A Handmade Quilt
I decided to start sewing a quilt back in October (on Germany’s Reunification Day to be exact). It seemed essential that we add another little handmade touch to our home, and I am finally able to share it with all of you. Yes – I’m finally finished.

Creating a quilt in a small apartment is a bigger task than either Martin or I could have imagined. I used the entire table to sew. Our coffee table served as an ironing board and fabric cutting table. Fabric piled on the couch and kitchen counter. When I was ready to piece the layers together, we actually had to move the coffee table completely out of the area.
I’ll admit the colors are pretty intense. I really needed a way to direct the lack of sunshine into something bright, I suppose. I used a pattern from Jelly Roll Quilts with American fabrics and a fleece blanket from IKEA for the liner.

The quilt felt a little overwhelming on the couch with all of the bright colors against the mocha brown wall. So I spread it across our bed to see how it looked. It was perfect. It’s there now, brightening another corner of our home. And best of all… it’s finished!

How about you? Do you have projects that go on forever? A knitted sweater, perhaps? A hole in the wall where the doorknob hit a little too hard? There’s no shame in a project that takes months and months.








February 22nd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
This looks great, well done. I’ve got my sewing machine and all the materials to make a quilt but there isn’t enough space to lay it out here. Hopefully when we move next month I can make a start.
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Wow!!! Congratulations on finishing that beautiful quilt! I would love to learn how to do that. I think it’s just gorgeous and looked great on your sofa! Job well done Katie! An heirloom, for sure!
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:08 pm
The quilt is so pretty! I have 2 quilts that are in various stages of completion. I started both quilts before I moved to this town 5 years ago. Maybe when BB is in college…
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I LOVE it!!!!
I want to do this someday. I keep making excuses but have to stop that and just do it.
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:19 pm
You did a GREAT job on that quilt! The colors are fabulous, and the quilting looks wonderful, too! VERY well done, Katie! It’s BEAUTIFUL!!!
I have at least twelve unfinished quilts from 2002-2005. They are in labeled boxes, waiting. I’ve got family obligation deadlines for eight quilts between now and June 1 (3 baby, big-sister, big-brother, graduation, and 2 wedding); some are partially done. And I have another 20 charity quilts that I just finished, yesterday, that I only need to quilt. Shame for projects that take months? I don’t even have shame for projects that take 8 years or more. LOL! I love the PROCESS as much as the end project. Why hurry? It fills me with joy!
When we remodeled, we put up a permanent design wall (Styrofoam insulation, covered with thick batting), on one whole wall in my sewing room; that makes it much easier to lay out the quilt pieces in a small space. I, too, move furniture when I pin-baste the layers together before quilting.
We must M-A-K-E time for our passions and projects, or they won’t get done. But once they ARE done, they are done FOREVER, which is a VERY long time!
Kathryn Kistner in Texas
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Well that’s just lovely! The colors don’t look too intense to me, but maybe that’s because I have a thing for rainbows.
I’ve never tried quilting before — although I do have a box of fabric squares that people signed from our wedding that I said I would turn into a quilt and never did. Hm.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:44 am
wow, i’m so impressed. quilting scares me! also, love that you used an Ikea fleece blanket as the liner, very clever!
did you sew the sides together yourself, or did you have to send it to a quilting shop? so curious how that works….
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:21 am
Great work! And it fits so nice in your home :-)
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:36 am
I love your quilt! The colors are so sunny and bright. And it looks wonderful on your couch….like happiness exploded there in a rainbow of colors! Well done.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:47 am
Oh I am blushing bright red… bright as that quilt!
Thank you for the encouragement.
As always, Kathryn, your wisdom humbles me. I am thinking of a next quilt… but not sure I’m ready to dive into such an undertaking again just yet. As in… maybe next week! ha!
Juliette, I did the entire thing myself. I’ve never made something so big, so I used a freehand foot I received for my birthday – that made all of the difference. I think that the quilting and binding took far more time than any other part.
Katie
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Katie,
Your quilt is beautiful, just like you!
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Great job Katie!! Quilts take a huge amount of work and you did it! I know how difficult it is to try to sew in a tiny space. I once had to make two dozen double-sided placemats and napkins, and our (at the time) one bedroom apartment was literally covered in fabric strings and scraps!
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Your quilt is beautiful! I have one that took me over twenty years to finish: I started it as a child, but stopped and didn’t finish it till my late twenties. I’m so glad I got it finished!