Finished Quilts

Three years ago my biggest sewing accomplishment was turning a towel into a curtain. Now, hardly a week goes by that I'm not turning on one of my sewing machines to work on another bib, hooded towel, or quilt.

Here's my progression so far!

Quilt 1 - "Bandanas and Denim" - Fall/Winter 2010 

This was a 'quick turn' quilt made for our nephew, Z. Most of the fabric came from my mother's stash.

Quilt 2 - "Sheep in the Hills" - Winter 2010

These sheep were made for my godson (a.k.a. "Agent N"). My first, and only, time using store bought bias tape for binding. My first time buying fabric. I had no idea sizing, or how to apply bias tape. The layers are more like appliqued than quilted as I didn't don't really know how to do curves (yet).

Quilt 3 - "Wonky Stacked Coin" - Summer 2011 through Summer 2012

This wonky stacked coin quilt was made for Baby C #1, whose parents have been our friends since high school, our past roommates, and are actually the people responsible for my husband and I going on our first date (and the shoes I wore on my wedding day). This was my first time making my own bias tape - which was a huge improvement on the process. This quilt spent a lot of time sitting in a drawer since I started making things for Baby C before she existed.

Quilt 4 - "Giant Star" Spring 2012

Another quick turn quilt, this time made from pieces of thrifted sheets. It's my largest finish to date, approaching 'full' size. It's slightly more quilted now than the image shows, but I'm still constantly debating whether it ought to have more quilting or not.

Quilt 5 and 6 - "April Showers May Flowers I and II" - April and May 2012

Two quick turn quilts that started as some clearance charm squares. Charm squares quickly became disappearing nine patch blocks, were backed with clearance coordinating yardage, and voila! - two lovely (1) reminders  (2) that beauty can come from difficult times.

Quilt 7 - "Procrastination Half Squares" - Summer/Fall 2012

Procrastination started with more clearance fabric from the same shopping trip as the April Showers May Flowers quilt. And yes, at last I got around to making some more bias binding. It's about time! So far, this one has stayed with me and it's likely to remain so thanks to a little basting/quilting mishap on the back.

Quilt 8 - "Monkeys and Bananas" - June 2012

This little quilt was made in just over a day for a baby shower present for the daughter of one of my oldest school friends, this one is certainly my fastest finish - both in terms of time that passed during the project and actual time spent on it. It was also my first time using a preset, decorative stitch in the quilting process - something I have been looking for a reason to do again!

Quilt 9 - "Improv. Jungle Blocks" - Summer/Fall/Winter 2012

Once again, the fancy animal/print fabric used in Jungle Blocks started as a packaged set purchased on sale. Sat in the stash for quite a while, but summer 2016 saw it off as a baby shower gift.

Quilt 10 - "Happily Ever After" Quilt - Summer 2012 through Feb. 2013

The Happily Ever After quilt was started in Summer of 2012 shortly after meeting the new-to-me half of the lovely couple I made it for, I finally finished it (including washing) only a few weeks before it was time to give it away! Sadly, the mud and snow made getting final photos difficult, but I still love it. It is my largest by far (just under 80 x 88) and my first time using heat/steam activated basting instead of pins. (Hey, I slept under this quilt on a guest bed in summer 2016 and can say it is a nice weight and perfect temperature!)

Quilt 11 - Reunion Whack for Baby S II  - Winter 2012

Finished (despite machine tension issues that nearly destroyed it and me) and mailed off to welcome the newest member of a dear friend's family, "Agent S."

Quilt 12 - "Zoo Square" - Summer/Winter 2012

Zoo Squares was finished just in the nick of time to keep that 2012 marker, this flannel backed sweetie is joining Jungle Blocks (#9) in waiting for a home. After I'd just about given up on this one and put it in the 'donate' pile, I actually gave it away at a baby shower in summer 2016. I have just got to learn to be patient, because it was exactly what I would have done for them even if I'd had all the time in the world.

Quilt 13 - "Camping Patches" - Summer 2012 - Jan 2013

I'd so hoped the Camping Patchwork would be my last finish of 2012 - but I wasn't quite fast enough. I haven't shipped it yet, but I think this one is going off in an autumn 2016 Welcome Baby "Agent A" package (though I might wait until the "A" part of that is official, since names have a way of changing between the 'plan' and the actual arrival!).

