Thank you so much for your compliments on my quilts. I really appreciate it! Thank you also to those who made suggestions on what to do with my sewing machine. I have had it serviced several times. The main problem with it is the tension. After a small amount of sewing, the tension goes haywire…sometimes so tight it breaks the thread, sometimes so loose I get loops on the back. It is the bobbin tension, and while in most cases you can adjust your bobbin tension easily, it doesn’t “stick” with my machine. I am not about having to have a new fancy-schmancy machine just for the sake of a having a new model. I sew on my mom’s machine whenever I go to visit, her machine is older than I am and works great! So, I have done everything that I can think of to do to make my machine work, but even on plain old straight stitching, it is a nightmare. But, I will continue to do what I can on it while I have it.
As promised, here are the other two quilts I have finished. This first one I made for my best friend Julia. This was in honor of her first baby, my Goddaughter. I used the 1930s reproduction fabrics for this one also, in yellows. I also used the muslin with it. The backing and binding are muslin also. I just love this quilt. It is crib-sized and so bright and cheery.
The final quilt I have to show you was a gift for my sister. This was a collaboration between my sister, my mom and I. My sister wanted to make a keepsake quilt out of her daughter’s baby clothes. She chose pieces that had sentimental value from her first year. She cut out all the blocks. Then my mom pieced the quilt. She spent a long time putting it together and making sure everything was laid out the way we wanted it. Then I did the quilting and the binding on it. The last two stages my mom and I did in secret, so that my sister didn’t know we were continuing to work on the quilt. We gave it to her for her birthday last year.
Some of the outfits my sister chose to include in the quilt had ties on them, so I sewed the ties to the corners of that block, so that they added another dimension of interest. There was also one pair of overalls, so I’ve sewed them so the straps can still be unsnapped. It was a fun quilt to do. This one is a bigger quilt, like lap size. The blocks are 4 inch blocks.
So there you have it…my four quilts, made in six years. Hopefully I will have more to call finishes soon! I am still stitching on my RR piece, and hope to call it a finish soon too. The weather here is bad today. It has been raining really hard since yesterday, and dipped below freezing this afternoon. Not sure if tomorrow will be such a good day to be out and about, but if not…I can always curl up and stitch! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Walk to Rivendell: Hobbiton is now hidden as the slopes of the Green Hill Country rise and fall (9.0 miles so far).
I am grateful for giving.
Those are beautiful Michelle – I am always so impressed by quilts 🙂
Those are beautiful Michelle – I am always so impressed by quilts 🙂
Your quilts are gorgeous, I especially like the one you made for your sister. So colorful and such sentimental value to it.
Your quilts are gorgeous, I especially like the one you made for your sister. So colorful and such sentimental value to it.
I do believe you can call yourself a quilter! The quilts especially the one for your sister are beautiful! They show your love and caring!
I do believe you can call yourself a quilter! The quilts especially the one for your sister are beautiful! They show your love and caring!
They’re beautiful Michelle! I particularly like the quilt you made for your sister – what a lovely idea 🙂
They’re beautiful Michelle! I particularly like the quilt you made for your sister – what a lovely idea 🙂
Oh, I love your quilts Michelle, they are gorgeous and so meaningful!
I sincerely wish you could come spend a Sunday here at my flat and we would quilt together 🙂 I have a spare sewing machine from when I was beginning to sew (basic, but works just great), so we could truly do a quilting bee. I really wish that was possible. I have a quilt in the plans, all the fabrics are washed and pressed and are only waiting for me 🙂
Anyway, if you find a return ticket to Paris, you know where to go 🙂
Oh, I love your quilts Michelle, they are gorgeous and so meaningful!
I sincerely wish you could come spend a Sunday here at my flat and we would quilt together 🙂 I have a spare sewing machine from when I was beginning to sew (basic, but works just great), so we could truly do a quilting bee. I really wish that was possible. I have a quilt in the plans, all the fabrics are washed and pressed and are only waiting for me 🙂
Anyway, if you find a return ticket to Paris, you know where to go 🙂
The quilts are gorgeous, I espcially love the one for your sister. Such a neat idea to use save her special baby clothes and use them in a quilt. You do beautiful work-I hope you can get your sewing machine sorted out.
The quilts are gorgeous, I espcially love the one for your sister. Such a neat idea to use save her special baby clothes and use them in a quilt. You do beautiful work-I hope you can get your sewing machine sorted out.
