket" gift I put together.
Baby Whosit's Quilt of Many Colors
As any quilter knows, a new baby is just another great excuse to make a quilt. With grandbaby #2 on the way, I started Baby Whosit's Quilt of Many Colors, but now Baby Whosit is known as Murphy...assuming the ultrasound is correct and Grandson #2 is, in fact, a Grandson rather than a Granddaughter. Stranger mistakes have happened. We should all know in a few weeks.
The main block in this quilt is called Arkansas Crossroads. Of course, after I had most of it finished I saw a MUCH easier way of constructing the blocks from a member of the HGTV message boards.
This pattern came from a book that has long since been returned to the library or I'd give credit. The top is completely finished and it's ready to sandwich and quilt. Only five weeks until Due Day, so I'd better get to it!
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