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Sunday 5 February 2012

Voila!


It's finished!  I can't tell you how proud I am to have actually made a patchwork quilt  - albeit a small lap quilt - I knew I must be able to do it but somehow I also knew I couldn't!
It certainly wouldn't win any prizes but it was made, as it says on the label, "With Love" and it's backed with soft fleece for a cosy cuddle which I am hoping will go some way towards keeping my wanderer warm on her return from sunnier climes!. (the photo makes the fleece look grey but it is a soft pale chocolate colour in reality!)


In the end I quilted it by knotting ties having attempted to stitch by hand "in the ditch",  I also tried hand stitching a quarter of an inch inside alternate squares but I could see it would take me far too long.  I toyed with the idea of sewing a small button on each corner of the squares but it might not have been so cuddly with little hard buttons all over it so I unpicked the stitching and resorted to ties - not sure I like the effect but it does the job and having done each with a surgeons' knot I am hopeful it won't all come undone! My fingers are sore from so much stitching - it was quite hard getting six strands of embroidery thread through the joins - and although I tried wearing a thimble I found that more trouble than it was worth.  I don't think I will be going in for patchwork in a big way though and think I was right and it isn't my metier!! And I am hoping she won't request a double bed sized one as if so I'll have to say "No way!"

Having resolved to use up some of my stash of fabrics and being pleased to have made the quilt and used up some of the fabrics I had I met up with some friends on Thursday for another day of scrapbooking and they passed on to me a bag of fabrics!  I will certainly be able to make good use of them but it doesn't reduce my stash any!!


I think we must live in a micro climate here as having had a bitterly cold but dry few days we had some snow yesterday afternoon which had turned to rain as we went to bed.  This morning we woke to birdsong and sunshine and not a snowflake nor an ice crystal to be seen.  I got some washing out - wouldn't have been able to stand out there long enough without gloves yesterday and it would have frozen rather than dried of course - the sun was quite warm on my back as I pegged it up and this afternoon I have fetched most of it in dry and it's now ironed and in the airing cupboard.  Meanwhile I hear that flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and there are warnings of icy conditions on the roads and pictures of children sledging elsewhere but here the temperature is 10 degrees higher than on Friday and stands at a positively balmy 5 degrees!  I am not complaining though.


In the market at Sherborne yesterday I bought a few snowdrops in the green but wondered how I would be able to plant them as the ground was so frozen and left them in our unheated conservatory overnight - needn't have worried - they are snugly tucked in here and there in the garden where I notice their cousins are already poking through along with some primroses.

Thank you for all your kind comments on my previous post - every one much appreciated.


31 comments:

  1. You've mad a super job of it!
    Just the thing for this cold snap we are having!xx

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  2. Pretty quilt, Jane. I've got one languishing in the WIP basket - I'd rather be sewing other things, and at the moment I don't seem to be sewing at all.

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  3. Congratulations on completing your quilt Jane, you deserve to be proud. We've got a good layer of snow here - but it has made me sleepy and all I have wanted to do is snooze today - could do with a nice little patchwork lap quilt!

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  4. Your daughter will love the snuggly quilt, and will appreciate the love and effort that went into making it too.

    Lots of snow here in Kent. You must be the only spot in Britain to have avoided it!

    x

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  5. That quilt is a labour of love and it looks super.

    We had snow most of the afternoon yesterday and then have had an almost spring-like sunny day today. Long may it continue!

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  6. Oh well done Jane; it is very lovely and you should be proud. Gorgeous snowdrops too though the thought of digging soil just now...brrr! x

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  7. Well done with your quilt, it looks lovely and i'm sure she'll emjoy snuggling under it.
    We ahve about 8" of snow here, which thawed a little and is now freezing again - enjoy your micro climate!

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  8. Well done, I'm so pleased you finished it. Fancy receiving all those lovely fabrics, you can never have too much fabric :-D

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  9. I LOVE your quilts colour palette, and all those knots, that's no mean feat! I'm sure she'll adore it :D

    Glad to discover we're not the only ones sans snow!

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  10. I struggle with quilts too though I read a lot about people who plan them meticulously, cut them out, stitch them and have them on the bed in two days flat. I do like the way your have used the knotting, it looks very pretty.

    It is so good to see you back!

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  11. It's a lovely quilt - well done. It looks really cosy. It is anything but mild here - lots of snow!

    Pomona x

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  12. Perfect timing! Now you can snuggle under your quilt & watch the snow...

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  13. What a great job, so congratulations on your first quilt. Pleased to hear that your micro climate offers you plus degrees, it is cold and white here in London and not at all lovely and sunny as it was in your last post. By the way, I am thrilled to hear you've been given a clean bill of health, you must be mighty relieved.
    Have a lovely week, Jane xx

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  14. That is a very soft, sweet quilt, Jane...just perfect for your daughter to come home to, and what a lovely thought to make it for her too. The tied quilt idea is one I like, and antique quilts were often made like this too. Yours looks just perfect with the little tag as well! I am sure you will make more quilts now you have created this one...and if the size puts you off you can always make mini quilts!
    Have a happy cosy week.
    Helen x

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  15. Your daughter will appreciate the coziness of this quilt and also the love that made it. Great job, Jane! Stay warm.

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  16. Wonderful how such pretty delicate things as snowdrops can endure these harsh conditions - like newborn lambs!

    You certainly must be in a microclimate, that's interesting.

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  17. I think its a lovely quilt. I made one with a fleece backing for an old friend, but it was quite hard to sew (nice and warm though!)

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  18. Lovely quilt Jane, the colours are gorgeous. :)
    No snow here either, thankfully!!

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  19. The colors you chose for your quilt make a lovely combination.

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  20. Your quilt is lovely, beautiful soft colours, and I like the way you have tied it. I have given up trying to quilt with 6 strand embroidery thread, it is too difficult. Perle thread size 8 is much better and easier.

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  21. I love your quilt - it is so pretty.
    Julie xxxxxxxxx

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  22. That quilt looks and sounds like a labour of love Jane. I can't believe you sort of de-stashed and then replenished your supply just like that! Our snowdrops are up all round the garden and doing well. I am surprised you managed to find some in the green already but once they're in the ground they'll bed down and give you such pleasure in the years to come.

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  23. Well done on finishing the quilt and finding a 'quick' way to do it. It looks very professional!I use perle when I do Mennonite Tacking, don't have much embroidery silk anyway.
    I've had about 3-4" of snow, already thawing in some places but not in the garden. I'm staying indoors!

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  24. Great quilt Jane, and I love the idea of knotted ties underneath. I might have to give that a go on my next one!

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  25. Well done on finishing the quilt Jane, it looks lovely and cuddly!!I shall tell the Maybees!!

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  26. Well done on the patchwork quilt and tying all those surgeons knots! I love the look of quilts but don't think I would have the patience to make one!

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  27. I'm so glad to hear that your retinal problems have been solved Jane. You must be so relieved.

    No micro climate here. Lots of snow and its freeeezing!

    Well done on completing your quilt. It looks fabulous.

    Jeanne
    x

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  28. Your quilt looks beautiful! I love the idea of using fleece on the back. I bought a fleece blanket to back Charlotte's quilt. The weather here in Scotland is just as crazy! I love snowdrops we have a few in our garden but they havent popped up yet.
    Yvonne x

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  29. followed a link here from my friend Kaths blog.. :-) small world, i live in Sherborne and was shopping on the market last saturday morning, you might have been standing next to me!!

    Leanne x

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  30. I am proud of you for making your quilt and your daughter will love it. never thought of adding a soft toasty fabric to the back. good idea.

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  31. It's certainly not fun bringing in frozen washing.

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