Monday, April 21, 2008

quilt in a bag or hurray for spring

First off, thank you for all your great names for the baby bricks quilt, and for your help with the math measurements. I am going to name it Strawberry Trifle. Thanks Anina for the great suggestion. I loved all your names. You all are certainly more clever than I am when it comes to naming quilts. Thanks for your input.


For today's featured quilt, I present to you raspberry lemonade. (My husband named this one.)

Hurray for spring weather which allowed me to take some photos outside. Finally.

It measures approximately 64" square.

I pieced the back using 3 strips to mimic the pattern from the front.

I used polka dots on the binding.

I folded it up...

and made a matching bag for portability.

Isn't that fun? This would make a great gift, if I were so inclined.

But I am not feeling so inclined.
This one will be living at my house.
Actually, I'm going to put it in my van so I have a quilt ready for a picnic at any given time. Because I do believe that we are approaching that time of year. Finally.
Hurray for spring!

87 comments:

Katherine said...

Gorgeous quilt! The colours are delicious and I love the matching tote you made for it. Smart idea to have this beauty at the ready for picnics. I'm in love with all those yummy polka dot fabrics...

M said...

I agree, the colors are delicious. Again awesome job !

Gretchen said...

Hurray for spring is right!

Lovely quilt as always.

Helped my daughter make her first quilt this weekend - for one of her stuffed animals.

driftwood said...

it's delightful, and so is the bag, what a great idea. It doesn't feel quite like picnic weather here yet, but with a quilt like that to keep warm under I could be tempted...

beki said...

I can see why you don't want to part with that one!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Beautiful and love the matching bag idea! I am a particular fan of polka dots. Haven't met one I didn't like!

lera said...

Oh my! I love it! And I love that it has a matching bag and will live in your car for picnics!!! What a pretty picnic it will make.

Mama Urchin said...

I just bought a pack of fat quarters to make a picnic quilt too.

Philigry said...

oh amandajean! I am in love! i love the tote that matches the beautiful quilt! really, how do you do it!? i need try get off my bum and stop being so scared of quilting because this is a duo that I must have! I just may copy you!

Zaankali said...

I love the uniqueness of the back and I totally love the matching bag to keep it in the car idea! How great. You have inspired me.
Smiles!

Unknown said...

i love it - I am always amazed at how different all of your quilts are and how many you are able to make!

Linda said...

hooray for raspberry lemonade, picnics and warm weather,.... finally!

Susan said...

I will bring the potato salad and we will have strawberries and cheddar cheese with fresh bread.......

There is a nice place near Nauset Beach where we can eat and read and nap.............

You bring the quilt.

Amy Jo said...

Love that quilt - and the bag is fabulous!!

Betsy said...

Your quilts are getting cuter!!! I am still trying to get the hang of quilting!

Thriftin and Craftin said...

LOVE it! The bag is the perfect crowning touch!

kat | Taylor Made designs said...

oh I want one!
Just love the concept!
1. the quilt... fabulous. Such great colours.
2. the bag...cute cute cute! Just love it. I would want to use it for other things too!

I think you are onto something...seriously you could market this idea~

I want one our dinners at the beach~

Nanette Merrill said...

Such darling fabric cominations. I love it.

QuiltedSimple said...

What a great idea (for picnics -not a gift I could never bear to part with it). Have to get myself motivated. . .
Kris

Anonymous said...

Absolutely love it! What a clever idea to make a matching tote!

judy said...

Amazing! I've always been a sucker for anything pink and green ... and polka dots are simply icing on the cake. Your quilting looks amazing. I'm building up the courage (and practicing like heck) to work on free motion quilting on my new-to-me Bernina. It's daunting and it feels so different from anything I've done, but it's amazing at the same time!

Wonderful job on the quilt, of course, but it's the bag that seals the deal on it's beauty. It's a perfect picnic quilt and tote. Here's to many happy picnics with raspberry lemonade!

May Kristin said...

Love the quilt, and the bag!

Bee said...

Love the quilt and how the back mimics the front. Another beautiful piece of work:)

dutchcomfort said...

Lovely!! A quilt to put in the van for a picnic. I need to put a picnic-quilt on my list! The bag is gorgeous. A picnic-quilt-bag! My list gets longer and longer...!

Unknown said...

I love the bag you made to put the quilt in. So you.
You are the first "quilting" site that I logged onto and I have just started my third quilt.
I now have a blog and new friends on the web who have a passion for quilting and I see beautiful works each and every day.
thank you amanda, you make my days complete.

Thimbleanna said...

It's beautiful! I love the pretty bag you made for it too. And good for you -- keeping one for yourself!

