On Friday I finished my 11th quilt. It's the smallest (38×32 inches) and the least perfect but easily one of my favorites.
I decided to skip all the tedious parts of quilting for this one. No measuring, almost no pinning, almost no ironing. I realized my favorites parts of quilting are picking out the fabrics, doing the actual sewing, sandwiching the whole thing together and adding the binding. So this time around, I let myself just stick with those.
This quilt took a long time, over eight months (here's where I started) (and this is the last time I made any progress) which is a long longer than my usual one-week turnaround. It felt so much better to finish after that long delay though.
So, what exactly does a no measuring quilt look like?
First, I DO NOT wash my fabrics in advance. This means (of course) that when I do wash it at the end everything will shrink and wrinkle up a bit (which is how I made my favorite quilt ever). It also means that the fabric is pretty flat when I get it so cutting squares is easy. I used scissors to freehand cut my fabric into squares that were about 5.25 inches.
Second, I don't worry too much. This is pretty much my motto with all my quilts but the difference is that I usually spend a long time trimming "perfect" squares or triangles only to run them through my machine and NOT pay as much attention to my seam allowances. (This is technically very bad. Two things contribute to a "perfect" quilt, proper measuring and sewing the same seam width throughout.)
Obviously, due to the lack of measuring and precision, I wound up with triangles that didn't line up perfectly on the points. And this meant that when I sandwiched it all together (after a quick pass with the iron on the top) and sewed my diagonal lines they sometimes went though white triangles and sometimes went through patterned triangles.
Like always though, the binding pulls the whole thing together. I bought striped fabric and free hand cut it into strips which I sewed together (and did pin into place). I LOVE BINDING. Now that I have stopped hand-binding and just machine stitch it turns out so spectacularly clean and it's the easiest part of the whole process.
I washed it (machine cold, short permanent press dry and then hang while still a bit damp) and of course it wrinkled up a bit but it's soft and awesome. It's 100% cotton (even the batting) and the PERFECT kiddo/baby size and makes a good lap blanket too. Such a fun project for me and a great reminder that I can totally pick my favorite parts of a hobby and just focus on those. I love choosing the fabrics. I love sewing. All the rest? Eh. I can make up the rules to get that stuff done.
This is part of my MAKE&GIVE30 project and I gave it away on Instagram on April 20.
ps: see more sewing posts here, here is an in-depth triangle quilt tutorial and I am going to get a machine binding tutorial together soon.
enJOY it 
273 responses to “project 6/30 : a triangle quilt”
Quilt on girl! Love the binding as well. 🙂
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Thanks Jaclyn!
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I appreciate it Molly!
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Thank you Kathryn!
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I’m sorry to hear you’re disappointed Jen! I have shared 10 quilts on the blog over the past five years, many where I was striving for perfection and many that turned out “more perfect.” Hopefully you can visit those.
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thanks Hannah!
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thanks! I was hoping that donating would still be in line with give – but glad you think this works. 🙂
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worth a try for sure. 🙂
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thank you! 🙂
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thanks Katie!
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Elise, I LOVE the quilt. I value imperfections and SO love your intentions around this project. Good for you for putting it all out there. And thank you so much for all the RAD content that you create for this blog. I am so grateful!
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^^ I agree. The quilt is beautiful, though I understand it may not be everyone’s style.
It’s your bday project, and you were clear in the beginning that you weren’t sure where it would take you, but I’m glad you landed on a straight donation to an organization that needs it.
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HA! I know men who can’t change a tire!
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wow…I’m so surprised by the negative comments. Those are not people I’d ever want to share anything with! I’m so sorry Elise. Please shake it off.
I took my first quilt class and almost quit because I COULD.NOT get the d$&n angles straight. I enjoyed it but was obsessed with the angles! Until I decided that perfect angles didn’t make the quilt more beautiful! Maybe more technically correct, but meh..who cares? Not me. Finished is better than half done and “perfect” –whatever that is — any day!
You’re real and rad and I love your posts!
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You use SCISSORS to cut your fabric!? girl, no wonder it felt tedious. I’m surprised you didnt bust out your rotary cutter. so much faster.
