Monday, July 06, 2009

My First Quilt (and Laura's finished quilt!)....

You will remember my first quilt from a few months ago....I like this picture of it hanging the best.


And now all the pictures of Laura's quilt that you asked for! Thank you for all the nice comments on it, especially to those of you who have no-reply emails in blogger, since I couldn't thank you personally.


I learned from other bloggers that you can tack your quilts to fences and such outside for great pictures that don't include feet sprouting out the bottom!

Interestingly, this quilt is nearly the same colors as my first! That blue linen IS the same fabric - I learned that I love the texture of linen in a quilt. Blues and greens have always been my colors.
And I love striped binding! I have learned to carefully follow the stitching on the back as I tack down the binding, so it is a nice, even width all the way around. On the first quilt I just kind of squashed it over!

Here are Laura and I right after she opened her gift. She really liked the top, but loved those Harry Potter blocks! That mail owl is still my favorite. Here he is all quilty looking.


And a nice picture of Laura with the quilt. I love to keep them, but it was fun to gift a quilt, too!


I certainly had a great time learning how to paper piece! I was so worried about trying it, but it is just like doing a puzzle. And I love puzzles!



My biggest lesson learned was regarding dye lots. As a knitter, I am well aware of the pitfalls of dye lot mixing. But bleached muslin - how different could that be?! (Laura, don't look!)


In the summer sun, very different! You can't really tell inside. I didn't notice until I was nearly done quilting. So it became a design element :)

I love making stuff and I love learning new things - I can't wait to discover more in my next projects! As a reward for making it all the way to the end of this long post, come back tomorrow for a fun contest I have planned!

33 comments:

Laura Lyon said...

This is truly a great quilt! I didn't even realize how hard it was to make each of the pictures on the back, until I saw all the snippets of fabric on the floor! (And don't worry, I don't know what bleached muslin is). The only problem is that now I'll be expecting a gorgeous new creation every year for my birthday. (Ha, ha, just kidding . . . but really, I wouldn't mind a few more). Love, Laura

B. said...

Oh Angela! Your first quilt is quite amazing, I think that might have to go back and take mine down, looks pawdry next to your post! Love the colours!

~Michelle~ said...

love those HP blocks - great job :)

Kris said...

the front and the back are fabulous! I would love to do a HP quilt the way you did the back. Just pick a few favorites and keep it simple. :)

Mushyhed said...

AMAZING quilt Angela! You did such a great job.

Jennifer Ofenstein said...

It looks absolutely amazing! I love that the paper pieced blocks are sort of your secret gift on the back.

I hope you don't mind if I share links to your post on hp_paperpiecing tomorrow. Just wonderful!

Leslie said...

contest...that sounds intriguing. I love the picture of your first quilt...i was looking at my first the other day and remembering how lost i was...i think the skills come a long way. Practice makes perfect. I love the full shots of your friends quilt. It looks so pretty hanging outside.

Anonymous said...

Awesome!!!! I love the back-well and the front!

Camille said...

My little Harry Potter fan is sitting here drooling over your quilt and begging for one of his own. Gee, thanks! ;-) All of your quilts are absolutely fantastic, thanks for sharing!

Carrie said...

Oh my gosh... all of your quilts are gorgeous! I can't speak for Camille, but I'm starting to feel a little bit ~ okay, a lot! ~ intimidated by all these gorgeous "first quilts"! And I agree ~ linen in quilts is beautiful, it has such an amazing look and feel to it when it's quilted and washed. Thank you for sharing ~ and good job!

Dresden Quilter said...

Your first quilt looks like you have been quilting for years. The quilt for your sister-in-law is so incredible. The paper piecing is fantastic.

Mark said...

I love your quilts, and those HP blocks are amazing!

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

nice quilts... your first one is great... i did not have that kind of skills early on... and you know how i feel about the new one... love it!! and nice job with the pics... i've been doing the same thing!!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

It's lovely! I love the randomness of the top and back. right up my alley!
;-)

Anonymous said...

bee-utiful! That owl block is ADORABLE. very nice work!

Lisa D. said...

Wow - you did a wonderful job on your first quilt (great colors) and I absolutely love Laura's quilt. Stunning!

Amanda Jean said...

what a gorgeous finish!!!

Unknown said...

wonderful, wonderful display of your first quilt. Your colour sense is fabulous. I love Laura's quilt.
it's simplicity just says it all.

Nephi "Sowing" Friends said...

I love your quilts! The colors are great.

Kim Brackett said...

Your first quilt is very pretty. and I LOVE Laura's quilt. The design and fabrics on the front are very nice. The paper-pieced blocks are wonderful!

Heather said...

Great quilts. Love the colors

Deborah said...

I love the colors that you use. Beautiful!

Lisa said...

There is no doubt that blues and greens are your thing you quilts are so gorgeous!

Katie B said...

LOVE your quilts! The fabrics are just stunning. And the Harry Potter blocks put it over the edge! What a special personal touch.

Chase said...

I really like your quilt. The colors are working so well together.

Donnelly said...

Wow!!! Both quilts are fantastic. You are very talented. Thanks for sharing with us. Have a great day.

Cindy said...

Love your quilts - your color sense is just awesome!

Sherri said...

What a beautiful quilt...you did a wonderful job!

Gigi's Thimble said...

Both of those are beautiful. I love the colors you used in them. The blue with the black really pops!

Peanut Blossom said...

I love your off-center squares! Such a fun design. I find I am attracted to similar color palettes as well. :)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful quilts! I love the blues and greens as well.

Nadine said...

I love both of these quilts--you have a great sense of style and composition. Gotta love those "accidental" design elements too. I had one of those moments just last night, on a quilt that I'm working on that has linen in it too. A mistake that I decided I could live with became a design element later on. Do you find linen a bit harder to work with than cotton?

Thanks for sharing! Love, love, love both of these quilts, and the Harry Potter blocks are great!

Unknown said...

cool. hugs from Italy