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”
I can’t believe you would post such hurtful things on a blogspot
Would you ever say this face to face it should be no different online
People who hide behind their computer screens and say awful things like this
Should not be aloud to have a computer
Elise you are wonderful!
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I find the negative judging comment beyond appalling…certainly not your fun and generous idea. As a lifelong Type A perfectionist who is trying to recover from being a perfectionist, I find your perspective SO REFRESHING. You make so many things that I love, love, love and you are right- sometimes good enough really is just that- good enough. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be lovely and loved. I love the quilt- LOVE IT!! And would happily have bid on it to give to charity. Anyone who felt differently could have quietly kept their comments to themselves…but then again, mean thoughts come from within. They are pretty much never actually about the person they are directed at and pretty much always a result of some neglected dark spots and weeds in their own hearts. Your heart was and is in the right place, and you remain a daily inspiration to me and many others. I am so thankful for your blog! It is without question one of the first posts I jump to every morning.
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Elise! I’ve never commented before, but I felt I had to with this one. This style of imperfect quilting is my FAVORITE. I was a total type A growing up with a desperate need for a creative outlet. As I got older, I learned to let go of the need to be perfect and discovered such joy in just jumping in to new projects. I know it’s not for everyone, but personally I find this post and project totally inspiring! Quilting can be really intimidating – I hope that this post helps people see that the final product doesn’t have to be “perfect” to be amazing and beautiful.
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thank you so much Pam. 🙂
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thank you! I hope you finish!! 🙂
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thank you Julie!
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I am so inspired now to just “get it done!” I have SO many half-finished projects that I just lost motivation on (including my first attempt at a quilt…so much cutting, ugh!), that they literally fill an entire double-closet in my house! Ridiculous! Time to GET TO WORK and get some of the finished up during my fringe hours! 🙂
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appreciate your comment! thank you!
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working on the shake!! xx
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headed to hawaii in less than two weeks! Cannot come soon enough. beautiful quote. thanks for sharing! x
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thank you so much!
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appreciate it Julie! and you’re in my head. there will be a blog post tomorrow. 😉
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thank you Carla!
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I appreciate this Lindsay! thank you!
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thank you Rae!
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Perfectly said, Jennifer! The fact that she enjoyed the process and let go of the absurd expectation of perfection is exactly why it’s awesome. In shock over those rude and truly ignorant comments.
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oh that is so wonderful! thank you for sharing!! 🙂
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I love the message that not everything has to be perfect. If your first attempt wasn’t perfect at a new hobby, sport, relationship etc but you expected it to be no one would ever try anything new. Sorry for all the crap you’re dealing with. I’m inspired by you everyday and love reading your blog. Keep your head up Elise.
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hey! thanks so much Jamie. 🙂
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oh I hope so! Quilting is SO intimating. I’m more intimated now than ever. 😉 (not really!) thank you!!
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oh I hope you do!! go Jennie go!
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thank you so much Lauren!
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Hi Elise, I have never commented before, but my good friend Sandi directed me here to see what was going on. We have a large online community as well and never, ever get over the fact that people feel they have a right to leave negative, hurtful, critical comments – sometimes aiming directly at our hearts. It stings, no matter how tough we think we are. I just wanted to tell you how very brave and authentic you are for leaving the comments up here for everyone to see. You could easily delete them, but instead you have allowed a vulnerable conversation to take place, as difficult as I’m sure it is. For the haters, SHAME on you. For you Elise, this has only made me admire you more. From one imperfect person to another . . . big hugs!
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This post made me want to start quilting because it showed me things don’t have to be perfect to be absolutely gorgeous and fun! I’ve always shied away from quilting because the idea of lining up all those squares mades me really uncomfortable. To see that it can be done without measuring and cutting perfectly is absolutely inspiring. Choosing to make a quilt in this fashion has absolutely nothing to do with your quilting capability because we’ve all seen it in action. It’s quite obvious that you’re professionally able to teach about quilting.
What I love most about this blog is that you are real. You’re not Martha Stewart level of unattainable. You have the perfect mix of inspiring – hey I could maybe try and be as awesome as Elise in X – and being real – oh Elise freaks about when it comes to Y also!
On a side note that doesn’t completely apply here…if my grandmother or mom had made a quilt that was “perfect” like this one, and they gave it to me, it would mean more than 300488 perfect quilts.
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Your projects like this have inspired me to actually finish quilts I started years and years ago and I love them for their imperfections. An unfinished albeit perfectly measured quilt is nothing but a pile of fabric and can give you nothing. Thank you for all of your inspiration!