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This is the part where I say you know how much I love an imperfect quilt. And the part where you said binding is the easiest part – well, that’s something I’m going to have to try. I avoid binding, which is why my quilts have been of the sew right sides together then turn inside out and close variety. 😉
Shaking it off isn’t always easy. And sometimes you just gotta be in the feelings for a bit. And I feel moved to say that I love what I heard someone say at WDS once – maybe it was Chris Brogan – about how other people’s disappointment happens when we don’t live up to their expectations of us. It isn’t about us at all. Still stings though. Oof. Still stings. Off to sing some Taylor Swift and hoping you’re doing that too dear girl.
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Exactly. Good grief! Elise I admire your ability to keep to the high road. Hang in there.
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I use a rotary cutter and straight edge and cutting mat when I am measuring. 🙂 just scissors when I wanted to freehand. 🙂
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thanks!!
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thanks love. xx
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Wowzers! People think that they get a VOTE on what is right for you in YOUR life? It must be because they pay such an enormous monthly fee for the inspiration, recipes and tutorials on this blog that gives them permission to make judgements about professionalism. Because SURELY nobody would come and take freely of your time and talent and then when they disagree with something you do, be unkind in return. Say it ain’t so.
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Just was thinking to myself today that when I pull up Feedly, I normally skim through to see what blogs have posted and then go back and click on those that seem interesting. There are few that I click on to read the post as soon as I see it, but your blog is one that I read right away, every time. I thought today’s post was a good counterbalance to your earlier posts about the GTWB and the time and effort you spent on that product. We all have to balance and let some things be good enough in order to fully realize the potential in other aspects of our lives.
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Keep doing what you do!! I love the quilt!! xo
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Yes!
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I don’t even know you but I felt so defensive reading such rude comments. Please know that there are people out there who greatly appreciate and admire your creative energy and talents. I think everyone who visits your site leaves with a new little nugget– a laugh, a great tip, a project inspiration. I just want to affirm you in your job and identity as a business owner, mom and wife. You are wonderful at what you do. I’m so sorry anyone would make you feel anything but. Keep shining!
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I honestly love this quilt so much! Like so so so so much! It is my favorite project that you have posted lately. The color combos are perfect and the imperfections resemble art to me. I was so saddened that you have gotten negative feedback about this but quilters can be cray. My grandmothers were both wonderful quilters and now my mom is too. I thought it would be so cool to carry on the tradition that I took a class to make a queen sized quilt with my mom. There were parts of the process that were enjoyable but overall the whole thing felt like homework and got boring and raised my anxiety versus lowering it. I proclaimed that it was the last quilt I would ever make. I think it’s because I am surrounded by older ladies who do perfect work and I have no interest trying to get there. My mom does beautiful work and when she shows them to people she says “it’s so bad”. I don’t get it. Is quilting one of those things where you pick at peoples choices? Apparently so.
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Keep your chin up!! I love this quilt and IT IS A GREAT PIECE OF ART!!!!!! Don’t listen to the negativity! Makes me sick reading what people say sometimes.
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I guess lots of people here havent watched Bambi! My mom always taught us “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” and I love the quilt.
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I’m a quilter and love what you’ve done, Elise. If I strived for perfection each time, I would never finish anything. A wedding quilt I started for my daughter took me 10 years to finally complete because I was paralyzed by my perfectionism. Now I have released that and do ‘good enough’. My quilts are made with love and even the donation quilts I make are given to keep someone warm, to let someone know I care, and to bring me pleasure in the process.
There will always be naysayers and I’m sorry you have attracted a few here. Don’t let them rain on your parade. You showed a valuable lesson in the gift of imperfection. Keep it up, sweetie.
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I love that she embraced “not perfect”!! Wow, I love the quirkiness of the quilt, and that she knew it wouldn’t be perfect. Shame shame on you
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I have a quilt, started 2 years ago (!!!!!!!) that is still waiting to be finished. It is squares, and I always worried about the corners matching up perfectly. Seeing how beautiful your supposedly “unprofessional” quilt looks has helped to make me want to finish up that quilt, no matter how the corners end up. I love your work, your blog, and you are an inspiration. Thank you!
