Quilting - My Newest Hobby

August 2012 - almost two years ago - I learned how to piece together a quilt!  It doesn't seem like it should be my "newest" hobby, but every time I make a quilt, I attempt a new pattern, so I feel like I am learning with each one!  I have pieced together 8 during the two years, so I guess that is pretty good :). 

I think I enjoy the designing and picking out of the fabrics the most!  I have used a few patterns that I liked, and then I have found pictures of quilts and made my own patterns.  It is very mathematical, which is why I love it so much :), and I can see the pictures of what I want it to look like in my head.  I have been drawing them out on graph paper so I can also figure measures - this is the harder part just to make sure it is correct!

Once I have decided on design and colors, I take pictures of the fabrics and create my design on the computer so I can make sure I like what it will turn out to look like!

Here is an example of the computer generated quilt pattern I did for my nephew's , Levi, nursery!

After the computer, I then start to cut!  This always makes me nervous, because I do not want to run out of fabric, and everything needs to be precise (I do mess up A LOT!).  I like to cut EVERYTHING but the outside boarders before I begin sewing.  These are all of the squares for Levi's quilt:

These are from Lily Jayne's quilt:

I try to remember to take lots of pictures along the way, but that does not always happen!!  Once things are cut out I like to lay out the pieces again to make sure I like what I have in my head :)

I then start sewing parts together.  Some quilts I have two sew the squares together, some I can start sewing rows together, just depends on the pattern. Did I mention how much ironing there is in quilting - and I HATE ironing :)  I have burned up two irons in the last two years :(

Here are a few different pictures of parts I sewed together:

 

Then I sew the squares or strips in to rows and sew the rows together.  As you can see in the pink and grey quilt, I had to label everything so I knew where it all went :) This came after I sewed Levi's quilt in the wrong order and had to rip it out and start over - I was not happy :)

After rows are created and then the rows are sewn together, I can add the boarder :)  This requires more measuring (because I usually have something a little off) and more cutting!

 Finally the back has to be made - I usually used whatever I have left over, but sometimes I have to buy more fabric for the back :)

I then take this to a lady that has an industrial quilting machine and she does the pretty designing and binding for me (my next goal is to learn how to bind the quilts I make!).  Final products you ask??? I have 7 that I am ready to show you!  The 8th quilt is ready to take to the quilter and it has not been shown to the sweet baby that is getting it, so no final picture of it yet!  Here are the other 7:

  

  

 I absolutely LOVE quilting, some people run for stress relief, I sew!  It is very therapeutic - until I mess up :), then I just walk away for a little while and come back! I hope to make Daniel and I a quilt for our living room soon!
Hope you enjoyed seeing what I do in my spare time!