Here is another "quilt from the attic" that I made for my son, Andrew, in 2000. We had 2 cats and a chocolate lab then, but all different from the ones we have now.
The acorns and oak leave pattern was inspired by the bedroom set that he has, which was my Grandparents and looks like this:
It is literally falling apart as you can see here:
Without properly securing the quilt all the diagonal quilting stretched and broke :(
What's this? by gum it's GUM! (can you name that movie?)
Of course coco, who spends a lot of time on Andrews bed doesn't see any problems. I'm not sure it will ever get repaired, but I'm glad Andrew loved and used it so long.
Now here is some real quilt guilt! (see original quilt post here) Every night coco goes to bed in her crate with a cookie. Apparently one night she got a little "confused" and ended up chewing a large portion of binding. Stinker!! Well, I just told her, "you did it, you live with it".....
I got a really nice surprise at the AQS Show in Lancaster last Friday. They included a photo of my Mother's Garden Quilt from 2012 in the program.
My class with Sharon Schamber was not what I expected, but I sure learned a lot!!
here is my top take away from the class. By the way I never even sewed!
1. Everything should be constructed for the quilting process.
2. Use Schmetz embroidery needles in the machine, they are heat tempered and won't bend.
3. Always wash your backing fabric; but never dry it in the dryer. Sharon says the act of tumbling it and turning it add twist into the fibers. She said just snap it straight and hang it over banister, or shower rod. She also said it "cooks" it and reminded us that cotton is a vegetable.
4. Always, I repeat, always cut your borders, strips and lattice on the length of fabric!! Did I mention always? Your strips will have less of chance to skew or ripple.
With all that is going on here, I'm finding it hard to stay caught up on the computer. For the time being instead of emailing everyone a thank you for commenting, I'd rather take the time to visit your blog. If you have a question I'm more than happy to answer it. I love getting questions.
I really enjoy reading comments and I never take them for granted. They are what makes blogging worthwhile for me.
I'll be sneaking back on Friday for a little fun.
25 comments:
I recognize lots of those fabrics in your son's quilt! It's a wonderful, well-loved quilt. And the colors really glow in the long shot. Always loved the warm tans with blue.
Wondering about why we should NEVER dry a backing in the dryer? I've never heard that one before.
Good luck with the move and all that it entails. Been there, and it's often unsettling in more than the expected ways.
I really love both of those quilts. You are very good natured to take the damage so well, although my dog bet up a quilt really badly with his "nesting".
The same comment really struck me, as it did Bemused Jan - not using the dryer for the backing fabric. Wouldn't you want all to draw up evenly after quilting and washing? She would be unhappy with me, as I cut a border on the bias once - it has held up fine, but I probably wouldn't do it again!
Me three, you don't dry the backing? I would love to hear more about the class and I will try using embroidery needles - I use sharp/microtex needles. I remember learning that quilting needles wouldn't bend because of the heat tempering...hmmm. The quilt booklet people knew an outstanding quilt when they saw yours!!!
Love the colors of your son's quilt--and the animals on it. Nice that it has been well used and loved. One question--why do you not dry the backing?
Lovely that they have those signs of being used. Quilts are for using. We even have an antique quilt that I bought on ebay on our bed!!!!
And the way those labs look is fabulous!!!!!!
I'm really enjoying your quilts form the attic. Seeing quilts from your past is so fun, and hearing the stories that go with them is even better. I too love it when quilts get loved to pieces. We have a couple of those around here and they are still special "holes and all". Coco does look as though she feels very bad about the mistake. Too cute.
Loved seeing the quilts from your past. They are all learning lessons. How wonderful that your quilt was recognized as something special by being photographed in the program!
Your quilt looks marvelous in the program! I love your son's quilt! I love the bit of orange in it and the animals in the border. It has been well loved!! Beautiful carving on the bed - I love that too :0)
It looks like everyone is curious about not drying the batting in the dryer - me too! I
I'm not following the reasoning behind not drying the backing. what's the difference between "cooking" the backing and "cooking" the top? I prewash everything and I don't put it in my cupboard until it is prewashed. and my second question: if you took a two-day class with Sharon S., would you finally get to sew?
