enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

the quilt mission.

The headboard is demanding a new quilt.

The weather in San Diego is laughing at us : "a QUILT, you crazy woman? How about a bag of ice in front of a fan?" It's been about 90* outside this week. I'm not joking. This is fall in Southern California, apparently.

But eventually we may want something covering us while we sleep. Especially if the Navy decides to send us back to a place that recognizes seasons. And that something should look good with our headboard. (Right now our duvet is navy and navy + black is not fantastic.)

Enter the quilt mission.

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I bought this book because it had good reviews and that top left photo is exactly what I want except the wrong colors and slightly wrong pattern.

It arrived Wednesday, and let me tell you : this book is insane.

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Usually I buy craft books to get new ideas and see pretty photos. I don't spend too much time actually reading them unless I am confused on how to do something. This book, however, is basically a text book with amazing images. If there was a college class called "Quilting 101" this would be the required reading. And I would skip every class, read this book and then ace the final.

I absolutely love it. And I now have so much to learn. (I have already learned that you cannot just "wing-it" with quilt making.) I have no idea how long this project is going to take. And if we want to have a baby in the next few years, I should start on her quilt yesterday so I can give it to her when she goes to college.

But oh man, I'm inspired. If I wasn't so daunted by finding the right fabric I'd be sewing right now.

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33 responses to “the quilt mission.”

  1. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    oh, i have this book and i’ve loked through it a thousand time… marking pages of the one’s i’d like to make. i’m on a quilt mission too and i think i have it narrowed down to two in that book… also, here’s a pic of a similar one to the flock of triangles you might like (http://jennnash.typepad.com/blog/2010/10/im-itching-to-do-some-sewing.html). i’ve had the book for quite a while now, and haven’t made anything… i can’t see which one you decide on.
    maybe i need to re-read your motivation post to get myself moving!!

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  2. Molly Irwin Avatar
    Molly Irwin

    I have this book, and yes Denise Schmidt’s work is amazing. Many “quilters” actually do fabric-piecing, focusing largely on the tops and sending them out for the sandwich quilting by industrial machines. Something to think about, depending on whether your machine is up to the task. Have fun!

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  3. Johanna Avatar
    Johanna

    Oh, I’ve had my eyes on this book for years but feel pretty intimidated by sewing a quilt (not so great in finishing sewing projects over here …). So cool everyone seems to love it, I might order it sometime after all. Another book I like (with what seems to be a similar concept) is The Book of Yarn, which is focussed on knitting. And yarn, obviously. Although the actual projects in this quilt book seem much nicer. Way to go with your quilt project!

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  4. Krystal Avatar
    Krystal

    BABY! 🙂

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  5. desiree Avatar
    desiree

    Good luck finding the perfect fabric. I am sure whatever you make will look amazing!

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  6. Nadia Avatar
    Nadia

    I have to tell you that I saved blue jeans for years to make a denim rag quilt for my son. I mean YEARS! I finally started and finished it, but I was late. I wanted to give it to him for his eighteenth birthday, but instead had it done for christmas. he loved it and he loved that there were blue jean pieces from all of us in the quilt. I even included one of the back pockets from a pair on one of the squares. it was a really simple quilt and he says it keeps him very warm. I made him another quilt when he traveled across canada. this one had a pattern and I have to admit that for my first “official” quilt it turned out pretty good. the part I had trouble with was the squaring after it was all sewed. I kept cutting and the quilt kept getting smaller! LOL! since then I have made more and with each one I learn and grow. I would suggest starting with a simple throw size quilt for practice and maybe even a baby quilt . have fun elise! ciao!

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  7. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    LOL, eventually! 🙂

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  8. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    good point. … Maybe I will start smaller.

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  9. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Fun! All I can knit are scarves so that could be good …

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  10. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    That link is more the pattern I am going for. But with uneven sided triangles. Thanks for the link!

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  11. Leah Buckley Avatar
    Leah Buckley

    you are not short on ambition, that is for sure! i love it. i started a queen size quilt when i was a junior in college, and decided to hand quilt it. insane. i’ll be lucky if i finish that sucker before i’m 60.

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  12. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Oh am definitely going to look into this. Makes so much sense to send it out.

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  13. LizzyM Avatar
    LizzyM

    Ohhh. I love love love this book. Another really good book as far as basics is “A Practical Guide to Patchwork” by Elizabeth Green-Hartman. I started quilting when I was expecting my son, 2.5 years ago, and haven’t looked back. Granted, I’ve only made baby and toddler quilts so far, but I’ve started on a queen sized one for our bed. I’m thinking it’ll be ready in a year. Or two. 🙂 I tend to think quilting is more about the process and enjoyment… but if you’re thinking of using a pattern, buy yourself a 1/4″ piecing foot (or check if your machine came with one). It’ll make the process so much more enjoyable!!

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  14. Lindsay Avatar
    Lindsay

    Love it! I am quilting also. Actually working on a T-shirt quilt with all of my high school shirts. Next up? Alpha phi quilt!

