My First Quilt
Thanks to Camille and Carrie for hosting this wonderful parade of quilts! Just wish we could share in person, don't you?!
The actual first quilt I made was for my mom in 1974. I was a newly married woman learning to quilt with a friend. My masterpiece was a pink and lavendar gingham nine patch with a ruffle all the way around. I was so excited to have my mom open that gift! She loved it and had it for many years but now, we have no idea where it is and we don't know that it exists in any pictures. After that I made tied blankies for my little kiddos and a few appliqued ones for gifts but when I seriously got back into quilting for my pleasure it was about 1996. I was also into stenciling at the time and my friend, Laurene, had this pattern for a stenciled quilt square. That summer I stenciled 12 squares on muslin and I think they turned out wonderfully. (It definitely added to the severity of my carpal tunnel....but who's keeping track?!) When I was designing this quilt I wanted to use these two homespuns together. The funny part of it is that I cut all of the homespun on the plaid lines--at this point had not used or been introduced to a rotary cutter! With the help of Laurene, I found someone who had just gotten a long arm quilter and was willing to do stippling "practice" on it. She did great! My work wasn't perfect but I actually really like the charm of this quilt. In the middle of each star I put a natural colored button.
My most recent finished quilt is this fun and bright flannel quilt! I love the colors--it makes me smile when I look at it! Not fancy, just fun! 
I have learned lots about quilting since the first quilts, but the main things are that rotary cutters are a must and if it's worth spending precious time on creating a lovely quilt, it's worth spending money on fabric that you love! Thanks for looking at my quilts!
Dotti
awww aren't they cutest?!
ReplyDeleteyou're gonna give me that flannel one right?
hehe
think they'd like to see my strawberry shortcake blankie? It's been very well loved lol
Love your quilts Dotti! I remember working at a fabric store (called Cloth World) when I was in high school. We were always trying to sell rotary cutters which were new...never dreamed how much I would come to love them...what would we do without them!
ReplyDeleteHi Dotti ~ I feel so very, very old. I remember when rotary cutters first came out. I also remember that all the "traditionalists" tried to scare us with stories of dreadful injuries caused by rotary cutters. Thank goodness the "good old days" are long gone!
ReplyDeleteI love both quilts and I really admire your creativity in making your stencilled quilt! Did you sew clothes before you quilted? That would explain cutting those plaids straight ~ it took me a few years to stop worrying about that.
Thank you for sharing your quilts and your stories!
very,very good..congratulations ...kiss
ReplyDeleteGreat first quilt! It looks pieced, not stenciled. I love flannel and what a happy recent quilt. It's been fun seeing the progression from first to recent quilts.
ReplyDeleteHi Dotti! I found your blog through Andria's. I had no idea that you were into quilting! I love looking at quilts and you've posted some beautiful pictures. They remind me of my Grandma Curtis. She loved quilting and made one for all of her grandchildren while she was going through chemotherapy. We were to receive them when we got married - since she wouldn't be there to give them to us. I hope that I'll be able to take up quilting someday. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great truth about fabric ... it is worth it! I am impressed with the stencil on fabric, wonderful look. It's nice to have quilts that make us smile when we see them! Keep quilting!
ReplyDeleteHi Dotti! Thank you so much for commenting on my first quilt! I love it and I can't wait to get this one finished and do some more. I'm lucky on the fabric front. Camille introduced me to Moda and I "heart" it! I loved your quilts! They are absolutely beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteHi Dotti! Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment! I think your comment that 'too bad we couldn't do this in person' regarding the quilt parade is so true! Wouldn't that be fun! Love your quilts!
ReplyDeleteawesome job dottie! your first one and your recently finished one! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow -- you have lots of patience. Hand stenciling -- cutting all those squares. Yikes! Plus the stars on the 1st quilt seems pretty involved. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteIsn't great how quilting seems to make all our goofs go away?
Thanks for sharing...
Your quilts are really lovely Dotti :-) And I can just picture in my mind what your first one looked like.. the lavender gingham with the ruffle. I hope one day you can actually find it again! Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilts. Oh, your blog has just too much to see in one visit...I must return often! Thanks for stopping by my place today.
ReplyDeleteAren't we thankful for rotary cutters!? I remember when they first came out I tried to cut out a dress with one! I didn't get it. Didn't seem to speed up the process to me.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your quilts. They are both lovely.
what a nice blog and your quilts are very pretty.
ReplyDelete