Roxanne said...

Very cute!! What a great excuse to go on a picnic - to use your new quilt! Great idea!

Rory said...

Does anyone know what fabric this is?? I love it...perfect for a little girl's room!

Rebekah said...

so pretty! What great colors!

jacquie said...

Great quilt. This is such a good idea having a matching bag for the quilt. Quilt a gogo!
May have to borrow this idea.

Jodie said...

I love the idea of the quilt having its own bag - especially if it is going to be travelling around. The colours are just perfect for picnicing.

Sherry said...

I just LOVE your raspberry lemonade quilt, beautiful colors, the pieced back & of course that polka dot binding. That matching bag is just too cute. Hurray for spring weather. You did a wonderful job, you deserve to keep this one for yourself. Congrats on another beautiful quilt! :)

Michelle Payne said...

I totally agree, I don't think I could part with that one either. Love the bag idea. I haven't tried making one of them yet. Any pattern links you can share? I'm so excited, this Wednesday I am guilting the top of my first Happy Hour quilt! It would look so cute in a matching bag don't you think!

Dana said...

I'm totally stealing your picnic quilt in a coordinating bag for the next wedding gift I make. Do you have enough scraps for napkins?

Anina said...

It's stunning! The bag is such a great idea!

wardstorms said...

What a beautiful quilt, I love the color combo and rasberry lemonade is the perfect name!

Helen said...

Well done on keeping the quilt! I would have too, its stunning! Too good for the van though!

Cathi said...

I'd keep that one too! It's absolutely fabulous -- and the tote bag to keep it in is fantastic too. Love the backing you made. What a great quilt for spring!

Kristin said...

Love the quilt, but the matching bag sends me over the moon. Great idea to give your quilt a lovely tote. (I feel silly - I suggested Raspberry Lemonade for your other quilt, not remembering that this one was already called that!) I like the Strawberry Trifle name. I see a desert series . . .key lime pie, mocha truffle, caramel cheesecake, peppermint patty . . . I will name them if you will make them.

Val said...

I absolutely love this quilt. I love the name he picked also. I am still working on the quilt along. I have posted pictures on my blog of what I have done so far. As always, thank you.

Kieny The Dutchlady said...

Lovely quilt and bag; very summery! Great name too.

Jodie said...

You are a quilt making machine!!! I love this one and the name for the last one is perfect..

Jodie :)

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

I agree with Jelly Wares you are a quilt making machine, and what a beautiful quilt and bag...

Tine said...

What a great idea for a picnic-quilt. It has it's own bag! I'm in love!

Anonymous said...

The picnic quilt idea is so great! Love it! Both the quilts are wonderful!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

What a gorgeous quilt and matching bag. You'll be the stylish picniker out there :o)
Love to two names for your quilts. Between Strawberries and Raspberries you could get a whole fruit sald thing going!

Lisa said...

Love it! what a great idea to have a matching bag!
from a dot lover!

Blakely said...

What a beautiful quilt. The bag is wonderful too.

Oiyi said...

Another winner! Beautiful.

Nikki Schreiner said...

This is so beautiful! I really love the bag idea AND the picnic quilt idea. You never know when you'll wish you had a quilt in the car :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I love the quilt and bag idea, how clever. I could not give that up either!

Kristi said...

oh my. love it. love the bag. wow.

Kelly said...

that quilt is so pretty!!
I love the idea of it having it's own matching bag. Picnic-ers everywhere will be pretty jealous.

MichelleB said...

Beautiful! As usual.

Love the bag, too.

Jane said...

Beautiful! Can you name your fabrics? Like so many others, I'd love to copy you! I also noticed that you live in Wisconsin. I live in Wisconsin too! If you hang them on the line I could drive by and see them!
~jane

Anonymous said...

Fabulous idea! I have made one bag like that and am working on the second. They really hold a lot of stuff.

Amy said...

OH my! So cute! If Pink Lemonade gets tired of your house it is more than welcome to come live with me!

Sweet P said...

Gorgeous quilt! I love the bag too! Enjoy using it.

Emily Cole said...

Love it! The matching bag idea is cute too! Perfect for picnics.

G'G'ma said...

Love the quilt. Love the bag. Love the fabric. You are so smart!!!

QuiltNut Creations said...

love it love it love it! great name too! and the bag? perfect!

Chara Michele said...

