enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Quiltsbychristmas

Quiltsbychristmas

How are we doing? Anyone making progress?

I am trucking along. A step at a time. It's a little quilt factory around here and I've considered making the ironing board part of our seasonal decor. I just stick a tree skirt around the bottom and call it festive.

As mentioned, I am making four quilts by Christmas. I currently have one in each stage of production. And yes, I totally know that sharing here eliminates all surprise for the eventual quilt receivers but that's the curse of having a crafter blogger for a daughter/daughter-in-law/niece. (The blessing is that you get a quilt for Christmas.)

Quiltsquares

one / this one is still in squares. But I have laid it out and I have a plan. The most tedious part for me is sewing all the squares into strips so I have to really gear up for it and I am not sure when that will be.

I have been sharing photos on instagram and get lots of questions about the fabric and how I lay them out. The fabric for these patterned quilts is from Joanns. I go to their wall of 100% cottons and spend a long time looking through for the best of the best. I always go in with a color scheme decided. I always pick patterns that have just two colors. I always look for a mix of small prints and big prints. I always look for a mix of graphics and florals. And then when I lay them out, I just don't let same patterns touch. I get the whole thing set up and take a step back and sort of squint to make sure there is not too much "white" in one place or too much "dark" in another.

Quilttop

two / this one is the one I am keeping for myself and is still just a quilt top. I have had it "done" for weeks but am at a total loss for how I want to back it and bind it. What color? Do I want a patterned backside? Patterned border? The choices are crippling me, which is odd – my crafting style is more "attack now & never look back" so I am not used to the indecision. Thankfully I have a lot of other stuff to do so this can just take a backseat until inspiration strikes.

Quiltsandwich

three / this top is sewn and the whole thing is sandwiched! The backside is a nice cream color. Next step is sewing all the layers together (which is truly my favorite part). I am in no real rush though because I haven't found a border fabric for this one so it can't be finished yet.

Quiltcomplete

four / the first complete quilt! This one came together first because I found a great border fabric early. It's neater than my original one (the corners match up much better) and I am so happy with how it turned out. Paul, who rarely comments other than the obligatory, "looks great, babe" was even impressed, so that's a good sign. After Christmas, once all of these have been given out, I'll share better photos and close-ups.

And that's my update for October… how are you doing?

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55 responses to “quilts by christmas / update one.”

  1. Leah Buckley Avatar

    I looove the one you are keeping for yourself. I really like quilts with solid pieced tops and big, bold patterned backs…maybe something like this Anna Maria Horner fabric? It’s pricey because it’s velveteen, but it would be soooo cozy! 🙂

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  2. Natanya Avatar

    These look great Elise! I love how different the color combinations are in each one.

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  3. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    Ooh, love the completed one! You totally inspired me, I have one cut, just need to start the sewing. Lots of browns and oranges around here, you can tell I was happy about fall while I was in the store.

    Like

  4. Vegetablog.wordpress.com Avatar

    Awesome quilts, Elise! I wish I had more of your “attack now & never look back” attitude. I’m usually more on the “crippled with indecision” end of things 😉
    One thing that motivates me to do more tedious work is to get an audiobook or interesting podcast and listen to it while I work. I listen while I clean the house, while I exercise… pretty much any chance I can get. It makes me look forward to those tasks (because I try to save the audio material for only those times)! Maybe something like that would make your squares-into-strips more exciting.
    ~Natalie

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  5. Mickey@EuroAmerican Home Avatar

    Oh my, the green one is soooo pretty. (and I am not a quilt person)

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  6. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    Polka dots would be cool on the back of yours! I’m obsessed with polka dots and stopes together so maybe a striped border? Looks great!

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  7. rachel swartley Avatar

    I’m hoping to make a small quilt for this baby of ours that’s due to arrive in a couple months. I’m not at all sure that I’ll finish it before he’s born, but I’m feeling proud of myself for buying the fabric this past week. 🙂

    Like

  8. Shanon Gibson Avatar

    The quilts look great! I hope to be brave enough to start quilting soon. I need to just jump in like you have and give it a go. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  9. Cady Avatar

    Well done! The blue/yellow one is my favorite but all the gift receivers are quite lucky. I have been in Joanns looking at fabrics I love but being my first real sewing project, I’m not sure how much fabric to purchase.

