finishing too quickly










What a difference to the previous photos, which were taken in the full sun!

It is Monday here and the realisation of being back at work is crashing down on me hard. I came to my office to find one of my two teeny tiny space heaters gone and a new draft giving me the shivers. I guess being cold is a good way to burn of some padding :-) Anyway, I thought I'd share my new quilt with you. It warms my heart to see it and maybe some of the warmth helps to revive my stiff cold fingers....

I finished my hexagon patchwork quilt just before Christmas. It has taken the better part of a year. This was such an enjoyable project and I didn't want it to end. There is a hexagon shaped hole in my fabric of making now! I loved looking through my fabric boxes, choosing a few prints at the time and making sure to include my all time favourite fabrics. I loved sewing the hexagons together and I even loved basting. There are some lovely memories stitched in also. A holiday in Denmark for example, and a stay at home holiday with my friend Ursula. We spent many happy hours stitching and chatting. If only I could remember which rows we were working on together! I'll forever associate the humble quilter's knot with Ursula because she was blown away by its effective simplicity.

I would have liked to say that the quilt is entirely hand stitched but I sewed the binding on by machine. I just didn't fancy hours of running stitches. But I did of course stitch the binding down by hand on the back. This is probably my favourite part of making a quilt (if I had to choose one).

The wadding is luxurious, as it should be for a quilt stitched by hand. I chose Quilter's Dream Orient, which is a made with a blend of silk, bamboo, tencel and cotton. It is the same wadding that I used for my large crazy quilt I finished last year and I love it, it is soft and warm.

I bought the backing in March in Copenhagen. It is a soft rose pink with a small pink and red flower print. It is quite girly but that's ok. I made the binding from a ripped flat sheet that was beyond repair. I quilted long straight lines, approximately 3 cm apart. Some lines run horizontal, others vertical and others still diagonal across the hexagons. It is almost impossible to photograph but if you look carefully in one of the photos above, you can see the stitches.

I noticed that the quilts I make for myself all look a bit alike. Variations on a theme if you like, because I am using stash fabric. I am a bit of a hoarder but I am only middle aged and I am sure that I'll get to the bottom of my stash by the time I am old. It is quite amazing how much quilt is in a single fat quarter, if you like small blocks and many different prints. The other day I discovered that some of my favourite prints are running out..... I feel less excited about using what I have left and have spent a bit of time to sort the loved from the less loved fabric pieces. The latter will be donated to whoever comes forward. There will be other favourites of course.... I try to buy pieces of fabric when I am on holiday to have a small memory of a good time. I also use up scraps from clothes making, and remnants from my children's quilts. Sam and Annie's quilt were both made with fabrics bought specifically for this purpose. I managed to use up almost every last scrap of these fabrics. Both quilts are unique and very different but they are united in a a way in my own quilts. James' quilt was entirely made from my stash and is most similar to my own ones. Alistair's is a somewhere in between. It pleases me enormously to catch glimpses of my children's quilts in my own, or of a favourite blouse/dress. I imagine being an old lady, tucked up under a quilt of mine, studying the fabrics and knowing that these shared fabrics are tangible evidence of a loving relationship.

the beginnings of a new long term project. 

Right now, sewing quilts my favourite creative activity. I have started a new project already, the Ice Cream Soda quilt by Tales of Cloth. It is another English Paper Piecing project. I treated myself to the pre-cut papers for this one, and the acrylic templates. I am too busy to cut several hundred papers and I'd rather spend the time sewing. Of course we don't need any more blankets but I am sure we can find a use for it. Once more I am using stash fabric but in a more orderly manner and framed by whites and creams.  Well, that's the plan anyway.

Thanks for visiting and saying hello. Have a lovely week.

Christina x


Comments

  1. beautiful quilt, I have always wanted to do one but never had the courage !

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  2. Wow your quilt is simply stunning!

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  3. Love that quilt! If I'd made it, I think I'd have to wear it!