I love your quilts, especially the yellow one! A suggestion on the sewing machine–ditch it! I had exactly the same thing happen with my old Singer, and I had it serviced at 2 different places and finally gave up. There are a few routes you can go: I bought the least expensive mechanical (not electronic) model of a Bernina, and it’s a joy to use plus not expensive. Another thing would be to check into used sewing machines (some larger sewing stores have them–lots of people buy a machine and lose interest), or try Target for a simple straight-stitch model (they sell them for less than $150 and I think Janome makes a model that they sell) although I can’t vouch for how long they’ll last or how good they are. My mom’s old Singer is still alive and kicking–it’s the more recent models (80s and 90s) that let us down. You’ve inspired me to want to quilt again, although I’m not nearly as expert as you!
I love your quilts, especially the yellow one! A suggestion on the sewing machine–ditch it! I had exactly the same thing happen with my old Singer, and I had it serviced at 2 different places and finally gave up. There are a few routes you can go: I bought the least expensive mechanical (not electronic) model of a Bernina, and it’s a joy to use plus not expensive. Another thing would be to check into used sewing machines (some larger sewing stores have them–lots of people buy a machine and lose interest), or try Target for a simple straight-stitch model (they sell them for less than $150 and I think Janome makes a model that they sell) although I can’t vouch for how long they’ll last or how good they are. My mom’s old Singer is still alive and kicking–it’s the more recent models (80s and 90s) that let us down. You’ve inspired me to want to quilt again, although I’m not nearly as expert as you!
Your quilts are beautiful! I especially like the two baby quilts that you made. The quilt for your sister, using pieces of her daughters baby clothing, is really a treasure!
Your quilts are beautiful! I especially like the two baby quilts that you made. The quilt for your sister, using pieces of her daughters baby clothing, is really a treasure!
The quilts are gorgeous! I love the yellow quilt…yellow is my favorite color! What a wonderful quilt for a baby! And your sister’s quilt….now that is special. Babies grow up so fast and to have a quilt to touch and remember when they were babies….that is priceless!
🙂
The quilts are gorgeous! I love the yellow quilt…yellow is my favorite color! What a wonderful quilt for a baby! And your sister’s quilt….now that is special. Babies grow up so fast and to have a quilt to touch and remember when they were babies….that is priceless!
🙂
I love the quilts – you are definitely a quilter! I call myself a quilter and I’ve only finished 4 quilts (all smaller than yours!) – One I also made out of baby clothes as a memory quilt 😉
As for the machine – when my singer just couldn’t keep working (similar problems with tension).. I was browsing in target and they had a “Shark” machine – with a quilting foot and quilting accessories for 150 dollars! I snatched that thing right up and I love it. It’s mechanical but it has lots of niceties, including a needle threader and a table extender, for a great price!
I love the quilts – you are definitely a quilter! I call myself a quilter and I’ve only finished 4 quilts (all smaller than yours!) – One I also made out of baby clothes as a memory quilt 😉
As for the machine – when my singer just couldn’t keep working (similar problems with tension).. I was browsing in target and they had a “Shark” machine – with a quilting foot and quilting accessories for 150 dollars! I snatched that thing right up and I love it. It’s mechanical but it has lots of niceties, including a needle threader and a table extender, for a great price!
Your yellow quilt is gorgeous. I started a pinwheel quilt in 19dickety two, back when my mom owned her quilt shop. It remains shoved in a plastic bag somewhere…
I can recommend the new featherweight reproduction. My mom bought it when she used to go to quilting camp in Cazenovia, NY because lugging the Bernina around the campus was ridiculous. It’s great, and it looks so cool I display it in the craftroom.
Your yellow quilt is gorgeous. I started a pinwheel quilt in 19dickety two, back when my mom owned her quilt shop. It remains shoved in a plastic bag somewhere…
I can recommend the new featherweight reproduction. My mom bought it when she used to go to quilting camp in Cazenovia, NY because lugging the Bernina around the campus was ridiculous. It’s great, and it looks so cool I display it in the craftroom.
All of your quilts are gorgeous! If I had more time, I’d learn to quilt myself – as it is I cannot keep up with my stitching, so no new hobbies for me. 🙂
All of your quilts are gorgeous! If I had more time, I’d learn to quilt myself – as it is I cannot keep up with my stitching, so no new hobbies for me. 🙂