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  15. kylyai Avatar
    kylyai

    Oh, yay! I knew we would get you into quilting, eventually!
    You can totally do it. Just start. That’s the hardest part. Then, get a good 1/4″ foot for your machine. Measure accurately. Press often.
    I suggest checking out Hawthorne Threads. They offer a great shopping experience for fabric.

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  16. kylyai Avatar
    kylyai

    If you don’t want to invest in a walking foot, I’d suggest sending it out. Quilting on a domestic machine is TOTALLY do-able, but is made exponentially harder without the help of a walking foot!

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  17. goshery Avatar
    goshery

    I went to a “Quilt in a Day” class through our local Community Education office and we literally made the darn quilt in a day! We had to bring the fabric all cut to size, so there was some prework, but it was really fun and a great accomplishment!
    I agree that choosing the pattern and fabric are hard; it will be fun to see what you come up with!

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  18. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Oh I love that. I think Ill be cutting for awhile and then the sewing will go fast. Thats what I am hoping at least.

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  19. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Did not know about the walking foot tool. Will be investigating. Any suggestions on where to send it out to?

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  20. Alexandra Avatar
    Alexandra

    I’ve been “in the process” of making a t-shirt quilt all summer, and all fall. I get a ton of work done one day, and then never touch it again for 2 months. I hope you have more “continuous” motivation than I do!!

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  21. Amber Lee Avatar
    Amber Lee

    If you finish that quilt before me I will have to hang my head in shame… I started it over four years ago! It is an awesome book though 🙂

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  22. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    i love to quilt by hand. So far I have 4 quilts to my name… it is wonderful therapy! I realize this makes me sound like an 80 year old woman trapped inside a 27 year old’s body, but I own it!

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  23. Johanna Avatar
    Johanna

    It’s not as much about knitting techniques than about fibres though – kind of a nerdy knitting book. The projects then build upon the yarn classifications, so I found it to be really more an interesting read than an inspiring pattern source. In case you’re lookimg for fun new patterns, I’d highly recommend the community on ravelry.com for a huge selection … and if you can knit a scarf, you can knit anything! 🙂

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  24. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    I have made quilts before and definately a “walking foot” is necessary however if I were you I would make the top yourself and then send it to get machine quilted because hand quilting will take you forever and I’m talking every night for 6 mths at least. Also make sure you buy your fabric from a proper “quilt-patchwork shop” not sure what they are called in America but you would have heaps of them. Don’t buy normal fabric from a sewing shop. Go to a quilt shop, the fabric is stored on carboard called “bolts”. The fabric is heavy duty for quilts and have hundreds of patterns and the right size for making quilts.

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  25. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    Elise, quilting is a passion of mine, and I am working on my third bed sized quilt. I am old school and do all of my quilting by hand. Have you thought about hand quilting? It is a lot of work, but I find it very cathartic. I can only work on my quilts in the winter — too hot to work on in the summer. Also, when binding my quilt, I use a double layer of fabric to help prevent the edges from wearing out and fraying. Good luck. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

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  26. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Yeah, I dont think Ill be hand sewing! I can see how it would be enjoyable though. 🙂

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  27. Johanna Avatar
    Johanna

    I just remembered reading about Amy Karol’s mother offering a quilting service: http://gaylekarol.typepad.com/blog/

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  28. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Good luck with your project! I recently did a couple of duvet covers (photos on my blog) for others. It was fun to do them. It was a little cumbersome because of the size (a king and a queen), but not too bad. Although, I didn’t do anything nearly as intricate as it looks like you have planned! cheers 🙂

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  29. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    no problema! I think the quilt in the middle here might also be a great option http://www.flickr.com/photos/courtney_janelle/5118619803/. I have the hardest time getting started, just trying to figure out the pattern is half the battle. I also have to agree about the walking foot and the 1/4″ foot, two very handy tools. i’ve never sent my quilt out to be quilted, but i think if i was doing a bed sized one i’d def consider it!

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  30. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    I look forward to seeing your quilt. With your determination you will learn to do this in no time.
    I’m in the process of finding someone in my area to make a quilt for my son using fabric and some of his thirst I’ve saved through the years. I’ve seen this done before and I have over a year to do it. I have no machine sewing ability at all.

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  31. Jessica D. Avatar
    Jessica D.

    I follow Elizabeth’s blog “Oh, Frannson”(http://www.ohfransson.com/)and absolutely love the inspiration she gives! She also has some free patterns on there if you are interested in checking them out!

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  32. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    I follow some lovely quilting blogs, but have so far only made a 2 foot square easy-peasy quilt for my son! He does love it, though, so don’t feel like you need to start big for future baby! 🙂
    (I did kind of wing it, and you can totally tell! I figure he’ll appreciate its very clear homemadeness when he’s older… if it survives that long.)

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  33. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I have decided I need to start a bit smaller. Thanks for the encouragement!

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