Saturday, March 16, 2013

International Quilt Day

It is International Quilt Day! So I will be celebrating! Instead of just one day, I think I'll celebrate all weekend! Maybe all week!

First, an introduction: My name is Jeanne and I live in northwestern Illinois. I love to quilt. I also enjoy knitting, traveling, hiking, reading and spending time with my family and friends. I am a retired educator - I taught Computer Science at a nearby college for many years. Now my husband and I are Loving Retirement!

My sewing background: My mom taught me to sew when I was 4 years old - a long time ago! I made most of my clothes when I was growing up. I sewed for a designer for a short period of time - I was teaching at the time and found that if I sewed for her, I didn't have time to sew for me so I ended that little job after a few months. After our boys were born, I sewed most of their clothes. Then I learned to hand quilt in 1987.  I was hooked immediately and have never looked back!

I love all quilts. I prefer bright colors but will work with any colors. I love traditional designs and modern designs. I enjoy making my own designs. I am constantly inspired and just don't have enough time to make everything I want to make! In 2012 I began free motion quilting on my domestic machine so I could finish more quilts.

So what am I doing today/this weekend? I am working on Spring Bouquet by Edyta Sitar. An appliquéd quilt is on my bucket list as is an Edyta Sitar quilt so this is perfect. 

The middle nine blocks are machine appliquéd. 
Middle 9 blocks done! Just need to be trimmed to correct size.
Now I am appliquéing the four border blocks. 
Work on one of the four borders.
 I am also making the checkered inner border. 
This is a photo of the pattern.
The pattern says to cut 1 1/4" squares - 264 light colored and 264 colored. That sounds like work! Here is my tutorial to make it much easier!

Head on over the SewCalGal and see what everyone else is doing during this virtual sew-cial on International Quilt Day.

11 comments:

  1. Wow! That's going to be a spectacular quilt!

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  2. As soon as I saw that thumbnail, I said Edyta! It's going to be gorgeous! What setting did you use for the zig-zag? or did you do it with straight stitch. Just curious.

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    1. I used a buttonhole stitch. The length and width are both 2 on my Bernina.

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  3. Jeanne - that quilt is stunningly beautiful. An heirloom for sure.
    Barb@Witsend

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  4. Happy International Quilting day to you too! Wow...that's an amazing quilt. Something to be proud of!

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  5. Breathtaking quilt. It's quite an achievement.

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  6. Stunning! I like that you have used batiks in the applique. I just blogged about like that kind of modern/traditional twist!

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  7. Beautiful job you are doing on this. It will be stunning.

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  8. I'm happy you were able to join the virtual sew-cial to celebrate International Quilting Day. I agree, retirement is wonderful! Every day is a celebration!

    Love your spectacular quilt. Absolutely stunning. I hope you enter it in a quilt show.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  9. Thanks for your sewing/quilting history. I admire that you sewed your boys' clothes ... I sewed some of DD's dresses ... that was nothing compared to sewing boys clothes. I tried to sew an apron for T#2 3 years ago ... and I felt overwhelmed at having to follow a pattern again ... it was like learning how to sew all over again. ha!

    That quilt is absolutely stunning! I'm with you on finding a short cut to all those little blocks!

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  10. That quilt is amazing, Jeanne. Just gorgeous!

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