Tuesday, September 14, 2010

a pair of plaids


I finally got the plaid quilts done! I'm working on depleting my WIP (work in progress) list, which means I've been basting and quilting my tops in pairs. Yes, pairs. That just doesn't seem right, does it? But I have to say, it feels good to see some quilts finished! In fact, I haven't started a new quilt in a few weeks now. I know it's only a matter of time though. ;)

These quilts will be headed to Margaret's Hope Chest. I used the pattern that I designed especially for their organization this past summer. I *heart* MHC. They are spreading HOPE in Jesus' name, and it's exciting to see how they are impacting lives. So inspiring. I had a chance to meet the women behind MHC this past summer and they are amazing!

Now, more about these quilts....

I stippled one and did some straight line "plaid" quilting on the other. Thanks goes to Cheryl, who gave me the plaid idea. It's fun to see how the different quilting looks on the same pattern.

For the binding I used these awesome pixie dust fabrics. I had the blue and the red stripe and I couldn't decide which to use, so I used both. I mimicked the colors of the squares with the binding. I love adding little details like that. And I love stripey bindings. A lot.

When I went shopping for backings nothing jumped out at me, so I went with simple muslin. I already had on hand AND it was 60" wide so no piecing! Bonus! The quilting shows up nicely on the back, too. I'll admit that can be good AND bad.

I am very pleased with how these quilts turned out. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who contributed plaid squares to this project. I couldn't have done it without you!

Now, I'm down to only (ha!!!) 17 wips.

How about you? What's your wip number? Or are you of the persuasion that it's better not to count? ;)

70 comments:

Dawn N. said...

those are great quilts! I love how the quilting makes them both so different from each other. I think I have about 7 WIPs right now. :)

Emily said...

These quilts are even better together (think jack johnson!). I only have 8 WIP's but it feels like 80.

Anita said...

I think it's just better not to count WIP's. :)

Your quilts remind me of the book "Quilting Makes the Quilt." The author makes the same quilt 5 times, each one quilted differently. It is truly amazing how the mood of each one changes!

pippinsequim said...

I have (only?) 6 WIPs. 4 of them are bee quilts for which I'm still waiting for blocks, and one more of them will include embroidery that my sister hasn't sent me yet. That means those don't count, right? 'Cause I couldn't finish them right now even if I wanted to...

Kennedy said...

I love these quilts!

Renae said...

As far as quilts go I think I only have 3 WIP's, but other sewing projects would bump that number up considerably.

I have to keep telling myself to "focus"....

Katie @SwimBikeQuilt said...

Great quilts! Love the plaid quilting. I think I have about 10 wip. I get stuck on tacking down the binding. Silly, it's the last step!

Karen said...

Amazing quilts....love them all!

How nice that they are going to such a good cause!

Cheryl Arkison said...

Love how the plaid turned out!

Quilty Conscience said...

As always, your quilts are wonderful! I just love them. As for WIP's...I'm afraid to count!

Emma said...

Let's see...I have 2 hand-quilting WIPs, 1 quilt that just needs the quilting finished plus binding, 1 top that is waiting for the backing to arrive and get pieced, and I'm cutting out squares for another quilt. So that makes...5, if you include the one that hasn't been sewn yet. Not that bad, until you consider that I have a full time job...

Anonymous said...

great quilts! very inspring!
i have only 4 wip's, but if i were to count the quilts that i want to make...yikes! i would have to quilt at your intensity to crack the #! :)
anna

Tasha said...

Love them both!

Sara said...

I have 4 WIP and about to become 5! There is just so much creative projects to dip your hands into that it's hard to stick with one until it's totally completed;)

Leeanne said...

great job! Neat to see the 2 different quilting styles.

Liz Jimenez said...

Such cozy quilts! A little out of your normal color/fabric palate, but so nice.

WIPs? Hrm. If I count Bees worth of blocks, I think I'm at maybe 6 WIPs? Three Bee quilts, my pinwheel sampler, two Nicey Jane quilts. I think that's it? But I could be forgetting something. :-)

Nanette Merrill said...

17 not bad. I have about 13. But my new years resolution was to get it to 0ish. Isn't happening. Sigh. Good for you these are darling quilts.

carol said...

It was strange not seeing a white base......cool though! Kuddos on getting your WIPs done!!

Char said...

Congrats on the finish. I really don't know how many I have left. I got my new machine (Juki) so I could quilt years of UFOs. I'm doing fairly well, but I have many more to go!

Think Outside the Box said...

I've just finished a quilt for my partner's birthday and now have only 1 WIP- a Sweet Menagerie Nine Patch to quilt for my daughter's Christmas present. Have a stack of Hope Valley waiting but can't decide on a pattern.

