The first quilt I ever pieced together I made for my third daughter, Emma Rose. I have done a lot of cross-stitching in my day and I went at it from this viewpoint. My mother-in-law had showed me how to do your basic nine patch, so I got some graph paper and planned how to write "We love Emma", replacing squares in the nine patches with a rose print (for her middle name Rose) in a cross-stitch fashion. I cut the squares in the nine patches about 2" and I cut them from all the scraps I had. I cut scraps from pretty much every fabric I had, which included scraps from dresses, pajamas, and blankets I had made for my other daughters, several things I had made for my husband or fabric he had ( including some Buffalo Bills fabric because he is from Buffalo), and fabric that my mom had saved over the years from things she had made. I cut the rose fabric for the letters and the borders from a dress I started in high school and never finished. I made the heart in the center from some furry fleece left over from a stuffed animal I had made for the girls. Then I machine quilted it just doing stitch in the ditch.
When I made this quilt I had no understanding of colors or patterns. I just wanted to make a quilt for my daughter and use the material I had. I mixed fabrics I would never mix now and I put together fabrics I probably wouldn't now, but I love that quilt. I made this quilt 5 years ago, and I've learned a lot about quilting since then, but I know that the important things about quilting are still the same, sharing a heartfelt creation with someone you love. I also discovered in this quilt that I could be creative and create my own patterns and that I could personalize any quilt that I made. That is my favorite part of making a quilt--making it unique and personal.
I think that the Blogger's Quilt Festival is an awesome idea and I'm glad I stumbled upon it. If you'd like to see some great quilts, check the festival out with the link above.
7 comments:
It looks a lot like the first quilt I made and you're right, it's not about technical skill sometimes... it can be totally about making something for someone you love. Your quilt is lovely.
Great idea! My kids call the quilts I give them a "hug". I've always told them when they needed a hug from mom, and she's not around, just take that quilt and wrap it around you, and mom will be right there. My oldest son even took his into surgery with him.
I absolutely agree, my favorite part is tweaking and customizing things to be personal. : )
what a charming expression of love.
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http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com
that's a darling quilt and a wonderful sweet story. i didn't see the name or the heart in the middle until i'd looked several times--really fun--thanks so much for sharing
Tara, I love how you took a very common quilt design (nine-patch) and made it so unique and special. Thanks for sharing the quilt.
very nice.thanks for sharing,Amy
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