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I can’t believe you would post such hurtful things on a blogspot
Would you ever say this face to face it should be no different online
People who hide behind their computer screens and say awful things like this
Should not be aloud to have a computer
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It’s one a kind and I think it’s lovely. Don’t stress about the negative comments (although you are a lot braver than me by even posting them😄). Keep up the good work!
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Wow, what a shitty way to spend a Monday morning! I’m so sorry. Your blog has been a favorite of mine for a long, long time now and I appreciate what you do in this space. I love the colors you chose for this quilt. I think you took a lot of heat for your dear ellerie posts as well, and I always meant to comment on them and say that they meant a lot to me. I was only a few months out of the newborn chaos myself and I related so much to your struggles. I guess I should have said it then but better late than never I guess. I hope your day gets better—go get a donut! 🙂
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We live in a perfectly imperfect world. Let’s keep it real.
Elise, your work and creativity inspires me daily. Thank you for continuing to post and keep us all crafting. I’m not sure I would keep it up without you.
Much love.
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Oh man everyone needs to relax! Love your stuff. I crochet and some awful hideous things have come off my hook but there’s always one person that appreciates it. 😀 The quilt is cute and for goodness sakes it’s handmade and handmade is never perfect. It’s full of love and personality. Keep on stitching!
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I am gathering fabric to make a quilt for my soon to be 8-year-old. I am SO inspired to let the perfection go and even make it WITH HER instead of FOR HER. Who needs perfection??? I LOVE IT!!!
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I’ve never made a triangle quilt like this but I’m secretly in love with your diagonal stitching through the triangles! This makes me want to start cutting squares and threading the sewing machine. It’s unique and perfect 🙂
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Because we live in a world of Instagrammed perfection, it’s nice to see people expressing their creativity in imperfectly perfect ways. Art (crafting, quilting, writing, drawing, painting, etc.) is completely subjective. At least you are DOING it and not just TALKING about it. (BTW, I think the quilt is adorable and would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s home) Elise – please do NOT be hurt, dismayed, or slowed down by any of the commenters here. Keep on doing your thing because it is awesome!
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Shake off those negatives comments! That really sucks- and why I could never be a blogger 😦 BUT I have to say, this quilt actually kinda inspired me to try to make a quilt again! My favorite part is the patterns and the sewing…..I think I want to even go a step further and not even cut triangles. Maybe do just squares? (Who am I kidding, I don’t have time for any of it! But if I did, I would embrace the un-perfectness)
Thank you for sharing. I think you are a creative genius!
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I have to say that I’m shocked people would criticize something that was first a) being GIVEN away and then b) being sold for a donation to a great organization. I’m so sorry this happened, and I hope that you won’t let the opinions of those haters affect your future Make & Give projects!
“The Golden Rule” people. Think before you type!
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Love the colors you chose for the quilt. I’d love to wrap my sweet girl up in it for some snuggles and stories. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
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Oh my gosh people. Wow! I quilt and sometimes the tediousness and perfectionist part of quilting totally turns me off and makes me not do it at all. She was just embracing the parts of quilting she loves and enjoys and throwing out the parts she doesn’t enjoy for this one project. I say if you enjoy certain parts, but not others and the parts that turn you off are making you not do that project, then leave them out for once and just enjoy the parts you crave. Wow! Don’t be so mean. I personally love that you created it and finished it and made something. You go!!
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Honestly Elise – if you tried to make this again, exactly the same you couldn’t. And neither could anyone else! That is what handmade is. The imperfections in anything, large or small are the best bits. I wrote only today about process in the studio. That some days flow – others don’t, but as artists and crafter we press on. I make toys for a living and if I didn’t enjoy the process, I wouldn’t be making them anymore! Please don’t let other people’s apparent disappointment in you get you down. I love this quilt and all it represents!
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I think that a quilt like this would inspire me to try my own hand at quilting and not be afraid of the imperfections. I’m so impressed with you and not engaging directly with the negative commenters.
I also just made a quick donation to Habitat because it’s a good cause!
go Elise go!
