..................YES YEAH.......it took 23 yrs. to finish this.........FINALLY!!!! 23 yrs. ago I didn't know how to make up and sew on a label........
It's a nice double bed size quilt.....you can read the story HERE about this 23 yr. wonder............
23 yrs. ago I didn't know how to cut and sew on binding.........I've been about the last 8 months searching for the right binding fabric......nothing looked right......until one day by accident I was digging through some of my older stash and dug out this vintage gingham from an estate sale....PERFECT! I did a little 'happy' dance that day!!
23 yrs. ago I didn't know how...or that you were supposed to hide your quilting knots....LOL...the whole back of this quilt is 'full' of these little knots......I LOVE IT!!
23 yrs. ago I didn't know ANYTHING about HAND QUILTING.....as is visible here with all the varying size stitches......LOVE THIS TOO!!
23 yrs. ago I didn't know that you should line up your seams 'a little' bit better than I did here......the pinky mauve and white strip shown to the left is one of many repair pieces I had to add before I could sew on the binding.....just CRAZY in LOVE over these tiny pieces!!
I LOVE THIS QUILT!!!!! It has MANY warts....flaws....and mistakes....AND was a nightmare to get finished because of all these issues.......but when I finally finished it.....I layed down on my couch and covered up with it......and you know.....I had the best feeling in the world!! This little quilt and I have traveled a lot of miles together ........I THINK IT IS MY FAVORITE!!!
JUST A NOTE.....I have finished some other projects since I started the above quilt.....but this is officially my VERY FIRST one I started.
JUST A NOTE.....I have finished some other projects since I started the above quilt.....but this is officially my VERY FIRST one I started.
doesn't it feel good....I had one that I just finished that I started in 1980....didn't know much about quilting then either...but it sure made me feel good
ReplyDeleteI love the story! It's a charming quilt, full or personality, and it will be hard to make another that has so much meaning or such a good story.
ReplyDelete"I have finished some other projects since I started the above quilt..." I laughed aloud when I read that! It's a fabulous, cozy, crazy quilt that probably will give you more comfort than the gorgeously-executed work you produce today!
ReplyDeleteI love it!! This just goes to show that you should never give up! By the way it is a great quilt. Isn't it interesting how fabrics have changed. I look at quilts my mother made and nobody uses those fabrics any more.
ReplyDeleteIt's your first and your know what they say about your first...true love! Loved your story!! Paulette
ReplyDeleteIt's charming and the vintage gingham binding is absolutely perfect. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThat was a very good story! and YES that binding is perfect! I'd do a dance too! What a wonderful quilt!
ReplyDeletethis is quilt-making at its best. love the quilt and your sweet story.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it, and the binding is absolutely perfect. There is nothing better than checks or stripes on the bias for binding! How fun, this will be a treasure for years to come, congrats!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Belinda. What a wonderful feeling to have your very very 1st project finished. Any other UFOs lurking now you are on a roll?
ReplyDeleteOh I love it too. That binding is absolutely perfect. I like bindings that are different. The whole quilt is just lovely. I'm happy for you that it is finished - knots and all. Isn't it fun to see and feel the joy of our beginnings?
ReplyDeleteLocely, lovely, lovely....just what you will always teasure for all of its unusual parts and the memories!!! Gail
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you for keeping your first quilt and finishing it, warts and all. What a great reminder of all the things you have learned.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story, and a wonderful quilt.
ReplyDeleteThe journey is what this quilt is all about. I love that and I love reading about your first quilt. I never really and truly finished my first one. I bound it anyway. But I've hidden it because let me tell you. Comparing mine to yours - yours is a blue ribbon county fair winner.
ReplyDeleteOh my, it IS a lovely quilt. The binding is the best!!! Thanks for your First Quilt photos. 8-)
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect, because it is homemade and usable and beautiful. It reminds me of the scrap quilts my grandmother made. When we lived so far from her, wrapping up in one of her quilts was like getting a hug from her. Also, because it took you so long there still might be hope for the quilt blocks (lurking on my closet shelf) that were cut out in 1977.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilt! And isn't that the sweetest finish...you SHOULD be proud of yourself. It's good to finish & keep your first quilt...it helps us remember how far we've come, both in skills and time. And I love that binding!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, I love it too. Binding in checks really finished it off nicely - Love it - Hugs Nat
ReplyDeleteYay for you!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, that's an honest to goodness real quilt, I love it too, the imperfections are perfect.
ReplyDeleteOh I love it! The binding is perfect. Quilts like this are my favorite. I think it's wonderful that you have had it for so long and finished it. Just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGlad you finally finished it. I think our first quilt, like our first love, hold a special place in a corner of our heart
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt! I'm most impressed with your hand quilting you have soooo much patience. It's beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it was well worth the wait! And like a dear friend told me. "My quilts are like my husband perfect with lots of character" Love this quilt.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a determined woman, keeping a UFO for 23 years and then fiddling with crooked seams and finding a perfect binding! Congrats on your "first quilt". May you enjoy many naps and cuddles under it :)
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! I don't have the binding on my first quilt yet, either, because I'm not sure what to bind it with! lol It's only 14years old.
ReplyDeleteJust think, in 27 more years, it will be an antique!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for finishing it. The love shows. And we all started at the beginning!
I forgot to ask....how DID you make your label? It's very nice!
ReplyDeleteI wish I still had my first quilt; it was a Sunbonnet Sue appliqué; the quilt was used until it wore out and then I didn’t know any better and trashed it!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful!!! Congratulations for finishing it...you give me hope! xo, Nan
ReplyDeleteLovely Quilt and congratulations for finishing it. I started one in 1995 and I finally picked it back up to finish it. A few more blocks to go in between some other more pressing projects and hopefully I'll have it off my list in the new year.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet, it is everything a first quilt should be.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT, LOVE IT LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteThe binding you found is a hit. And all the mistakes gives you good memoried fron the time you started this quilt.
I tried to leave a comment yesterday, but Blogger wasn't being very nice.
ReplyDeleteSo here we go again.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
Congrats on the finish.
That is fabulous. Congratulations for even thinking about finishing it. After 23 years I might have given up but I am so glad you did. It is a great quilt.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful story and a gorgeous quilt - maybe I will finish my first start one day. But it is just a teen. I did finish a cross stitch a couple of years ago that was 20 yrs in the making and it proudly hangs in my loungeroom for all to see. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing this!! It looks great, and what a treasure :)
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way about my first quilt - everytime I pass my bedroom it makes me smile!!!
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