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OMG, I LOVED this. I am SO SORRY about all the negative (and not constructive) feedback! shake it off! You’re awesome!
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I never comment here, bit after seeing your post on Instagram I had to. I kind of understand that some people don’t love it but who forces them to bid? (Also: an auction – especially for a good cause – is not “selling it”.) You were honest about it and I love it because it’s beautiful and makes you relatable and… I don’t have any words. It makes me sad to see how startled you are (podcast episode theme?) and I just wanna say that I like it. Keep being you – in all ways.
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bit = but
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Girl!! I would buy this quickly, I LOVE it. I am a perfectionist procrastinator and this is a GREAT example of how you can do something and it doesn’t have to be perfect to everyone’s standard!
You admitted from the start that this wasn’t “perfect”! I’m sickened that people feel the need to speak negatively.
Thank you for being open and honest, I’m sorry it resulted in negativity! Shake, shake shake! It’s your word!
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Elise, I just saw this on Swissmiss: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou. By the way, may I suggest that you fly over here (HI)…soon!
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I think this quilt is beautiful! You are my inspiration for finishing projects and this one is finished! Yay Elise! Just keep on breathing and keep on making girlfriend! =)
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ha! thank you Sandi.
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very kind, thank you! I think this was exactly what I needed after the tediousness of GTWB. 🙂
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As someone else said, SO sorry to be a lurker. I’ve followed and obsessed over your blog for years. Your PL core kit is still one of my favorites (and I’m on the CT this year!).
Elise, you’re an inspiration to SO many of us. That doesn’t change no matter how well your projects are or are not received. Take a moment. Do some breathing. I would choose yoga and maybe a glass of wine, personally. You have SO many more good days than you do bad. Days like this I like to believe re-set us, but don’t let that stop you from putting yourself out there again tomorrow. I’m emailing you two podcasts that you’ve probably heard before, but that are pretty relevant for moments like this.
Never forget how much of an inspiration you are to all of us.
🙂
Cheers, Elise.
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thanks Jen! xo
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This little beauty is exactly that, a beauty! The first thing I noticed was that it looks so soft and snuggly and baby-ready! Like I wanna hold it to my face and smell it cause it looks like it should have that perfect baby lotion baby smell! This looks like it was made with love to be used! If I wanted a perfect quilt I’d go to the Target baby section.
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Thank you Lindsay! I don’t even want people who DO really know me to see the the comments. It’s part of the job I guess. 🙂
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I completely agree with your comment ekaterine. I teach my five little ones all the time that if you don’t have something kind to say to someone you don’t say anything. If you don’t like the quilt and don’t believe it is worth money, don’t bid on it. Simple.
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I rarely chime in on your blog posts, though I read every day… I thought this post was wonderful this morning when I checked in on your blog. (You’re in my top three of favorites!) This quilt is beautiful, authentic and imperfect. I love your attention to detail, just as much as the projects you share that have been created for fun or with imperfections included. Thanks for the constant stream of inspiration! I hope you hear the voice of your super fans much louder than those of the haters today.
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thank you! I think there are REAL pros out there at quilting and I have never pretended to be one. My ecourse was about making some fun quilted projects, not perfection. 🙂 B
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thank you!
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🙂 thank you.
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No matter what you are awesome Elise. Hurtful words have no place hear our art or hearts. I wish you had never had to read these awful comments. sending hugs.
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Just want to say your ability to get ideas out of your head and done AND find joy in the process is one of the best things I have learned from you. Your 29 knit blankets inspired me to finish my first baby blanket and feeling like cool, soft, colorful yarn knit in a whole bunch of knit only rows was not just acceptable but awesome. I loved making it. I loved finishing it. The mom cried when she found out I made it for her baby. It was not perfect but it was done with love. I’m 50. One thing that has definitely improved with age is my ability to discern whose opinion matters to me. The rest. It’s just noise.
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