I have really enjoyed quilting my red and white ocean waves quilt these past six weeks. There is nothing better to help me get thru the winter than having a quilt top to hand quilt.
My ocean waves measures approximately 76 X76 inches. Not a huge quilt but the kind my husband and I like to cuddle under while watching tv. No fancy feathers, just some outline quilting on the triangles and a mariner's star quilted into the larger white squares. It doesn't get better than that!
Today, I will work on hand stitching the binding down. That final step in finishing a quilt. One that I truly enjoy! That sense of accomplishment never gets old. Years ago, I always wished we had family quilts in our family. But since my mom immigrated from Austria we only had plenty of handknit sweaters, hats and mittens but no quilts. So my dream was to own a hand quilted quilt, but the funds were never there. I finally decided the only way I would ever own a quilt, was to learn to quilt, but I always feared that I wouldn't have the tenacity to finish a quilt. Maybe that fear is what drove me, not sure, but I now look back in amazement at all the hand quilted stitches I have put into my quilts. Those stitches have always amazed me and still amaze me!
My ocean waves measures approximately 76 X76 inches. Not a huge quilt but the kind my husband and I like to cuddle under while watching tv. No fancy feathers, just some outline quilting on the triangles and a mariner's star quilted into the larger white squares. It doesn't get better than that!
Today, I will work on hand stitching the binding down. That final step in finishing a quilt. One that I truly enjoy! That sense of accomplishment never gets old. Years ago, I always wished we had family quilts in our family. But since my mom immigrated from Austria we only had plenty of handknit sweaters, hats and mittens but no quilts. So my dream was to own a hand quilted quilt, but the funds were never there. I finally decided the only way I would ever own a quilt, was to learn to quilt, but I always feared that I wouldn't have the tenacity to finish a quilt. Maybe that fear is what drove me, not sure, but I now look back in amazement at all the hand quilted stitches I have put into my quilts. Those stitches have always amazed me and still amaze me!
How beautiful. In the 'queue' is a scrappy Ocean Waves of my own. Yours has been very inspiring to watch in progress. I'm also sewing down binding today. I love it as well.
ReplyDeleteOh a scrappy ocean waves would be awesome. I am pleased I finished the red and white quilt I have always wanted but piecing scrappy quilts is so much more fun!
Deleteit is beautiful and look forward to seeing the finished quilt spread out whole. You sound like me I always wanted a hand quilted quilt but knew way back then on a military salary that we would not be able to purchase one so I taught myself how to do it - so glad I did some hundreds of quilts later!!
ReplyDeleteYeah I am too! I have enjoyed the process for years and must say each quilt has some of my life quilted into it. Doesn't get better than that!
DeleteSo fun to watch this one progress and already to the binding stage? Wow! Your stitches inspire lots of people - especially me. So neat that you are creating a legacy to hand down to your family. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb! I notice that you are doing a whole lot of hand quilted quilts also. So much joy comes from making them I am glad I followed my heart.
DeleteYour stitches and quilts amaze me too! And inspire me!
ReplyDeleteThanks! So glad that I learned and am still learning this craft. I had no idea it would bring me such joy so many years ago.
DeleteHow nice to read your post on becoming a quilter! My mother was quite a knitter, as was I....but I couldn't quite grasp knitting with four needles to make nice, warm socks, so I'd get my mom to knit them. With her gone, I was determined to master knitting with four needles...and finally did :)
ReplyDeleteYeah for you! I still love to knit although my hands sometimes rebel. I never made very many sweaters but I do love little projects like mittens, socks and dish cloths. My mom had a scarf size piece of different patterns that she would pull out to choose what pattern she would want to do. I think maybe she made it when she was in school in Austria. She never bought patterns that boggled my mind.
DeleteThis quilt is so vibrant, I taught myself to quilt for much the same reason I wanted a hand made quilt of my own, my late grandmother taught me to hand sew as a child and each stitch I take by hand reminds me of her. I have gifted a quilt to each of my siblings and their children so they each have a handmade quilt of their own, I taught my son to quilt at age 9 and two of my nieces have made quilts.
ReplyDeleteOh what a great legacy! Isn't it amazing how a quilt can hold such memories for us. I learned so much from my mom as she had us doing embroidery and knitting and crocheting. How wonderful that you are willing to teach the next generation.
DeleteWhat a beautiful family heirloom! Congrats on your near finish -- and completing your first dream quilt.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is going to be beautiful. I'm slowly mastering hand quilting. I'm so glad I persevered with it!
ReplyDeleteYes, it takes a lot of willingness! But it's so worth it!
DeleteYour "Amazing" Ocean Waves quilt is beautiful - with a great photo of the Mariner's Star for us to see! I loved reading about what inspired you to learn to quilt.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I thought it might be a bit corny, but it is my story. I got so much more when I made my own quilts than from any antique quilt I could have purchased. I guess I am a very lucky lady.
DeleteThat's a great quilt. I love white and red ones. Blessings,
ReplyDeleteThanks I love two color quilts also!
DeleteHey Carla... hope you are enjoying the binding process as you soon will have it washed and hope you share a snuggly after wash pic with us too... you make lovely photos and beautiful snuggly looking quilts. I too always wanted quilts in my life... no one was an avid quilter in my history either although my one grandmother made a few she preferred afghans to quilts... The one she gifted to me though got lost in my youth somehow or lost in our house fire... so sad.. Glad we are BOTH avid quilters and that we have found quilting a zen art ... I love your quilts especially and hope to one day see color like you do in quilts! Kathi
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathi! I hope to do a final post but this week we are getting tons of rain! I was hoping for some outside pics UGH!
DeleteBeautiful quilt, now you have a treasure of your own to pass along through the family.
ReplyDeleteThey get better with age too!
DeleteAbsolutely lovely and such a good feeling of accomplishment when a hand quilted quilt is completed! Congratulations on a beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is quite an undertaking but I am always am a bit sad when they are finished and I have to move on. I do like to decorate with them, so they are out where I can enjoy them.
Deleteit seems to me that went really fast!! :) congratulations ; it is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteYes I agree! I thought I would only quilt the white triangles but I'm glad I did them all and it really wasn't as big an undertaking as I thought it would be to do them all.
DeleteWhen you are all done with the quilt, a photo of the back would be good. I see you used a neutral background and the quilting should show well.
ReplyDeleteI will do a post as soon as the weather turns around. We are getting lots of rain this week. Something we need as we have been in a drought. I wish I still had the large windows I did at my old house. LOL
DeleteLoved reading your story. It really is amazing to look back and consider how we felt, that sheer determination but anxiety and then later, the ease with which we can make something so lovely! Your quilt is simply gorgeous! There's just something special about a red and white quilt.:)
ReplyDeleteI so agree, I feel very accomplished that I can now produce the quilts that I have always adored. I guess my mom was right practice practice practice! I will always be grateful that she taught tenacity!
DeleteMy favorite quilts are the ones that I hand quilted heavily. It seems like a alot of work when I start but quilting a few stitches daily really helps to get it done. And all of those stitches really are worth it in the end.
ReplyDelete