LOve.love.love that first quilt. Thanks for all the tips you listed. ;)
There is a reason I won't go to Sharon's class. Rules are meant to be broken!! I don't need my aura read either! lol
Coco loves her quilt, I can tell.
Enjoyed seeing your quilts. They do seem to have a life of their own...
Interesting class notes - thanks for sharing.
Have a great week!
That is a lovely quilt. How do you properly secure a quilt to prevent the stitches from breaking?
Your son's quilt is still a beauty. It looks loved and that is the reasone we make them right? My DD has a quilt that is rather ratty after many years of love.
Love seeing the treasures.
Wonderful blue quilt..a prize winner...but the dog got it...that's ok...loved and beautiful.
I love the colors and design of your son's quilt--especially the animals frolicking in the border. That looks like a very cool bed!
Oh, the quilts at your house get loved to death!!
I have been cutting borders on the lengthwise grain for a long time, partly because it doesn't stretch as much, and partly because I prefer not to have to seam my borders. And yes, I have long leftover pieces. : )
I don't care so much about sashing pieces, but long borders have more stretching room.
I also don't understand what you mean about not properly securing the quilt and the stitching coming out.
As a candy fan, I think I can safely say that "By gum, it's gum" is from Willie Wonka and the Choc. Factory, spoken by Violet, the gum lover.
Love your son's quilt and its connection to the motif on the family bed -- very special.
Wow -- I LOVE Andrew's quilt! I was just thinking the other day that I'd love to use the oak leaf somewhere in a quilt. I love how it goes so well with that gorgeous furniture. (Hmmm...there's a lot of love in that first paragraph LOL.)
You've opened up a can of worms with washing the back of the quilt. I guess Sharon would take a dim view of drying the whole quilt? And like Vivian, I didn't understand what you mean by not securing the quilt???
My GOD, does your attic ever sound like fun! You pull out lovely quilted covers full of memories, and I pull out 5-ft-tall silk ficus trees that I can't seem to be able to throw OUT (despite not actually using them for any occasion since 1996...).
I enjoyed finding your Mom's quilt in the show book for AQS Lancaster...they had room to show the whole thing instead of tease us with half of it.
The GUM reference...the original "Willy Wonka..." right??
Good luck with the sifting and sorting. We've been in our house 20 years and I dread moving at this point. I need to "pretend" I am moving so I am forced to sort though all the crap...especially the stuff that has been hanging out in the fake ficus corner of the attic.
In stitches,
Teresa :o)
More beautiful quilt inspiration! I love that your quilts get used: for me, that's the point. I learned to cut on the straight of grain years ago from Judy Martin's books, and I think it really does make a difference. I am continually amazed by the number and the variety of the quilts you have made. Thank you so much for sharing your quilting journey.
What a fun post! Your well used & much loved quilts are a delight to see. I'm a rule breaker big time, I guess. I pre-wash, tumble dry, & iron & fold all my fabrics. The final creation gets a wash & dry to soften & crinkle. Cutting borders on the length sounds like a good plan but there are times when I don't have long enough pieces so I just make sure the grain is straight and cut any which way. I guess none of my quilts will last forever but that's okay with me.
Nothing like a well loved quilt! I expect coco doesn't mind the bites out of her quilt. Looks like she's saying "mine".
An interesting list from Sharon Schamber. A little too strict for me.
Hope you are finding a minute here and there to stitch.
What a beautiful quilt that has been worn with love, that's better than a quilt that never gets used. Coco obviously thought her quilt was good enough to eat, oops. Great to get those quilting tips. How fabulous they chose your quilt for the catalogue, it's such beautiful quilt!! I totally understand you not having time to reply to comments, you must be up to your ears sorting things out. I hope you keep finding fun surprises.
That quilt was well loved! Better than one put away never to see the light of day.
It looks like Coco loved hers up too!
I have had a hard time blogging of late. Time seems to be flying by.
it looks like the quilt for your son was well loved~!
it's beautiful and personal . . . what could be better than that~!?
any chance that it could be refurbished?
btw: how does one go about getting gum off of a quilt?
as for Coco . . . what a naughty girl but how can you be angry for long when looking at a sweet face like that~!?
:-)
libbyQ
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