I’ve just stumbled across Bloggers’ Quilt Festival, thanks to Patch Andi, and I’ve entered my Sarah’s Triangles Quilt. If you’re visiting from the Bloggers’ Quilt Festival, welcome to 25reasons!
Sarah's Triangles Quilt
This quilt is quite special. First because it’s so BIG! The quilt finished up measuring 85″ (216 cm) x 99″ (251 cm)! Second because I made it for my daughter Sarah, who watched keenly from the sidelines as I made this quilt, and choosing some of the fabrics with me, beaming her excitement at me with her huge smile, all throughout the process. Third because it was a real challenge to quilt. I always knew I was going to hand-quilt this one, but when I got started by trying to pin the thing, I ran into such strife! I’d lay it down on the carpet to pin it, and then pick it up, folding it to be able to cart it to the couch where I was going to sit and quilt, but every time I did that, I ended up with huge folds in the backing fabric. So I tried all sorts of things. I lay it on the table, pinned it with even more pins, but still ended up with the same result.
In the end, I gave up trying. I considered hand-basting it, but it seemed like too big a job for me, so, although I was really hesitant about doing that, I looked at giving that job away to a professional, someone who could do it by machine. I felt bad about someone else’s hand being on my quilt. Sounds a little obsessive, but I think you know what I mean, right? Anyway, I ended up giving it away to be done, and I reckon it was the best money I ever spent! It came back to me with 3″ squares basted all over the quilt, and it was an absolute dream to quilt. I didn’t have to worry about whether it would have “pleats” in the back where I wasn’t holding the fabrics together properly, know what I mean?
I have to admit that when I finally finished the hand-quilting, and pulled out all the basting stitches, I felt good. Appreciative but happy that now only my handiwork was in it. Crazy? Yeah, probably. Would I have a large quilt machine-basted again? Definitely! You can read more about the making of this quilt here.
Here are some more images of my quilt. Can you tell Sarah’s crazy about her new quilt???
Sarah and her quilt
Sarah's up on the table!
the quilt is doubled over and it's still "full-length"
the back is beautiful too, just LOVE Kaffe Fassett!
my message to Sarah, written in my own handwriting, then embroidered