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As soon as I saw the photos over my lunch break, I said to myself, “I LOVE this quilt!” I’ve been trying for a long time to free myself from the need to be perfect in all aspects of life, and quilting is one of those areas where I’ve let myself get held up by the need for perfection. I don’t like needing expensive tools, and I don’t like having to spend a lot of time, to make something that I love. Thanks again for the inspiration — your blog is one where I am constantly emailing posts to myself and collecting them for “someday” projects. 🙂
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Elise,
I have loved your blog for so long! Chin up buttercup!! I live in rural Colorado where quilting by the older generations is serious business. I made this fun, super modern, circle quilt for my daughter when she was born. I got so many compliments on it I decided to enter it in the corn festival (yes, that is a thing lol) quilt show. There was a lady that came up to me in the middle of the show and told me, “she needed me to wait for her to print me off some instructions for how to bind quilts properly and we’d obviously need to take my binding off and start over.” I was humiliated, but I’ve had more people ask me for the pattern to that quilt than anything else I’ve made my kids. What you said resonated with me so much, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be loved. I haven’t quilted since, but today I’m going down during nap time to finish the binding on a quilt and it won’t be perfect, but my kiddos will love it. You do great work for tired, frazzled Mamas everywhere. Haters are going to hate and I think most people are with me when I say, “Thank goodness we didn’t grow up in their households!” I so wish you would have auctioned your quilt because I think the price it went for would have astonished you! Don’t drop your torch over a few sad people, your light does far greater good when you are carrying it.
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Elise-
I check your blog every day. I am too much of a perfectionist in that it can paralyze my creations. You don’t let that happen. I love the colors in this quilt. so bright and cheery. I hope you feel cheered by IG as I read the comments and agree with all of them! Don’t let some cranky peeps drain your joy. This quilt is joyful. Thanks for sharing so much of your process and the outcomes! Love your blog! -Wendy
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So I’m no quilter, but I think it’s beautiful, Elise! Some people have no sense of wabi sabi… You’re an inspiration to so many people (including me) – keep up your awesome work!
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When a person is considered an expert, people don’t expect imperfection even when it is intentional. They just don’t expect to see you share it
Next time consider your intentions and weigh the positive against the negative. Also consider yourself blessed and fortunate to have readers that care and stand by ready to defend you 🙂
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I am a bit of a perfectionist at scrapbooking and quilting and it does slow me down! I’m totally down with the fun squarish squares and imperfect alignment but I think the lack of ironed seams would make bumps that would drive me bonkers to use he quilt. 😄. I’d need thick batting to overcome for myself….. But for you that’s awesome! To each their own.
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I personally am so sad that anyone would feel that they can say such nasty things about you and your quilt. I am someone who is frequently afraid to start a project because I’m not sure I can get it just perfect. 😦 I love coming here and seeing all the beautiful things you create and how you live such a full life. Thank you for showing me how beautiful an imperfect project can be and for giving me that little extra push towards creating in my own life.
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I’ve read this post hours ago and was really shocked when I got around this comment mess right now via instagram.
I’m really sorry Elise, as many said before, this quilt stands for it’s own and is beautiful in it’s imperfection. It shows you are “real” after all 😉 Makers make stuff, not everything turns out even and thats ok.
I love your work and adore your person even more aftrer this post.
And I don’t get it, why need people to spend to write such nasty comments, why don’t they use their time productive? Do they this this is productive?
Who doesn’t like this quilt does not have to spend money on it, nobody is forced to do, so why?
My only conclusio , those people are not able to make or produce something beautiful on their own, so they are just able to write this s*** comments…
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I love this quilt, but I love the process even more! I play the violin and most practice days are intense days striving for perfection–that is definitely important and has its place. But some days I just let go and play and not worry about making mistakes–those days are why I play the violin! This is you just letting go and playing and I love it! You created something beautiful and reminded us all that playing is okay and fun! And you finished a project and showed us how to get it DONE (even if you’re not feeling every step of the process), which I think TOTALLY fits with your brand and your online image.
I don’t understand the negative comments but I hope you’re able to focus on all the people who love you–we wouldn’t trade a perfect quilt for this post any day!
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Wow! I never knew there was such a thing as the IQP (Internet Quilt Police). I have made two quilt tops by hand with no machine. I flew through the process and ended up with nearly all of my squares askew and uneven. I took the tops to a quilt shop for piecing and quilting so that these would be functional blankets. They are far, far from perfect but they are the most beloved and treasured blankets in the house. It literally baffles the heck out of me that people would read a blog/see a post and offer criticism so freely. To my untrained eye, that quilt looked adorable. Who knows, it may now earn its own hashtag on IG and become famous. In addition, look at the traffic your blog has gotten (win), the anticipation of your next make/give project (win), more blog content (win), podcast content (win) so let the IQP have their moment.
Tomorrow is a new day! Cheers!
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Thank you for being real and vulnerable, for sharing the imperfect projects too and inspiring me to try something new instead of letting fear of failure control me. I’m excited to make my own imperfect, non-stressful quilt now because yours turned out so imperfectly beautiful and full of love!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting us be part of your journey!
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