Cover Me

I finally got around to snapping some better pictures of the Big Boy Quilt.  I saw this quilt & thought, "I can do that."  I say that a lot when I'm cruising online.  That phrase is then followed with a flurry of shopping & a healthy dose of obsession.  I become crazed.  I plan and cut until my body hurts.  And then I stop to breathe because I realize: I'm not a quilter.  I don't take the time to see how the colors will play out.  I probably should have changed the wheel in my rotary cutter.  I should have thought more about the thread I was using & how it would look on the quilt.  But I learn.  Here's a couple things that I did learn from this quilt & I will apply to my next one. 

I did remember from high school art class that certain colors work well with each other.  Green and red are on opposite ends of the wheel and for that reason are suppose to look good.  But you see, you'll run the risk of looking very Christmas-y.  So I threw in a nice smattering of black.  I think that calmed things down.  I didn't even plan on using green and red as the main colors.  Instead, I found two fantastic fabrics and planned off of those.  The tattoo fabric and small world (Smiles Around the World is the proper name) fabric thrill me each time I pass them.  I like how they mingle.  You've got some bad ass motifs right next to some cheery faces.  Sort of like the mood swings of a 3 year old.

I also decided to try spray quilting instead of pinning the quilt.  This made a huge difference!  If I had to pin the layers together, I wouldn't have finished the quilt.  I don't care if real quilters call me a cheater!  One big piece of advice that I ignored was written right on the can.  When the can says "use a well ventilated area," do what it says!  After I sprayed, I needed SK's help.  I was greeted with a loud, "What the fuck?"  The longer I stayed in the basement, the higher I got.  I almost passed out.  Next time, I'll go outside. 

The quilt was done for about a week before I tackled the binding.  I had a family member show me how she does a continuous binding.  I brought my camera and snapped a bunch of photos.  She said practice first, but I ignored her.  You'd think I learn from my huffing incident.  I only had to ripped the final stitches once before I mastered the binding.  Here's where I screwed up & I was forced to hand-sew the binding to the quilt (a step I really wanted to skip this time).  In Denyse Schmidt's book, she sews the binding on the front side & then whip stitches the binding to the back.  Our family member sews the binding to the back side, folds it over, and machine stitches the binding.  The stitches appear on the back side & no one cares if they look a little wonky.  Guess which side I started the binding?  Two nights later, I had a finished quilt and a sore finger.  Note to self: If you fuck up again, buy a thimble.

As I was admiring my work, I said to SK "I hope Gus doesn't throw it down & demand only his train blanket."  You can't expect a toddler to appreciate hand-made gifts.  The next day, I was overnight somewhere.  Gus pulled SK into his room and said, "See my blanket?  I love it."  Now "I Love It" is a phrase that's he's been throwing around for everything.  I love Star Wars (never seen it). I love Bones (definitely never watched it).  I love eating steak (maybe once).  But hearing that response did make me happy.  He doesn't sleep under the quilt, but he doesn't throw it off the bed either.

Yesterday, I got Home Stretch in the mail.  I'm so excited to get sewing I can hardly wait!  We have a neighborhood garage sale tomorrow, so I'm on the hunt for some XXL t-shirts.  I thought I could use some of our old ones, but most aren't big enough.  I think that I'm going to have to order knit fabric online, because locally has been a bust.  The only material I can find has to be dry cleaned.  Who wants a dry clean only t-shirt?  So I'll recycle until I've got a good fitting t-shirt.  While I'm testing out new projects, maybe I'll try out freezer paper prints.  Has that bandwagon left yet?  I can still jump on.

-Lola

Comments

[Jacki]

It looks like the quilt turned out great. I love the spray baste, too, although I try not to huff it(say no to drugs, kids!). Pin basting takes for freaking ever and leaves lots of ugly holes in your quilt. Spray basting is the way to go.

[mamie]

last two posts are just awesome. i love the beer chicken. i learned that technique from yan can cook...so delicious. and the quilt is lovely. you know how you just said you see posts and think you can? you just did it to me.

[sappmama]

For somebody who's not a quilter you sure make some motherfuckers. (Don't let Gus read that. He might love it!)

Seriously, this quilt rocks.

[gonzomama]

that really makes me want to attempt a quilt. soon. (i keep saying that, but i don't think my sewing capabilities are there yet)