Handmade!
I promised I would post a photo of the quilt I made for my niece, so here it is. I ran out of the pink fabric or I would have put in more of those patches. The back is mostly the red dotted swiss, with borders of both pink dotted swiss and black dotted swiss. I often jump into such projects without really planing ahead, and ran into some design problems with the backing, since instead of binding the quilt, I used the black swiss in the front to wrap around to the back. Anyway, I won't even try and explain the full nature of the problem but it did set me back, time-wise. I spent most of Tuesday on the final fix. I machine quilted the top but there was also some had sewing involved with the backing.
The cherry-patterned patches and the fabric with the apron motif were my inspiration for the project. My niece is 6 years old, so I'm hoping the quilt strikes her as playful. I added the yo-yos to give it a tactile touch. Unbelievable how much time such a project takes! I bought some of the fabric at the 2009 International Quilt Show here in Houston, so it was high time to break them out of my stash. Now I need a break from sewing for awhile, so it felt great to finally move the sewing machine off the dining room table.
I bet some of you have gone the handmade route with gifts, cards or holiday foods. We'd all be the richer if you shared them here. Happy, happy holidays!
Tags: Christmas, creativity, quilting, sewing
Views: 50
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on -
I've never quilted and have only done a few crafting projects in my life. I have sewn a few items for practical use, and have felt quite proud of them. My biggest undertaking was a sailboat mainsail cover for a 28' sailboat, sewn entirely with my cheap little Sears sewing machine (except for the vinyl band at the top which I took to a sail maker to sew for me).
It was a mammoth undertaking (like everything I do), no pattern (I used the old cover for a guide), and it turned out great. if you don't know what a mainsail cover is, here's a photo.
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Permalink Reply by Shirley Graham on -
To me, that was a massive undertaking! :) Years ago a friend had decided the seats in his boat needed new covers so he cut them carefully at the seams and used the old ones as a pattern for new fabric. I sewed them for him using one of the old singer peddle sewing machines. They turned out quite well. lol He was happy.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on -
My husband did this, although his was more upholstery than sewing. He did the actual seats, not the covers. Either way it is hard, for they have to fit a certain way, no room for wiggling. Just making sure it will fit is always a stress for me. And if they are happy when you complete it, IT is a success!
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on
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Oddly enough, even though I have no patience to knitting and most craft projects, I actually enjoy making practical items with a sewing machine. Sailboats have little storage space, so I created canvas wall hangars with pockets for books, pens, and even a tissue dispenser. That was fun. Good job, Shirley, on your friend's boat seat covers. Yep, my machine is an old Singer peddle machine as well. I've had it over 30 years.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on
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You are creative in a practical sense and in decorating or making the space you love to be in work. Nice. We all find our niche. You have one that makes sailing an organized experience.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on
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Kay that is a monstrous project and one that I am sure took more time and patience due to the large chunks of fabric. Wow. Incredible!!!
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on
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Thanks, Beth.
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on
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I've enjoyed reading all the posts here on the "handmade" discussion. I've done little craft work. It's not something I enjoy, mainly because it takes so long to do. I lose patience. I don't even like cooking because (to me) it takes too long to chop, cut, stir, etc. I say my specialty is opening Styrofoam boxes. And because I know how much, time, dedication, concentration, perseverance, and talent it takes to create these beautiful handmade items, I cherish anything I ever get from anyone that's handmade. Oh my gosh! That is the most treasured item anyone could ever give me. No matter how small; to me, it's huge. I hope you all will continue sharing your photos. It's really special for me to see what you're creating. Beautiful! And Keddy, your niece's quilt is absolutely precious. I love the yo-yos.
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