Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Welcome to my page!

Well here goes everyone....my adventure into the unknown.

My long time love of cross stitching has recently taken a back burner to some other crafts that I dabbled into...bowl making....frame creations....a very brief stint into decorative paper mache boxes....and now into something I have longed to do...QUILTING!

I started purchasing books a few years back on how to quilt, quilting for beginners and things like that. Then I started seeing tutorial and blogs....Oh My Goodness! I have always loved looking at different fabrics and collecting fat quarters when I would go to Joann's. Let me just tell you if you don't already know it's a very dangerous and addictive hobby....dangerous meaning before you know it you've spent a good bit of $$$$!

Well one day I think in 2012 I came across a link to a 1600 Jelly Roll quilt http://www.happierthanabirdquilts.com/2011/12/tutorial-1600-quilt.html and I was hooked. But I had one problem, I wanted one in a queen size. I couldn't find directions, or recipes as they are called to make anything but a twin size. I even visited a lovely little shop in my area: Bear's Paw Fabrics @ www.bearspawfabrics.com and asked them. They directed me to the lady that actually came up with the idea: Sara Snuggerud at Heirloom Creations http://www.heirloomcreations.net/. And unfortunately she said it can't be done. So I was discouraged for a while...for about 8 months actually until I finally decided to give it a try.

The recipe for the 1600 jelly roll quilt calls for 1 jelly roll (42 pieces at 2 1/2" x 42"). Well the jelly rolls that I found were in 24 piece rolls and I had 4 of them. I ended up using 2 of them and if you take and sew them as instructed you 'should' end up with one long chain that is 1600 inches long...well because I had 48 strips mine came out to be over 2000 inches long. Once I went through creating the quilt top I still didn't think it was big enough so I added some 6 1/2" rectangle strips on each side....let me just tell you that made it big enough for a queen size bed!
Unfortunately I don't have enough pics for the whole process, but I can share the final product....keep in mind that this is the first quilt I had ever made so it isn't perfect...but I love it! It was a Christmas present for my daughter who loves just about every color of the rainbow along with peace signs...and in case you can't tell...ESPECIALLY the color green!

I think that's enough for a first post...I'm not much of a writer and have been long winded. I did finish one other quilt in 2013 and it was around 10:30 PM on New Year's Eve that it was finished....that one will be for another day.

Thanks for stopping by and happy quilting!
Beth


3 comments:

  1. Love your bright and happy fabric flavors. Reminds me of my daughter.

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  2. Good grief...re-sizing a quilt on your first try! Pat yourself on the back! I've been blogging for little over a year and I love it. Your blog is very pretty. I love the name you chose!

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  3. What an awesome first quilt. I love the bright colors. I have made three quilts similar to this one. It is a fun pattern. I have also wanted to make a bigger one. Thanks for sharing. :)

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