Laurel H. said...

These quilts look great! I may have to look into making a donation for MHC. I am in a charity sewing circle, and we have, in just over four years, created 17,000 or so items for charity. When we turn our attention back to quilts (our main cold weather project), maybe I could send one or two of the completed quilts to MHC; we'll see.

Ha--only 17, huh?!! Too funny. It was fun--and very inspirational--watching your WIP list decrease, when you used to keep it on your sidebar.

Thanks for sharing. :)

Anonymous said...

They are really beautiful!

I have 3 wips when it comes to quilting, 3 wips, crocheting, 2 wips purse/bags.

I enjoy seeing how many quilts you accomplish. It is amazing.

Anggi
Vancouver, WA

Clair said...

I have one work in progress...my green, white, pink and brown quilt.

Dree said...

Well, there are sewing WIPs, their are quilting WIPs, there are crochet WIPs...and where does "I bought all the supplies but haven't started yet" go? I think that's my biggest pile. So, yeah--I prefer to not count.

kyishia said...

I am new to quilting (currently taking a beginner's class at a local community college) so I have one wip :-(. BUT, I have ordered 4 jelly rolls and numerous moda fabrics and I can't wait to start on more! When is your next quilt along?? I LOVE your quilts!

cheryl said...

amanda jean, you amaze me with how many quilt tops you can sew up so quick and then quilt and bind them. It takes me forever. I like to have dedicated time to sew and enjoy it, and that lately is few and far between.
I do have a question for you though. I love the quilting you have done on the quilt on the first pic on the right. Would you share how you quilted that?

Arnden said...

I guess it would depend on how you define WIP, I have 5 projects that I am actively working on this week, month, etc. However, I also have fabric for and ideas for about 15 other projects that I have listed in a spreadsheet. Plus I have four quilt tops waiting in line at the quilters, so those have to be added in somewhere. Ack, I must be sick! LOL

Sara said...

Well, I counted the Started Projects in my computer photos, and I have 29. Oops!

This year's plan is to get two finished each month. I did well until May. AND I'm supposed to finish every NEW thing that I start!

Hmmm. . . . Guess I need to rev up my motor again. Luckily I am going on a three night quilting retreat this Thursday, so I will ONLY take WIPS/UFOs to work on there.

Linda said...

you know me, way better not to count.... LOL
Love your quilts, by the way...

Munaiba said...

I feel very blessed. I only have 2WIPS! Your post has made me feel much better about them. Thanks

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

Wonderful quilts. I currently have 3 wips :)

Thimbleanna said...

They turned out great CrazyMom! It's a blessing to have too many WIPs. We're definitely a "don't count" household here!

Leslie said...

that is a great idea to do them in pairs...i love the difference in quilting, and wish i could stipple so that i could have a few turn outs like that. as for how many WIP's i have....somewhere between 10 and 15. yikes!

J Barham said...

Love the plaid quilts! And, they are going to a great charity. I think it is better NOT to count my WIPs or UFOs. I am actively working on UFO quilts for Christmas, though.

Candace said...

I love all things plaid, and especially your quilts. I got busy and finished up almost all my UFO's so now I have 1 UFO and 4 WIP's which I recently started. I have fabric set aside for 3 or 4 more specific quilts, but I didn't count them as I haven't done any cutting yet.

Sarah Craig said...

I love your plaid quilts! I'm dying to try this pattern - I just have to get past some other projects first! As far as WIPs go, I have one bee quilt, two quilt-along quilts, one for my hubby, one for Quilts For Kids, two for the quilt ministry, and two long-term, bordering on UFO projects. Ouch! Nine!! I really wish you hadn't made me count..... And that doesn't even include the quilts on my shortlist of need-to-make!

AmberLou said...

I have only 3 wips! ... and about 4 more in my head. do those count?

Unknown said...

I try very hard to NOT count... But I'd guess I have less than 35... and more than 25 WIPs....

Gives me options!

nettie said...

wow, your 17 wips makes me feel a lot better about my 8 (which feels like a TON to me). Not very long ago I had only 2 wips and then I started a bunch of new projects.

love these quilts, and that they are going to such a great organization.

Suzanne said...

Your WIP total makes me feel better about mine. I don't have a count but it's more than a handful and if you add in the number of quilt ideas bouncing around in my head, I'd have to borrow a few other hands and feet.

Terriaw said...

These quilts are so cool, and I love that plaid quilting design! I seem to be liking quilted lines better than stippling these days. Having 17 WIPs would drive me crazy. Good idea to work on them in pairs. I think I have 5 quilts to be finished and 2 bags cut out and ready to assemble, which seems like a lot of work!