Quilt 14 - "Doodle Whack" - December 2012 through May 2013

When holiday travel plans fall through, I spend that extra gas money on fabric - and love the results (though nothing beats family time). This one sits on my sofa and gets used almost once a week. I love it, but wish it was just a little bigger.

Quilt 15 & 16 - "Twin Quilts: Quilt A and Quilt B" - January 2013 through April 2013

  

The Twin Quilts were made for a set of twins who will be joining the family sometime in the spring of 2013. The two quilts don't quite match, but are very similar. All the fabrics used came from the same collection of fabric - Noteworthy by Sweetwater.

Not Quite Quilts, but here anyway: Two Denim Blankets

With no top stitching through all layers except around the edges, I wouldn't call these quilts... They were a lot of fun to work on - stitching and top stitching all the denim together especially - but I didn't have the fight in me to try to feed the thick denim and fleece back through my machine for unneeded quilting. One of these also sits on my sofa and is used regularly.

Quilt 17 - Monkey Blocks / Monkey Whack

Almost completely from my stash (all but the binding), and built with no recipient yet, this quilt is joining the stash to wait for a baby shower invite.

Quilt 18 - "Chocolate Covered Cherries" (Disappearing 9 Patch on Point) 6/13 through 8/13

Started with the goal of using up some of my pink and red stash, this one didn't use up quite as much as I'd hoped - once I'd added the unifying pieces of a charm pack of Cherry on Top and the chocolate frosting border. I did use up quite a bit, but I still have lots more to find ways to use. Baby shower gift in winter 2015. And a perfect match for the baby if I do say so myself.

Quilt 19 - Happy Go Lucky (look up) through 12/13 

Piecing this beauty took next to no time, and even the fun but slightly more complex than usual quilting didn't take that long. Most of the time on this one's 'in progress' range comes from my extreme hesitance to wash it. I finally got over my fear, thanks to several color catchers, and still couldn't be happier with how this one turned out. I finally gave this one away to a special little friend. It just about broke my heart, but it's really not mine to keep.

Quilt 20 - Semi-Sampler 2/13 through 12/13

This little sampler quilt started out as something to do to keep me from working on bigger quilts, and to try to challenge myself to try more complicated looking blocks. The process hit a lot of bumps, since I was working without any kind of plan, but it eventually turned into something I'm quite fond of. This one went off to be part of a 'Welcome Baby' package when one of my high school / college friends had a baby! 

Quilt 21 - Bluebird Park Star 3/14 through 4/14

The perfect pattern and the perfect charm pack - plus a little extra yardage - and everything just came together to be an adorable square quilt. As much as I love the front, my favorite part might be the hedgehog print flannel back - or maybe just how well they go together despite not being from the same fabric line. I'm still trying to get up to picking more fabrics - and relying less on precuts to get pieces that work well together. This was a good baby step. Speaking of babies, this one is waiting to find out where it's headed but I don't think it'll be sitting in my cedar chest very long at all! Sent to our Niece C in 2015.

Quilt #22 - Multi Starburst 2/14 through 5/14

Begun with high hopes, it looks like this one is headed exactly where I want it to go. My scrappiest project to date - both front side and back side - and probably my most colorful as well, but all the more loved for it. This one went off to an honorary goddaughter / honorary niece G in 2014.

Quilt #23 - Sweet Serenade Nine Patch on Point 4/14 through 6/14

Although it might be a little sedate for the family I chose this fabric for - both parents being highly musical and highly artistic - I knew the moment I saw it that I wanted to hold on to this fabric until they presented me with an opportunity to use it for them. Once news of the upcoming opportunity arrived, I took inspiration from an on point quilt displayed at my local quilt shop and quickly finished the top. By the time I had bound this quilt, I was questioning whether it was good enough to give -- I'd rather fallen out of love with it. That completely changed when I took it outside for some photos. Whether it was seeing it in a new light or taking a step back to look at the quilt as a whole instead of each stitch, I was completely hooked again and no longer question whether it's good enough. I can't wait to give this one away as part of the Welcome Baby D package that I need to have ready by the end of June! -- Yep, off to Baby D #1.

Quilt #24 - S'more Love 03/06/14 through 8/11

I thought this was going to be a baby quilt, but after having a baby, it is too small. It technically fits within the 'baby quilt' size guidelines, but no. It's going to become a doll quilt or something.

