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Sunday, January 6, 2013

About making a quilt

I am working on a new quilt and with Instagram being my newest addiction (next to hooking, sewing and indulging in fabric and yarn and anything and everything crafty!!!), I have recorded my process in a step by step way that I thought would be fun to share. I know that many of you visit me for my crochet and initially I guess this was more of a crochet blog than a sewing blog, but lately I seem to spend more and more time by the sewing machine than with my hook.

Don't get me wrong. I ADORE crochet. But since I developed my crochet elbow over 2 years ago, I just can't do crochet marathons anymore. Nowadays I spend short sessions crocheting and long sessions sewing instead. And maybe some of you magnificent crochet-maniacs do carry around a secret dream of making a quilt one day but don't know where to start. Maybe you, like me before I made my first Scrappy Doll Quilt in 2010, are totally intimidated by the process of making a quilt. Pssssssst - come closer............................... I want to whisper something in you ear:

It is so easy!!!

Seriously!!! I first pick my fabric. This time I wanted to use fabric from my stash. I always go with my gut feeling when I choose and sometimes I change my mind further into the project and that is okay. There are rules (of course...), and I love to NOT follow rules... I love breaking boundaries when crafting. Spice it up. Make it unpredictable. Don't you?

After picking my fabric I cut my pieces. I am not a big fan of cutting. I find it fussy and time consuming. On big projects I hardly ever cut all pieces at ones. I do it as I go. A little at a time.

Now the fun starts. The design wall. I mix and match, move around and experiment with my pieces. When I find a design I like I ALWAYS take a picture. In my house you never know when the kids decide to play monsters and come swishing by my design wall and dragging all the pieces down...

And today I have come to the piecing part. Sewing the pieces together. One by one I sew them together, pressing every seem carefully... This part is magical to me. If I had doubts when being at the design wall stage I usually feel happily surprised when piecing my quilt. It almost always turns out better than I first imagined.

Looking at this latest quilt project of mine makes me want to have patchwork curtains in my home... Wouldn't that be quite nice? Another day I 'll share the finishing touch of making this quilt. Until then read more about this at Diary of a Quilter, Amy has a GREAT beginners How To Make A Quilt Tutorial that will take away any fear you might have left. And then dear crochet friends - Just Do It! You won't regret it.

PS I should warn you that making quilts are highly addictive, just like crochet. But it is great to have such a healthy addiction... :D Enjoy!

Kärlek
Annette




18 comments:

  1. Good evening Annette, Happy New Year to you.
    You are right, quilting is certainly addictive. I am currently making a quilt for my daughter, each section is a hand quilted heart, I now have to sew them all together, but as you say, that is the magical part, when the quilt starts coming alive. Have a lovely evening. Best Wishes Daphne

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  2. Vi kviltare brukar säga: Har man blivit biten av quiltbacillen så finns det inget botemedel - som tur är.
    Just nu stickar jag tvåfärgade vantar men när sista tummen är klar så ska jag ge mig in i syrummet igen och se vad jag kan hitta på av bara scraps.
    Kram

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    1. Det uttrycket ska skrivas ned och sättas upp på väggen. Fint quote!
      Annette

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  3. I am not a quilter, but I sure love to see them. I think it is like painting with fabric, so fun.
    Have a great week,
    Meredith

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  4. Så fargerikt og herlig! =) Gleder meg til å se det ferdig.
    God natt fra Tone =)

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  5. Your new quilt looks pretty Annette. Great way to start the New Year!

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    1. Thanks Lynne! No better way to start the year with some crafty fun. :D
      Annette

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  6. I thought you were making a curtain! :-) It would have llook lovely, but the blanket will surely be special. You mae me want to sort my fabrics and get going with something.
    We just returned after a jaunt to the snow in the ountains nerby your valley...it was lovely. I am glad that I don't have to do all that shoveling everyday!

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    1. Dear Stel
      Why didn't you give me a shout!!!??? I might not have been to far away for a coffee... or a glass of wine.
      Annette

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  7. hehe we are like peas in a pod.
    I can raise your crochet elbow with a crochet wrist and a epp shoulder!!
    Patchwork curtains do it for me Annette.
    xx
    ps. I feel a ragrug back coming on already lol!

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    1. Okay, I consider myself beaten... You win you little... green pea! Ha ha ha!
      Annette

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  8. Ooooo....I love your layout! I began a new granny square afghan yesterday (and totally frogged it after a couple of hours! *hrumpff!*

    Today, I should begin cutting squares for my next quilt! You are right! It is good to mix the crafts up a bit!

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  9. It's true, I haven't made a quilt yet but I might! infact it's probably just a matter of time!! I think I need to get a cutting mat and rotary cutter first perhaps. happy making, Heather x

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    1. Start with somethings small. A doll quilt. A place mat. A pot holder. Just to give it a go. for those project you hardly need a rotary cutter but I have to admit it is one of my favorite tools. Good luck!
      Annette

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  10. I thought it was a patchwork curtain at first too! :) I love the fabrics you chose. I love to quilt and pick out fabrics. I enjoy sewing/quilting and crochet/knitting. For me sewing and quilting are great earlier in the day when I have a lot of energy since I will be sitting, standing, walking to the ironing board, etc and I like to knit/crochet curled up on the couch later in the day when I have less energy. I love that you blog about a variety of your crafts plus your family and life in Switzerland. I am looking forward to seeing your finished quilt.

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  11. Wow, lovely fabrics!!! And WIP looks really great!! I can´t start to make a new quilt. At first I have to finish my WIP star quilt (but maybe some little project like a doll quilt according to inspiration from your blog) :)

    Have a lovely time! Jolana

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  12. Your post made me smile ... we have only just met in this wonderful world we share of fb IG and blogland and we are both in similar situations! I used to be known for my sewing - patchwork, quilts, free motion machine embroidery etc and had a huge following on fb and my blog. But this last year I have become a crochet addict and ditched my sewing machine for a hook!
    Heather x

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  13. I love your fabric selection!!

    Happy New Year, Annette!

    Beata xxx

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Thank you so much for visiting my world. I love reading your comments and I do my utterly best to respond to questions and sweet messages. Thank you again for popping by.

Kärlek
Annette

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