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  4. Fabulous quilt and lovely that it has so many memories - surely that's the best quilt of all.

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  5. Such a beautiful quilt and even better due to the wonderful memories that are attached to it. Happy New Year and happy quilting love the new project.

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  6. what a beautiful quilt! I love how when you're crafting you bind so many memories into your projects - some of my facuourite crochet items were made whilst talking to my Nana or Mum. Looking forward to seeing more of the next project, it looks stunning!

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  7. It looks fantastic! I like the look of your new project too :)

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  8. That quilt is so beautiful it gave me a tear. I love hand quilting and you have spurred me on to get on with my own hexagon making-thank you.

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  9. Beautifully done Christina. One should always have a quilt on the go I think. And there is always room for one more. CJ xx

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  10. I really admire you for making sure each of your children have one of your special handmade quilts. I have crocheted blankets for my children and for many of the grandchildren. I need to get one made for each of them!
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  11. I love quilts that have a story or memory attached to them. Trust me, you can never have too many blankets and that's from someone who lives in the sub tropics where our blankets get most use when the air conditioners are too cold! :) xx Susan

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  12. I’m always in awe of your beautiful quilts. One of these days I will give it a go. Looking forward to seeing this next one. It looks so intricate. B x

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  13. Oh bugger!...Oops. I forgot to say that I LOVE your hexagon quilt. I've been so looking forward to seeing the end result and it's gorgeous. xx (again) Susan

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  14. I don't think you can have too many quilts. Your hexagon quilt is beautiful. I love that yours has so many wonderful memories of places, of people you love, of once loved clothing within it. I love the sight of all those tiny hexies in the box ready to be stitched. Hexagon quilts are my favourite...I am addicted to stitching them. Your new EPP quilt is going to be a beauty.

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  15. What a lovely quilt. Well done.

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  16. Wow Christina, I'm so so impressed with your skills. The quilt is absolutely gorgeous.

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  17. Oh that is just stunning! I love seeing your quilts and hearing the stories about what went into them, and all those pieces look glorious in the top picture! I quite understand your feelings as you've finished - I get like that with every project I finish (although sometimes there's relief, too!) but I know there'll be a new quilt (you've got stash to use up!) so that means more joy for you and more pictures for us! :) xx

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  18. It is a corker Christina! I managed one 12" block for my sampler quilt for Megan and that was what told me I would never be making a whole quilt of them, so much kudos to you. My quilts all have the same 'flavour' to them too. I guess the nature of quilting is that we use up what we have already chosen and even if we don't know it we all have a style we lean towards. Yours always has orange which I like very much in your quilts but I never have in my stash - until you sent me some of course so I will look forward to looking at that when I am an old lady. On a slightly maudlin note, my dad had a quilt I made for him on him the weekend he passed away and that is a kinda nice thing for me. Jo xx

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  19. I love your quilt. I also have a box filled with hexies and you, sweet friend, are an inspiration.

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  20. A colorful and beautiful quilt, Christina. it might come in handy for your drafty office too!

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  21. Your quilt is just beautiful. You must be so pleased with it! We have very similar approaches to using scraps/ remnants/ old sheets and so forth in our quilts, and I love the bright and colourful quilts that you make out of them. I remember you buying the papers for your new quilt, and am looking forward to watching it grow. Happy New Year and happy sewing!

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  22. Christina, the quilt is spectacular. Simple gorgeous. You are my sewing idol. I just love it and you did a fantastic job.

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  23. This is such a beautiful quilt, I have been struggling for a couple of years with an EPP hexagon quilt and am amazed at your resolve to get this done, it is so time consuming, I have periods of time when I do a lot of hexagons and then nothing for ages, seeing this really makes me want to finish mine. maybe this year...

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  24. Stunning quilt - just the sort of inspiration I to make progress on a basket of prepped hexagons which have been sitting for far too many years.

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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