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  10. Jody R. Avatar

    I can’t find my quilting pins! I just used them in May or June. If I can’t find them by this weekend (and they are in a big round container), I’ll have to buy some more.

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  11. fafuna Avatar

    I’ve never made a quilt in my life, but these posts make me want to make one!!! They look so pretty and cozy!

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  12. elise blaha Avatar

    Gorgeous fabric. I have definitely be thinking about using a pattern. But I dont know how bold I will go. Love those colors with it. 🙂

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  13. elise blaha Avatar

    Polka dots would be awesome! And I love dots and stripes too.

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  14. elise blaha Avatar

    how exciting! I hope you can make progress before he arrives!

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  15. elise blaha Avatar

    Thanks! Yes, that will depend on size! I use 1/2 yards of six different fabrics for the tops of mine and they are 45x60inches.

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  16. elise blaha Avatar

    oh no! good luck on the hunt.

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  17. -Michelle Avatar

    I looove the black and yellow one. Beautiful fabric combo.
    Why do you love sewing the layers together, but find sewing the strips together to be tedious? Isn’t sewing just sewing? (you can tell I am not a sew-er).

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  18. molly Avatar
    molly

    haha dang auto-correct. i’m glad you got ‘stripes’ out of ‘stopes’. that is what i meant. what are stopes anyway?

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  19. Amy B Avatar

    Totally unrelated to quilts, I just wanted to say thanks for being such a consistent blogger! I love that I can count on your blog to have a new post just about everyday (lately everyday, but I hate to say always or never). So many other things I love about your blog too, but for today, I just wanted to thank you for that. 🙂

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  20. Betsey Avatar

    Always inspiring! I agree with a previous poster — I wish I had more of your attack now attitude! Something to work on…
    Anyway, just had to throw in my totally unsolicited 2 cents on your quilt — 1, totally love it, and 2, what about something like this:
    http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=d03f1776-2971-4520-9326-624fd30860ea&CategoryID=3c79132f-760f-47ec-8cfe-3b34bd9a948e
    (FYI, I know nothing about fabrics/quilting, so I’m not even sure that fabric would work, but it looks cozy!)

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  21. elise blaha Avatar

    Thank you! It is actually navy and yellow but does appear black in photos! I love sewing strips together and layers because they are long continuous stretches of sewing. I hate sewing squares together because they involve a lot of stops and starts. 🙂 Hope that makes sense.

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  22. elise blaha Avatar

    thanks so much! I work really hard on consistent daily posts so it means a lot to hear that. 🙂

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  23. elise blaha Avatar

    that is beautiful fabric! I had not thought of using something like corduroy! I will have to do some looking into it, I am not sure if it would shrink more than my 100% cotton with washing. Love the idea of some texture though. 🙂

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  24. pidgen Avatar
    pidgen

    I just have to shake my head at this! lol. I hate sewing together strips, too!! But the quilting is awesome. Why, whoknows!?
    Well, I actually prefer to hand quilt and am rather fast at it — simple patterns. Anyway, your “you can tell I’m not a sew-er” comment made me laugh.
    And Elise, I have 3 quilts in the process … so I’m right behing you. My third one is at the “crippled with indesicion” part. Oh, I hate that part!! But the finished product is always worth it! 🙂

    Like

  25. Kailey Avatar
    Kailey

    I’ve finished my quilt top!!! I abandoned perfection for the sake of getting it done and I am actually loving the eclectic look of it. I’m hesitating starting the sewing together of all 3 layers because I will have to do it by hand which I am not sure how to do and am avoiding.

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  26. SKUnger Avatar
    SKUnger

    So inspiring! I love your tips on easy triangles from squares… think I’ll have to try that one too. I have so many projects on the go/ in my head and listed on paper…I don’t dare add a quilt to the mix just yet! I love all the colours you have chosen. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  27. Hillary Avatar

    These are awesome. You’re making great headway! 🙂 I still haven’t started. I keep looking at fabric and running out of the store. I need to make a list of what I want before, like you said, and stick to it. Great work!

