Monday, August 23, 2021

2021: Week 34 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 


There are two times in each of my quilt's life that I unconditionally love it. Both of these times feel like the quilt is emerging from a cocoon or coming home after a makeover.

The first time is when the backing and batting is trimmed away, making the quilt straight. As you know, the batting and backing is usually larger than the quilt top to allow for shrinkage, and they just hang out from underneath the quilt top, making the quilt uglier than it really is. When they are trimmed away, the quilt looks better than it ever did, and I love it unconditionally for the transformation.

The second time, since I know you are wondering, is when I finish the binding. When I bind the quilt, the back is facing me, so when it is finished and I turn it over, I am seeing the quilt again after a makeover in its finished stage, looking better than ever, with the edges all wrapped.

After that, I can look at it more objectively to see what I did that was successful and what could use improvement. But at those two moments, it is loved unconditionally.




2021:  Week 34 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

This week, I made the Fish and Bubbles quilt I showed you in my last post. As you can guess, I also trimmed the Quote Quilt.


15 minute days this week --7 out of 7
15 minute days this year -- 212 out of 234 days
Success rate  = 91%
 

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15 Minutes to Stitch

Design Wall Monday



9 comments:

Wendy Caton Reed said...

I agree wholeheartedly! I do hope you have a local quilt show where you can display this fabulous quilt someday soon! It belongs in a museum!

Robin said...

This is such an amazing quilt.
It must be bittersweet having it come to an end.

Rose said...

You have did so good with the 15 minutes to quilt. I don't even try any more. Had things happen a ways back that just totally threw me for a loop.

I am sort of like you about the trimming makes my quilt look all new again, and also getting the binding on. But then I have a third...when it comes out of the washer for the first time and is all nice and snuggly. But mine are not art quilts.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

It is such an interesting quilt and I bet you can't wait to get the binding sewn down. I agree the quilts are pretty ugly at the point that the extra backing and batting are hanging off the edges.

Queeniepatch said...

You put that very nicely, and I am sure most quilters share your feelings. Once the binding is on, you can also handle the quilt in a different manner, spread it over the bed, wrap it around yourself or scrunch it up in your lap WITHOUT being afraid of ripping seams, stretching it out of shape or seeing the raw edges get frayed beyond control.

Kyle said...

I know exactly what you're saying.

Kate said...

I never thought of it that way. There's been a couple of quilts that I didn't love when they were finished. Those two I was just relieved they were finished. Congrats on all the stitching time this week.

Cathy said...

Oh, I don't have to do anything to your quote quilt to know I love everything about it.

Oh, and I don't think I have ever squared up a quilt! I just take a scissors and trim around it willy nilly at what looks like 1/4 inch away from the top. I like that extra 1/4 inch in a puffy binding. So, I doubt if any of my quilts are actually square!

Tanya said...

Your quote quilt it so packed with so much to look at and read! It is a real treasure!