Thursday, January 28, 2010

My First Quilt

I made my first quilt about 23 years ago.  It was a doll quilt to go with the doll cradle as a Christmas present for my youngest daughter.  I measured the cradle and calculated what I needed for a quilt.  I wanted a pioneer look so I used beige muslin, a dusty rose print and a burgandy print to make rectangles, three across and I don't remember how many down.  I kept shifting the colors over one space as the rows went down so there was a diagonal pattern going.  Then I made a border of a dark rose color.  I didn't put any batting in it because I thought it would be too stiff.  I just put the top, right sides  together, with muslin, stitched around it and turned it right side out.  I was very proud of it and it was really cute with her doll and cradle.  I'm not sure where it is now.  Jenni may have it or it is at my ex's house in storage.  I would love to have it back now, or know that my daughter has it.  I'll have to ask her!

Others mentioned the types of fabrics used in quilts.  My mom made a couple of quilts out of squares of double knit polyester fabric years and years ago.  They were tied with yarn and backed with sheets, I think.  I think the batting is polyester, too.  I love them.  They are very colorful, made of left over fabric from a lot of clothing we had in the 70's.  They are very heavy, I love sleeping under them when I visit at my folks house.  I noticed when I was there at Thanksgiving some of the fabrics are starting to wear through so the old polyester doesn't last forever.  So quilts don't always have to be 100% cotton to be beautiful and well loved!

I didn't sew much while my kids were growing up, there just didn't seem to be much time.  I worked full time and everyone was always busy with something.  My second quilt was made two years ago for my step-grandson.  I had listened to my mom and sister talk about quilting and I have been sewing since I was little so I jumped into making a baby quilt.  It is this blue one.

I have posted it before and I use it as my picture for the blog.  That got me started and I have been quilting ever since. 

That's my story!
Marsha

7 comments:

  1. Very nice blue quilt! And I'd bet the first one was just as nice. I do hope your daughter can recover it if she doesn't have it now. Maybe we can see a picture yet! ---"Love"

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  2. Cute cute! I hope your daughter knows where the little quilt is- I'd love to see a pic of that one too :) Christine

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  3. The doll quilt sounds lovely. Hopefully your daughter has it safely tucked away. My daughter now plays with the crocheted doll bedspread and tiny sheets my grandmother made for me when I was little. Interesting to hear that the 70's polyester doesn't last forever :)-Joanne

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  4. Marsha, I'm pleased to see you accepted the challenge. I do hope you are able to locate that little quilt.

    Thank you for sharing your story!

    -Alice

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  5. I am enjoying everyone's stories about their early introduction to quilting and yours is no exception Marsha. That's a lovely quilt and the frilled edge makes it special. Ann :-)

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  6. Cute little quilt.Did you hand quilt it? I love the circles, can't really see them in the blog shot.
    I do hope you can find that little quilt, it sounds so cute.
    Thans for sharing the story!
    Beth

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  7. Thanks for the story;) And I, too, like those quilts made from the polyester clothes of the 70's....pretty if you look at them in the context of when they were made, and functional because you don't feel any guilt in using them;)
    Happy Quilting!!

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