During my last Christmas Holiday while I was in Montreal- I did my bachelors degree there- I decided to start a quilting project. I did not know what to expect with this project; it was my first. I took everything a step by step. I watched lots and lots of Youtube videos, I read instructions by quilters and I just decided to start.
Once the holiday started, I went to DeSerres, a local arts and crafts store. I probably spent a good half hour to an hour staring at the miniature fabric collection they had. They were pre-cut fabrics around 40 cm* 40 cm. I wanted bright colors rather than the typical dull colors of classic quilts. I absolutely love matching colors and patterns together so that was really fun. I have to admit that here in Bahrain I miss that experience as the textile collection is not much to my taste. Thus, I’m forced to choose my fabric from a laptop screen which is not the same experience at all! When I finally matched the fabrics together, I went to the cashier and bought them! I was sooo excited to start my quilt.
In the summer prior to that when I was home, I had bought basic patchwork plastic templates. I used a square patchwork template to trace the fabric for exact measurements as well as for seam allowance. I was a student then and I did not afford buying all the fancy tools for quilting such as a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, rulers, etc. I, therefore, spent the holiday tracing, cutting, and hand sewing pieces together. Soon the holiday was over and I was back on study mode.
The summer after, I graduated and came back home. I eventually went back to my project. I sewed the top all together. I bought solid fabric to make it a twin sized quilt for my bed. I basted the quilt and soon after I started hand-quilting it! I am still hand-quilting the quilt. I work on it on and off. I have to say hand quilting takes a lot of time!! Whenever, I have some time to spare, I take the quilt out and work on it. It is one of those long projects that I cannot wait to see done!
A little note for you my readers, to start a project, don’t be taken away by all the ‘basic’ tools that are listed online or in books. There are many ways to go about it. Had I stopped at the fact that I do not have a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, and a ruler.. I would never have done this quilt at that time. Yes, now that I do own these tools, they actually do make your life wayyy easier, but everything has it’s own fun and taste!
Please share with me your quilting projects on Instagram #myblossomedchaos
Fatema xoxo
I just finished my first quilt – it was actually a rather fast project as I was making it for my mother and had only a few months before I was visiting her – you can check it out on my blog
https://artisticsharon1216.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/crossword-puzzle-quilt-is-done/
Your quilt has such lovely, bright & fun colors…l especially love the citrus print! I did all my work with a machine – I can’t even imagine how much effort it takes to hand piece and hand quilt the whole thing…Yay YOU!!!
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Thank you!!! Your comment really made me smile π
I just checked out your first quilt and I have to say I love it! I really like the contrast with the black and white and the print at the back as opposed to the solid blocks at the top. A lovely quilt!
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Wow, looks fantastic! Keeping my eyes fixed on this blog! Well done!
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Thank you Becky! I appreciate it Xx
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woooow mashalla
we should really get together & do some shared projects ππ
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Eee that would be totally fun!!!
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