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  28. Heather Ferguson Avatar

    I just dropped off my very first quilt at the long-arm quilter yesterday! I’m so excited. I decided to outsource the actual quilting part because I knew it would only frustrate me. I can’t wait to get it back and learn how to bind. Are we supposed to link up to you when we get a quilt done? I need to go read your original post again. Anyway, I think I may now be addicted to quilting. All I can think about is what to make next.
    Your quilts are all so pretty, and I love that you have one in each stage so when you get bored of piecing one you can go quilt or bind another!
    P.S.-I vote for polka dots, too!

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  29. Cady Avatar

    Thank you – I think you just saved me from buying a lot more than I needed.

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  30. elise blaha Avatar

    yes! please link it up in the comments when you are ready to share! polka dots might be winning…

    Like

  31. Mel Avatar

    Yes! Keep these coming. I find that seeing other being productive inspires me to do the same. I’m trying to ride your quilt train, but I froze up at JoAnn’s this weekend, and decided to make a plan before heading back.
    Also glad to hear I’m not the only whose partner says “looks great” no matter what it is. 🙂

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  32. jennifer Avatar
    jennifer

    how awesome; i absolutely love the last one! what lucky recipients 🙂

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  33. Kathy Avatar

    I totally love your quilts…the navy and yellow is fab, the aqua one is so cool and the pattern purple one is great…you are very inspiring that’s for sure and even though I haven’t touched quilting for about 15 years it is making me inspired too. Keep up the good work and I know that the quilt recipients will totally LOVE and appreciate all the time and effort that went into these quilts. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

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  34. Krista Avatar

    First one is made. Making two more and have learned a lot of what not to do in my first one- it’s not perfect and therefore it is mine. The next two will begin shortly. Right now I’m working on Halloween costumes! Lol.

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  35. elise blaha Avatar

    awesome! good for you. 🙂

    Like

  36. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    These look amazing! I’m loving the navy and yellow and the greens… I’m thinking of making one for my bed that is greens, yellows and greys, but now I’m wondering if I should do black and white with either yellow or green… I need to get to the fabric shop!!! 🙂

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  37. Colleen S. Avatar

    Elise, have you tried chain piecing the strips? It takes a smidge of organization at the start, but once you get going it’s really easy.
    http://www.connectingthreads.com/tutorials/Chain_Piecing_101__D96.html
    I LOVE the navy and yellow one!! They are all gorgeous, but that one really speaks to me. 🙂

    Like

  38. Jessica B Avatar

    Love them so far! The yellow is my favorite so far.

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  39. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Looking great – just a tip from a daughter of a quilter. If you get stuck seeing how the quilt top looks, get your hands on a door peep (available at all hardware stores) it allows you to stand over the quilt and you can see whether you are clumping colours or patterns. You’re quilts are looking great, I love following your blog.

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  40. sophie Avatar

    these quilts are amazing, Elise! i’ve got a small (no, really tiny) sewing machine, so sadly i can’t make any along with you, but i’m here cheering you on all the way! can’t wait to see your next update!

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  41. Carole Avatar
    Carole

    I just wish I was your Aunt. Those are some lucky ladies come Christmas morning. 🙂

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  42. sy Avatar

    One done all thanks to you! I don’t know how you started with a queen quilt right off the bat. Piecing the quilt top was the fun part. Putting it together made me want to cry and I was only working with a twin. But it’s my first quilt and I’m happy it’s done. Will blog about it later today. Thank you for the inspiration, Elise!

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  43. Daphne Avatar

    I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite–love them all! Wish I could sew. Love your color combinations!

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  44. Skye Avatar

    These are seriously amazing! I love how you jumped so wholeheartedly into quilt making.

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  45. elise blaha Avatar

    I have not! This is great. thank you for the suggestion!!

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  46. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you!! I currently stand on the coffee table to eyeball it. 😉

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  47. elise blaha Avatar

    That is fantastic! Congrats on finishing!

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  48. Colleen S. Avatar

    I’m working on my first quilt for my infant son now. I did it a little differently than the link, but it still made it a lot easier. I chain pieced each row and left them together until the rows were all connected, then I snipped the thread and put the next 2 pieces together, etc. I hope it helps you out some!

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