Quilt #25 - Christmas Star 

This imperfect star quilt was a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law in December of 2014. Although working with the fabrics was a challenge -- for unknown reasons they puckered and ran in odd ways -- the finished quilt was a beauty and went over really well. As did the coordinating table runner. I love the pattern and the way everything turned out enough that I would absolutely make it again -- and probably will for future gifts.

Quilt #26 - Wonky Star Sampler Quilt 9/2014 through 4/2015

I began this wonky star sampler to see what I could do -- and more or less impressed myself. I love a good wonky star, and this quilt gave me a chance to work with a stack of fabrics I've been keeping locked away for the perfect project. Even though I keep saying I'm never going to work with a white top again (so hard to photograph), I'm already looking for a reason to make another on of these, but first I have to see about giving this one away. Given away summer 2016 for Baby C #2.

Quilt #27 - Autumn Woods Patchwork & Panel Quilt 03/2015 through 04/2015

The fabric used in this little quilt was always intended to be used as a baby quilt at my house -- and fortunately, I went with something very simple and easy to pull together. That's the right kind of project to choose when pregnant and exhausted... but simple and easy sometimes yields wonderful results -- and I think this is one of those times.

Quilt #28 - Flannel + Minky Quick Quilt 03/2015 through 05/2015

There may have been an earlier plan for something more complicated and interesting, but this quilt turned out to be about going with the flow and making something that worked -- a good thing it was another to stay with me for the baby's room!

Quilt #29 - Oceans Quilt - 05/2015 through 06/2015

The 'Oceans Quilt' was made over the course of a month for one of my friends (and college roommates) and her soon-to-arrive child. Although I absolutely love how this quilt turned out in the end, the truth is that it was supposed to be much simpler and much easier to make. Lots of math mistakes on my part (I'd like to blame my own pregnancy, but the truth is I simply wasn't thinking things through) led to many, many changes as I worked, but I think each change added to the complexity and beauty of the top. And honestly, while a perfect finish is sometimes fun and often needed, I also not-so-secretly sometimes enjoy the creative challenge of having things turn out not-quite as planned. Given to Baby J.

Quilt #29 - Embraceable / Serviceable Persimmon Strip Quilt (finished 06-10-2016)

A quick finish for a quilt that has hung around my house too long waiting for binding -- and off the next day to a baby shower along with a little lamb and a copy of my baby's very favorite book.

Quilt #30 - Modern Purple Baby Quilt

Intended for a baby cousin who currently lives overseas, I don't know if this one will ever get to her or if I'll end up needing something much bigger by the time I get a chance to meet her!

Quilt #31 - Starburst for CQG - 01/16 through 01/17

A long process for a little quilt, but a lot of special touches make this a new favorite. I think I'll be incorporating black and white binding attached with colorful thread in more quilts in the future, and all thanks to this one!

Quilt #32 -- Split Rail for the Bridesmaid's Baby 

A quick quilt for a bridesmaid's baby. It doesn't match their very soft and sweet nursery... but it's loved anyway.

Quilt #33 -- The Not Sleeping Bag  

This was supposed to be a sleeping bag for my toddler. Except he's only about an inch smaller than I was when I went to kindergarten, so by the time I got it done, it was going to be too small. So it's a quilt after all!

Quilt #34 -- Confetti Quilt 

This is made with the very last of the scraps of the Happily Every After Quilt (#10) and a whole lot of neutral scraps I had. It took several attempts to get it to where I was happy with the finished size as well as the size of the confetti flakes, but ultimately, I'm totally in love with it.

Quilt #35 -- Dresden Daisy 

I really pushed myself to do something special with the quilting on this one, and I love the result. This one has an intended person, but I don't know if I'll ever have a reason to send them another baby quilt -- and I'm not sure it can ever belong to anyone else. I promise it is bound -- in a dark brown that matches the Dresden centers. I just have never bothered to take another photo of it!! Whoops.

Quilt #36 -- Big Plus Quilt

Once I actually started on this pattern, it happened quickly. I have no idea why I procrastinated so long! This one is waiting for a baby shower that should happen within the next few months.

Quilt #37 -- Crow Sampler (Inherited Quilt) 

From a quilt I didn't like much to one of my very favorites, all with a whole lot of new quilting and a whole lot of time!

Quilt #38 -- Alpharetta's Butterflies (Inherited applique quilt)

All I did was baste and quilt this one, but it's very special and I will always cherish it.