Friday, October 03, 2008

little bits


I just finished this quilt this afternoon. The pattern is from the book Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I love the simplicity, the limited color scheme, the little bits floating. I really enjoyed piecing this one. The quilting scared me, because I do not like straight line quilting, but there was more room for error than I first thought. I used 1" masking tape to mark my quilting lines, which worked like a charm. Some lines are wider than others, but it doesn't jump out like I was originally thinking it might. Whew.


For the back I went to my local quilt shop and I bought the rest of the bolt of this fabric. There was barely enough for the backing....but I squeaked by with so very little waste on any of the 4 sides of the quilt. In fact, this is all the trimmings I had left...

...from the entire quilt. That was pretty fun for the frugal side of me. :)
Now, I'll I need to do is label this quilt and it'll be done. It measures 43" x 54".
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Thanks for all your kind words on my 400th post. I decided to pick a random number from all the comments and #3, Amy @ Park City Girl, is my winner! Amy, I'll be sending you a package of fabric soon.

67 comments:

Alissa said...

Wow! That's amazing that you has so few scraps!! I'm impressed. And the quilt is so so nice. I love the colors.

Unknown said...

Great quilt! Very simply but lovely! I agree, I like the little bits floating.

Erin said...

I think it's just lovely!

and great job on so little waste! :)

Anonymous said...

I love it, I think I'll try it to practice my machine quilting.

LeeAnn said...

The masking tape is a great tip. I love it the quilt!

lera said...

I love those colors! It's beautiful. Gee. Stippling intimidates me, but now the thought of *straight* lines intimidates me, too.

Great job, Amandajean.

nettie said...

I can't believe how little your trimmings are--that's awesome!

This is a fabulous quilt! I REALLY, REALLY like it. I need to do more simple quilts, I guess in my mind I'm afraid it'll be too plain, but I always love simple quilts!

Beth said...

Love the quilting, it really stands out!

MichelleB said...

Love it! You are such an inspiration. I feel so old school compared to you! LOL

Leslie said...

I am in awe of you and all your quilts everytime I come to your blog! They are amazing! Question for you, What batting do you prefer? Does it depend on what the quilt is going to be used for? I am working on 3 quilts for christmas and don't know what to do for the batting. Thanks.

Katie Jean said...

Oh, I love this quilt! The colors are just perfect and I adore the simplicity. I've been admiring it in the book since I received my copy!

Lauren The Artist said...

Love the effect and that back fabric is gorgeous.

Robin said...

Gorgeous! Your quilting looks lovely. And you definitely found the perfect backing fabric for the project. I think I'm going to have to pull out my copy of the book and do one too!

anne said...

oooh I love that quilt. I have seen this book on Amazon but have not bought it as I thought it was lots of little projects, not quilts. Is this book, in your opinion worth buying. I also was thinking about the Denyse Schmidt quilt book. Any help with these. Love the label tutorial. Thank you for sharing.

Amanda Jean said...

leslie,

I use warm and white cotton batting. or else warm and natural cotton batting as a second choice. both are great products. I buy mine at joann's by the yard and try to buy it on sale or with a coupon.

aj

Sarah said...

gee wiz woman! the amount of beautiful quilts you produce is astounding! such an inspiration!

Amanda Jean said...

anne,

I just checked out this book from the library, I don't own it. I do own the denyse schmidt quilts book, however. I got it for my birthday last year and I am constantly inspired by it when I open it. I own very very few quilt books (like 2 or 3 newer ones) and that is one of them. hope that helps!

aj

jacqui jones said...

thanks for the tip on the masking tape...thats one i will try for sure

Myra said...

I am impressed! A very simple quilt top to put together, simple in appearance, but very attractive. Nicely done!
The simple straight line quilting looks great too! Love the backing!

Anjuli Fry said...

You are such an inspiration! I love this quilt! I have followed your blog for a while and you have given me such great ideas. I have 3 young boys so don't get much sewing in can't wait until I have more time to try out some of the ideas you have shared.

Beth said...

I really love this one! The confetti bits really pop with the simplicity of the quilt. The backing is so much fun, too, because of the plain brown on the front.

Roxanne said...

This is beautiful Amanda! I love the quilting!! That is an amazing book...I think I might have to add it to my Christmas list for the hubby!!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

wow! I love it. nice job! simple is better!

Sarah said...

Beautiful! I LOVE brown and blue together!

Nanette Merrill said...

it's very striking and so simply modern. Classic too. The tape was genius.

Mia said...

wow! that is soooooooo beautiful, I would totally buy that!

Unknown said...

I love your quilt and the straight lines look perfect! Thanks so much I'm excited to see what you send :)

Heather said...