Oh I absolutely love this one! What a great name, it totally fits :)

Amanda Jean said...

rory,

I purchased all this fabric at a mill end textiles store in St. Paul, MN. It is an outlet store that carries seconds and other misc. fabrics. I don't know that much of this fabric is readily avaliable any longer, I am sorry to say.

amandajean

Amanda Jean said...

michelle payne,

I don't have any referrals as far as the pattern goes for the quilted bag. I made this one up as I went along....I tend to do that because patterns intimidate me so. :)

amandajean

Amanda Jean said...

dana,

I didn't have any larger chunks left over from the top, but from the backing fabrics I had plenty. what a great idea to add them to a gift set.

I used about 1/2 yards of 6 different fabrics for the front of the quilt.

amandajean

Amanda Jean said...

jane swanson,

I don't know the names of the fabrics...they were purchased at a fabric outlet store...although my friend told me that the green and pink polka dot fabric is avaliable at walmart...sorry I can't help more!

amandajean

Little Lady Patchwork said...

I am new to blogging and I find everything that you do so inspiring! I honestly don't know how you do it!

Thanks for the motivation!

Karen said...

Love, love love the bag! I *have* to make one. Would you mind sharing the dimensions and the size of the strips and the straps? I am so into making quilted bags these days!

Thank you!

Jenny said...

Hey there, Amanda. I saw this quilt in a bag idea and I love it! I have a question for you. I happen to have a lot of heavier, home furnishing fabrics left over from various projects. Not quite as stiff and heavy as duck cloth or blue jeans, but heavier than the typical quilting fabric.

Would I be able to use these to make an outdoor quilt? What is your experience in using material like this? I have some really pretty scraps and thought that might be a fun thing to try with your quilt in a bag idea.

Thanks so much!

Amanda Jean said...

jenny,

I have used heavier weight fabrics in a quilt a few times. I made one from old jeans and khakis in the spirit of gee's bend and I have also made one from decorator fabrics. they both worked great. I think I will probably attempt another one as I have a bunch of upholstery samples from a friend. they would work great as outdoor or indoor quilts. give it a shot, I say!

amandajean

Amanda Jean said...

karen,

the bag panels are about 16 x 21 before the bag is assembled. the handles are 1" x 28" and the vertical strips are 4" x 11".

amandajean

sulu-design said...

As if the quilt weren't amazing enough on its own, you go and make the perfect bag for it - awesome! And I'm happy that it will be yours, to be enjoyed, I'm sure, with your sweet kids in the warm weather. Nice.

Karen said...

Thanks for the measurements!

Karen

a friend to knit with said...

what can i say that hasn't been said!!!
that may be my most favorite of all of your quilts!!!
i just adore it. and in the bag!!! all of those fun colors!!! i would be so happy every time i saw that in my car. and elated with my children sitting on it, having a picnic!!! beautiful work!!
and tell your hubby, i LOVE the name!

Anonymous said...

a quilting genius. that's what you are.

Anonymous said...

CAn you give the pattern for the bag? I love it and would love to make one also.
Thanks

Amanda Jean said...

rene,

I listed a few of the measurements above in a comment to karen. (see 5 comments above this one) beyond that, I don't have time to make a tutorial at this time.

amandajean

Anonymous said...

Oh AmandaJean, this is beautiful. I love the idea of it being a picnic rug in a bag. I would love one of these in my car too.

Tina in Boston said...

Beautiful! Such pretty colors. The bag is a great idea.

Jeanne said...

What a delightful and happy quilt! The colors are so pretty. Congrats on a great finish. Love the bag to hold the quilt, too.

Clair said...

Spring is approaching slowly here in LP. More snow last Friday and Saturday. Yikes.

Anonymous said...

I am just beginning a picnic quilt for our house and came to your site (as always) for some quilting inspiration. That bag is a great idea, I will make one to hold our new quilt. Now here's to hoping I get it done in time to use it this summer!

Anonymous said...

I took one look at that & immediately knew that was the quilt to make for my daughter. I just started quilting a couple of weeks ago, so simpler is better. Thanks.

Sapphire Seahorse said...

I know this is late,,, but do you happen to remember what thread you used for this quilt? I really like how it blends in. Thanks for any help. Jennifer,

Amanda Jean said...

sapphire seahorse-

I used serger thread (100% polyester) to quilt this one. it is thin but strong, so it really does blend in nicely.

amandajean

Celeste Creates said...

I am not sure of you already answered this question but what size strips did you use on this quilt front? I have been browsing around and think this might be a fun easy way to showcase my Ava Rose fabrics. I love your blog and all your wonderful creations. They inspire me so. They inspire to be adventurous and to create more of my own designs. I love all your tutorials.

I guess another questions I have is about the Atkinson book, Happy Hour. I don't have it in my shops and can't get at more details on their website. Is it a fat quarter book or not?

Thanks and blessings.

Anonymous said...

Linda!!Beautiful!
Lu from Brasil