Chara Michele said...

I am definitely of the persuasion that it is just better not to count! :) I love the plaid quilting!

paisley and lace said...

Inspiring, again. More growing has gone on in my abode as has the stack of shirts to be cut into blocks. I always feel so guilty not taking them to goodwill for others to use, but alas, after seeing your quilts, I am ready to happily dawn my cutting tools to do the job at hand.

Toni said...

I'm a little sketchy on the official def of WIP's and I've heard it may be different than UFO's - BUT I have over 100 projects planned - I'm fairly certain I have a "problem"!
Toni

thistledowns wool & cotton said...

simply gorgeous!

Karen said...

What a great pattern to use up all our random plaids!! Love the straight quilting design - great job.

queen-of-nostalgia said...

Awesome quilt! My WIP list is too scary to consider... and I want to add quilt making to it. I am a "newbie" in the land of quilts, but can't wait to get started!

Cheers!
Kristen
the Queen of Nostalgia

anita said...

I have simply too many to count! I did get some ideas from reading these comments...spreadsheets, pics..

and, I'm a knitter too..whew..I'm busy. or could be..

Kim said...

Oh Yes better not to count!
I am impressed with your efforts to get your WIPs done though.......oh may your inspiration splash on me!

Happy Sewing

Vicki said...

I counted last night... 14. I just started something new though, so 15. I better go work on the new project!

Jennifer said...

Love them both! I really like using muslin for backing sometimes, especially if the top is busy or I want to show off the quilting.

Jennifer :)

Lisa said...

Love these quilts, perfect for boys! We had a moving/yard sale again this weekend and I sold some quilt tops to reduce my stash and wip count.... is that cheating?

Katherine said...

These rock! There's something so comforting about plaid. Makes me think of hot cocoa, a good book, cuddled up under one of those beauties in front of a roaring fire. sigh

Um... haven't done a head count lately on my WIPs. I scare easily. ;o)

jacquie said...

i love how you've arranged the colors in these...someone is going to love snuggling under them. i cruised your last 10 or so posts. girl, is there anything you can't do! you never cease to amaze me.
ps...your daughter has the right idea...a fed ex truck filled with fabric!

stacy said...

Thanks so much for showing the quilts. I'm so glad you liked working with our fabrics. the binding looks amazing.

Stacy

randi said...

very nice! i love the old-fashioned feel of these ones.

diplofam said...

They look great!! Can't wait to share them with fathers/sons at a prison in November!!
Carin

Vic H. said...

I selected you for a Sunshine Award because I love reading your blog....check out my blog...

Diane said...

These turned out wonderful. Perfect for MHC as the colors can be for any one's taste.

WIP? Does that just count things that have started cutting, not piles and patterns in the wings? I think the number is 7.... oops 8.

Diane said...

These turned out wonderful. Perfect for MHC as the colors can be for any one's taste.

WIP? Does that just count things that have started cutting, not piles and patterns in the wings? I think the number is 7.... oops 8.

knittinbrit_in_wi said...

It's still 2 less than the day before. Just wait until you hit the single digits... you'll definitely be doing the happy dance then.

Angela O. said...

I just want to thank you for this fantastic quilt idea. My granpa passed away a few years back and he used to wear plaid shirts like these. When my granma was going through his clothing, I hung onto a bunch of his old shirts thinking I wanted to do something with them someday, but I didn't know what. Then I saw your first post about these plaid quilts and it is PERFECT! I'm going to make a bunch of these for gifts to family. Thanks for the ideas and inspiration!

kmodich said...

I was honestly scared to count my WIP's, for fear of having to face my addiction. I was relieved when I counted only 17. At least I am only as crazy as "The Crazy Mom." However, when I told my husband the look on his face told me, not good!

crystalmccrae said...

I love the quilts and the cause.

marilyn said...

I love seeing both quilts with different quilting on them. I've made the quick stripie quilt from maryquilts.com a zillion times and quilted it a zillion different ways too. Each time is beautiful and each time is fun to do. I'd get bored making it the same way every time. I loved making this top and have another one cut out ready to sew, as soon as I get some time off this computer :) Love your blog!

Hannah said...

What a great ministry!

Adele said...

I love these plaid quilts it reminds me a quilt I made for my Dad

Rebekah said...

these look fantastic! It's fun to see how different quilting styles affect the end product.

Your plaids are perfectly arranged in color order, too! You must have spent a lot of time getting those right :)

Katie said...

I really like that plaid quilting pattern. Kudos on whittling down your WIPs!

Anonymous said...

I'm of the persuasion it's better not to know how many wips I have,cuz I know it is too many - LOL!
Angie