I am now convinced you are a machine and have been programmed to create beautiful things at such an accelerated rate the rest of us can only mumble and drool in awe.
This is the only reason I can come up with to explain the envy I am feeling right now. Carry on, Crafty Wonder Woman.

Julie said...

Great quilt, simple but classy. I am looking for a design to make a wallhanging for above our bed. Something like this could work really well.

Melanie said...

I love this quilt! I'm definitely going to have to make it!

Your blog is the best. I have no idea how you find the time to sew everything!

Cindy @ Creating at Home said...

What an awesome quilt! I love it!

kirsten said...

That is one YUMMY quilt! And the backing fabric is pretty delicious, too.

Anonymous said...

I really, really like the quilt and it IS stunning in it's simplicity!
Congratulations Amy!

Lisa said...

gorgeous! do you ever sleep????

Sunny said...

Wow, the simplicity this quilt is fabulous. The color combo hot! Awesome job as always. Love your blog and tutes.

Nichole said...

That quilting looks great! Love it! :)

jacquie said...

love that backing fabric! the quilt is stunning...the little bits are striking. great work as usual!

Anina said...

Another beautiful quilt! I'm so jealous - I wish I could magically create more time to quilt.

house on hill road said...

it's beautiful, aj!

Jodie said...

I love those little floaty bits.
they kind of sparkle - in a fabricy way if that makes sense.

Thimbleanna said...

Ok. Do you EVER sleep??? You must share your secret! Another beautiful quilt -- as always!!!

Karen said...

Hi aj...I have to agree with Leslie (above) who just happens to be my youngest daughter;) You and your quilts are very inspirational! She left out the part that she's new, this year, to quilting and that the three quilts she's working on are the first quilts that she's made. One of them is her own design and I have suggest that she take pictures of the whole process and posts them on her blog. She's amazing!

Karen said...

Congrats, also, on #400! That's amazing...I'm not even to 50 yet...Congrats to Amy, also, for having the lucky #;)

Amy Jo said...

I love this. The simplicity of it is stunning! And the back is fantastic! And congrats on the #400 - YOU ROCK!

Jane said...

Add me to your long list of admirers, amanda!
This is such an awesome quilt.
What do you mean exactly about using the masking tape to sew the rows? Did you put the tape right on your quilt?
~jane

sulu-design said...

Egads! Woman, you are so speaking my language with this quilt. The simplicity, the modern sensibility, the quirkiness of the blue pieces... I ADORE it!

Jessica said...

I am just loving simplistic quilts these days! Yours turned out wonderful!

Patty said...

I love how this quilt turned out! You chose the perfect quilting pattern; it really brings out the simplicity of your quilt.

Leah said...

I just love the backing! I've been waiting to see one of these quilts reproduced from the book - I think I might have to try my hand now. Well done!

Philigry said...

one of my favorite color combinations!

Dandelion Quilts said...

Everything you do, I always just love. I particularly like the colors this time. Oh, and thanks for the checkbook tutorial....how easy is that? And so cute! I will be posting on it later probably next week after my swap partner gets her package.

a friend to knit with said...

i love the look of this! and the colors.
and how you had barely a scrap of fabric left. i LOVE when that happens.

Kim D. said...

Your quilt is fabulous!! Love the fabric you used on the back, can you tell me what the name is and the manufacturer?? Thanks much..

Amanda Jean said...

kim quilts,

the fabric on the back is from Timeless Treasures.

aj

Amanda Jean said...

jane,

yes, I did put the masking tape right on the quilt top. then I sewed close to the edges of either side, moved the tape over and repeated the process several times. It was nice, because I could use the same piece of tape many times before it wouldn't stick any more.

let me know if you have any further questions about this...I'd be happy to answer them. :)

amandajean

Anonymous said...

ooh, it's stunning!

Anonymous said...

Oooh, love this!!!

Tine said...

It's beautiful!! And the quilting looks gorgeous :-)

Anonymous said...

It looks delicious!! Love the straightline quilting... Thanks for sharing your lovely work :)

Rebekah said...

this is gorgeous!

Chris Daly said...

I LOVE this quilt!

TaraB said...

I absolutely LOVE this quilt!!!

Sweet P said...

I love the back of this quilt. The turquoise strip looks like it be great peaking out under the pillows on the bed.

Sarah said...

Love this!

Qubie said...

I too have made this quilt. I made mine out out of black and red. I had it done in like an afternoon all but the quilting that is. I even had enough left over to make a pillow case. What a fun pattern. Now if I would just get it quilted.

Kate North said...

That's fabulous, I really like it. Must make one of those myself someday - perhaps on a mini scale...

Anonymous said...

I love that quilt! I might have to try something similar with fabrics I have laying around.