planning a quilt with James










This week, I have barely seen my children because my work has completely taken over. I am not complaining, it has been a rewarding work week despite the unusually long hours well above my usual workload. We are just about to finish an intensive once a year face to face teaching week with our students (the rest of the course is online). It is a most interesting week and our speakers come from all over the world. One speaker is a surgeon in a remote clinic in the Thai rainforest. He is pure amazing. I am glad that Richard was able to be at home for the James and Alistair. I am a bit miffed to hear that he provides far more exiting after school snacks than I do! He also managed to get James to take notes for his weekly Victorian research task without causing a major meltdown. Back to oatcakes and apples next week, with a touch of tantrum thrown in for good measure.

Despite the long working hours, I managed to squeeze in a few minutes of creativity every day. It keeps me happy and quite possibly sane although my family may tell you otherwise. I paid teenagers to walk younger siblings to and from activities and clubs so I could take my bra off, put my pj's on and knit or sew. I'll show you my first 2018 wardrobe essential shortly but today I want to talk about my next quilt project.

Now that I finished my own quilt, I am keen to get started with James' quilt. The internet is an incredible resource for anyone seeking inspiration. I spent many happy snippets of time looking at the most beautiful quilts all round the world wide web. James gets easily overwhelmed when faced with too much choice (who doesn't?) and I narrowed the options down to three designs that I know I will enjoy making and that I thought he might like. All three include design elements I have not used before, which is important for me. James wants a colourful log cabin quilt just like this. I am pleased because I wanted to make a log cabin quilt for ages.

We then spent a good hour choosing fabrics from my fat quarter and small pieces of remnants boxes. I was surprised by his choices, he chose quite a lot of florals. I would have chosen very differently for him. I am glad I asked him to choose! I suggested he choose maybe 20 designs but he was so exited, he found it difficult to limit himself to this number and chose a total of 51 different fabrics. I am secretly quite pleased of course, the more the merrier. I don't want impose my own preference for the colourful riotous quilt on anyone but I am glad someone in the house shares my love for strong colours and eclectic mixes of designs. Both Sam and Annie have a big need for things to match - for their own quilts, they both chose an entire fabric range with well coordinated fabrics. I didn't even suggest to go through my stash boxes to them because I knew they would not particularly enjoy it. I might have gotten away with it with Sam but I have a vast number of floral and otherwise girly fabrics, which put him off. I'll be curious to find our where Alistair fits in when it is his turn to have a quilt made for him.

What do you think of James' choice? I think I might have the sneak in a few more solids to give the quilt a bit of balance. Do you agree? What would you do? Some of the pieces are very small (strategically folded to the size of a folded fat quarter) and wont't go far and I might have to choose a few additional fabrics that can substitute when one of James' favourites is all used up. It will be fun project and I am really looking forward to getting started!

Have a good weekend when it comes. xx




Comments

  1. It will be lovely for you to work on while he looks over your shoulder as I’m sure he will. Go with his choices and as you say just insert a few solids to make up the numbers. I’m off to click on your link. Never made a quilt and every time I see yours I feel it’s time. Maybe this year! Have a restful weekend. Bx

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  2. My goodness what a beautiful quilt, I can totally see why you were inspired bu it. Love the fabric choices he made so bright and cheerful. I was also impressed by the speakers, I would loved to have heard what the surgeon fro a remote village in the rainforest had to say. Good luck with the tantrums as they go back to normal service with the snacks.

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  3. Interesting color and pattern choices, going to be a very busy quilt. I don't think I've ever seen a log cabin quilt so I went to look at the one you linked.

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  4. I think he did really well with the fabrics. Quilts should be eye-catching and cheerful. It sounds like you've been really busy at work but it sounds really interesting and educational too. I had to laugh at the snacks; here, they dread Daddy snacks because they're usually things like prunes and nuts. He's concerned about their digestion in ways I just don't have time for, ha.

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  5. This is not only going to be a beautiful quilt, but it will hold so many wonderful memories for both of you . . . what a sweet way to share your love.
    Have a great weekend and happy quilting.
    Connie :)

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  6. It's going to be gorgeous. Thank goodness you asked him for his input. I'm glad you've enjoyed your busy week, but hope things are less demanding next week.

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  7. It’s so lovely to work with someone on quilting projects, I love the chosen fabrics!

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  8. I was surprised by the fabrics James chose too, but what a great selection he made. Personally, I wouldn't replace any of them (or add) as those were his choices... I also noted that the link you provided to the log cabin quilt shows a quilt that doesn't feature any plain fabrics but still looks great! My opinion doesn't count for much though, being someone who can't even sew a button on a cardigan let alone design and make a quilt!

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  9. I think your son's fabric choices are wonderful, so colorful and eclectic, they will make a magical quilt! I look forward to seeing how it comes together. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. I think James has excellent taste, I love all that he picked. It is going to be a beautiful quilt, can you say that with a boy? How about a manly quilt. Have a great weekend.

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  11. I really like the quilt that you've made for yourself. James had the choice from what he saw was available and he's chosen some lovely colours and patterns.
    I've just asked my 17 year old son whether he'd be happy with those colours/patterns at that age and he said yes, because -
    a) I would've made it for him and
    b) he would've wanted one similar to mine (if I had one like yours).
    I'm not sure that I'd change his palette at all. My younger son was a nightmare at choosing things and being happy with the choices he'd made. Looking forward to seeing it's progress. Cx

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  12. Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing James' quilt progress. His design and fabric choices look well matched and I'm sure he'll be delighted with the end result. Good to hear all the hard work for the course paid off. In my old job, we delivered online courses to oversees students which involved a final week in Malaysia. Somehow, I never got to go!

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  13. I really like his choices and would be tempted to make it just out of what he wants. One of my fave things about quilts is how you can shove all sorts of apparently opposing colours and patterns together and they work. When I made J's going away to uni quilt I took her with me to choose her colours and, like you, was so pleased I had because she went for the exact opposite of what I would have chosen for her! When I did F's quilt I chose for him because he would have hated spending an hour in a fabric shop. It ended up with a medieval feel (appropriate as he's studying archaeology) and he loved it (phew). With L I think I will give him the choice out of some I buy and bits and bobs I have in my stash, because he would also run a mile at the idea of spending time in a fabric shop. BTW, you've put me to shame with how orderly your fabric stash is!

    The talks sounded interesting, a stimulating work week.

    xx

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  14. What a tasteful range! I love it. I am particularly interested as my next 'giving' quilt will be for a boy too. Not a big BOY but a boy who is sensitive, interesting and clever so I am staying posted of course. Hope you are having a restful weekend. Jo xx

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  15. great choice of fabrics cant wait to watch its progress into a quilt.

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  16. It's so exciting when planning a new project and especially when it's for someone else and you've got their input. I love James' choice and I wouldn't change anything about it, it's for him and it's what he wants, it's got his stamp on it. I look forward to following your progress with it.

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  17. That is going to be a fabulous quilt and I love his choice of fabrics. It will be so cheery.

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  18. I can't believe what a wonderful range of colours he's chosen. Very balanced and tasteful. If I asked Angus, he'd just say "black and white like a badger!".....

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