Saturday 7 July 2007

Birthday Quilt done

At the beginning of this year I decided that instead of buying birthday gifts I would give people quilts. It wasn't a decision to make them all quilts, instead I would use tops from my stash that were sitting waiting to be quilted. Some of these tops have been waiting a long time to be quilted so this was just the motivation I needed to make sure they got finished, and I could find homes for some of the ones that I had made "just because" with no particular recipient, or use, in mind.

This week I finished this Lone Star for my sister for her birthday on Sunday.





The good thing about using tops that you have already made, as opposed to making quilts as gifts, is that you don't feel any pressure to choose the perfect pattern and fabric, and make a perfect quilt. For example, this sister is very difficult to choose for. I have thought about making her a quilt for several years, but it's hard to pin down just what she likes, she doesn't have a favourite colour, her house doesn't have a particular style, and I could never picture her actually using a quilt because it just wouldn't be right. But going into my stash of tops it was easy to choose this one for her. She is an engineer, so the geometric design of the Lone Star will interest her, and she has just bought a natural coloured couch for her new apartment. Because I haven't painstakenly chosen the pattern and fabric just for her, it doesn't matter if this isn't absolutely the most perfect quilt for her cos I just feel really happy that is a nice present. And possibly most importantly the stash is reduced by one more!!

10 comments:

  1. This is beautiful, I'm sure your sister will love it. It feels good to finish things up doesn't it?

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  2. What a beautiful quilt! Gee, my birthday's this month . . . . LOL!

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  3. This is a great quilt, really good for a gift for all of the reasons you said plus it is a wonderful quilt anyway, excellent tonal qualities. I love the corner blocks.

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  4. Hi again

    You are set as no-reply for blog comments so I can't email you directly to say thanks for the hints about skipped stitches. I'm pretty sure it is the moving too fast! Clive from Swiftquilter has been fantastic with after-sales help - and it's not even my machine! I just get to be the lucky one who has access to it at the moment.

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  5. hi there, I'm glad you stopped by my blog so I could find yours. that lone star is fantastic, I love it. Much better to have it out and given away than folded up unfinished. well done!!

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  6. hey, check out my April archive and you can see more of the fish quilt. It's little, just A4 size, but I love it. thanks.

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  7. Beautiful quilt --- you have most fortunate friends and family!

    :) LaTeaDah

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  8. Another Helen here! LOL Fantastic Lone Star, your sister is very lucky to have you as her sister! :)

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  9. this is a beautiful quilt!! simply, yet absolutely charming. i loove the quilting! did you do this yourself?
    i'm sure your sister will love it!!

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  10. Soooo pretty. You are such a skilled quilter - your craftsmanship looks superb. My favorite photos of quilts are when they are taken hanging up outside -- really beautiful.

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