Thursday, January 17, 2008

Getting back to the fabric

Ok, so the knitty love is still going strong here -- but, my sewing machine has been patiently waiting for me to find my way back to it. Or, well, I did hear some murmurings in that direction about a yarn overthrow. So -- I SHOULD spend some time devoted to sewing here on the blog as well as preventing a coup and yarn basket overthrow. I have finally reclaimed the kitchen for sewing space (there go all those lovely visions of family dinners around the table) so there should be more fabric love showing up soon.

In the meantime -- I thought I would share some goodies that came in the mail over the holidays. This lovely, bright quilt was a gift for my daughter. Despite my hopes that she wouldn't like it ('cause Mommy loves it and wants to cuddle under it) -- no luck. She LOVES her gift from her "Aunt B" and has been sleeping under it every night since the postman delivered it. It's lined with lime green minky -- soooo soft. She's even named it her "super soft blankie". I've got to admit, the kid's got good taste.

The postman also brought me a lovely little package from Sam over at Diary of a Mad Fabriholic over the holidays. I won a drawing on her blog and as a prize I got this fun little pincushion kit and some great cards. Since I really do have to send out some notes soon -- the cards are going to come in handy!

And last, just because I am feeling the need to show something I've made that is quilting related -- here's a photo of the quilt I made for Miss Tinkerbell LAST Christmas ('06). This is one where I had pretty much figured out how to make it from a photograph, but I did end up buying the pattern just to make sure I was "doing it right". Honestly? I shouldn't have bothered -- (though there were a few other cute patterns in the book). The method the pattern used was MUCH more fiddly than what I did (let's hear it for Thangles).

The other thing about this quilt is that it shows why, though I love the idea, when Finn cried "All Aboard" for the Orphan Train quilts -- I was left standing at the station without the ability to get a ticket. When I need quilt backs -- um, well, I'm too cheap, frugal, um -- thrifty, yeah that's a good word, to buy large pieces of fabric (there is also that whole -- I love so many fabric designs I usually don't want to limit myself to one or two purchases of yardage -- I would rather have a little bit each of lots of fabrics). So -- I end up having to either a) go out and buy a specific backing fabric (or two or more depending) or b) make do with what I have. In this case -- it was option b. I had lots of smallish cuts (1/2 yards or less) and an orphan block -- hey, it's a quilt backing! So, not many orphans here at casa de cornfields -- but a whole lot of quilt backs that are a mish mash!

Now, to see about getting that sewing machine to stop plotting against the knitting basket...or maybe I should clean? NAH -- there's still enough room to put down a coke -- I think quelling the overthrow should come first...

17 comments:

antique quilter said...

I love the back of the quilt you made last year!
I find quilts pieced backings interesting.
I am going to be doing a lot of that this year as well. Isn't Finn such an inspiration ...
Kathie

Kristin L said...

I think the back of teh quilt looks just as good as teh front. Yippee for thriftiness!

Marla said...

I once made an quilt using fat quarters for the back....Guess which side the recepient liked and commented on......

Carolyn said...

I like to do scrappy backs too...yours looks great. My sewing machine has been screaming at me from upstairs since I've been downstairs knitting, I may have to pay some attention to it today. My longarm has been quite loud in its protest as well...but he'll have to wait until I can stand up straight again!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

What a wonderful use for those pieces on a one-of-a-kind quilt back, it looks great on BOTH sides! Ilove the supersoft blankie, I wonder how hard that is to manage the Minkee on the back when quilting it... That Tinkerbell is one lucky little girl.

textile_fetish said...

I was at a garage sale once (ok, maybe twice!). One of the shoppers said she looks for sheets just for the purpose of making quilt backs. She said she does charity quilts a lot.

Kairle Oaks said...

Great quilts, both the one from Aunt B and the one that you made! I LOVE pieced backs!

Kate North said...

No, no - it's not called a mishmash, it's called "back art" - seriously. :)

Lisa said...

love the colors of the quilt you made your little miss! I like piecing my backs too - more fun. And the quilt backed with minkee....ooo looks soft. Is that hard to sew with (do you know?)?

ZONE F DG TEAM said...

I love colourful quilts and those are just the ticket.

Darlene said...

I like to take the leftovers from my projects and make the backings. I especially like to see the look on a person's face when they flip the quilt. LOL

As long as there's room for a diet coke that's all that matters. LOL

Yvonne said...

The quilt back is wonderful as well as Tinkerbell's new one.
I think knitting and sewing are much more fun than cleaning. And if you still have room for a diet coke.....:)

Holly said...

I much prefer quilt backs like yours that are mish mash and include a block or two. They are just as interesting (if not more so) than fronts. Enjoy seeing your knitting creations. Looks like so much fun but a lot of work.

Magpie Sue said...

Oh yeah, prevent the coup at all costs. Cleaning can wait!

Greenmare said...

Great quilts, and again I am soooooooo jealous of your knitting prowess!
thanks for the idea on where to go for crazy quilt help!

Anonymous said...

THANKS, dear ! I just spent such a nice, funny moment reading your post ! Nice goodies in the mail, too, and beautiful cream afghan under the postcards ! :>)

((HUGS) & smiles to you !
NADINE
(still fighting against that crochetting temptations, but...yarn shops are open tomorrow, HA !)

Nicole said...

Well my goodness, your mess IS pretty big!