Once upon a time, in the middle of planning for my sister's wedding, I decided that, much as the happy couple would probably like a new stockpot or etc, for their wedding present, instead I would make them a quilt. In their wedding colors. Sprinkled with little drawings I'd done for their wedding invitations. So that they would never ever forget how hard I worked on their wedding that magical day.
(A less egomaniacal version of events is that there I was, gazing lovingly at the kona cotton wall in the local fabric store for no particular reason when I suddenly realized that those particular bolts of Kaufman "berry" & "sage" were perfect matches to Paper Source's "beet" & "pool," & what would it hurt to buy a few yards each, as if enough to make yet another version of A Day at the Beach?)
The plan, as it came together, was a big field of berry over a big field of sage, divided by a wonky-angled pieced stripe made up primarily of chartruese (the third wedding color), ivory, & black (my sister's wedding dress was this incredible ivory lace thing with a black ribbon sash), backed by wide stripes of grey & my favorite Amy Butler floral.
I was going to send it out to be quilted, but I didn't feel like I was finding a quilter love match, style & schedule-wise, so I just kept putting off the decision, & you see where this is going, don't you?
Meanwhile, I was learning how to do loopy quilting, & also letting the clock tick down until the endless & paralyzing recursive loop of "I kind of want to do it but it's too scary & I don't want to mess up the wedding quilt but I want loops on it but I should just send it out to someone else but I don't want stippled tiny ducklings but I'm running out of time but I want to do it" turned into me finally taking a good look at the calendar, shutting up, buying a pair of quilting gloves, & jumping in.
It was still terrifying. Largely, I think, because the machine I was working on didn't have much in the way of throat space, & so there was a lot of quilt management that had to happen all the time. Plus, turning it around to fit the other half in the machine? Hello, backwards quilting.
But, oh, look how it turned out. I didn't know -- as a little postscript to this quilt's reign of terror, I realized that I didn't know as I was putting the finished quilt in the washing machine -- how the loops would look post-washing on a large scale, but I think it turns out that they look pretty excellent. I used an organic cotton batt, so got a nice amount of vintagey shrinkage, & the whole thing is squashy & inviting.
The screenprinted bits blend in nicely now, too. I did their names + date, the cupcake, the paper airplane from their response card (a two color print, black & silver), & the ferry boat.*
I'm so pleased with it. It's the...quiltiest quilt I've made yet, & I love most everything about it (except for some certain small parts of the quilting, you know who you are). May it keep you guys warm for many years to come, sis.
*More pictures of details in my flickr set of the quilt.
Wow what a wonderful, amazingly special gift. Simply beautiful.
Posted by: jen b | January 03, 2008 at 02:14 PM
You should definitely be proud of all the hard work you put in to that quilt. It's absolutely beautiful. What a great wedding gift!
Posted by: AJ | January 03, 2008 at 02:51 PM
It's incredible. Really.
Posted by: Mama | January 03, 2008 at 03:56 PM
ahh, beautiful quilt! the Day at the Beach is one of my favourite quilt patterns :) and such a thoughtful gift for your sister & her mister to treasure!
Posted by: amanda | January 03, 2008 at 04:03 PM
This quilt is brilliant. You did an amazing job. Bravo!!!
Posted by: Alesia | January 03, 2008 at 04:14 PM
That's one big quilt for a home sewing machine! You did a fabulous job, beautiful in every way.
Posted by: kathy | January 03, 2008 at 04:35 PM
It's gorgeous. The gray with floral on the back is brilliant (!!!) because it makes it less girly. That's a great trick-- for someone who likes florals but does not want an over the top feminine vibe...
Posted by: Courtney | January 03, 2008 at 06:51 PM
wow. Beautiful and inspiring. I just finished a quilt top and back and am planning on just leaving it as patchwork, you know... unquilted. But yours looks so gorgeous I'm having second thoughts! I guess it's that quilt management thing- getting it all the way to the center will be tough. But your results show that it would be worth it. Awesome.
Posted by: melissa@yummygoods | January 03, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Love the quilt. Is the loop stitching a sewing machine setting?
Posted by: kelly | January 03, 2008 at 08:22 PM
a. mazing. all the little bits you screenprinted are so lovely, and make it even better for your sisiter I"m sure. Well done.
Posted by: meg | January 04, 2008 at 02:09 PM
so so beautiful!...i have been toying with the idea of making a quilt for our bed but i am so not a big quilt maker...just a little quilt maker...but seeing how you did this one with the different stripes & the width & length...i am inspired! & i feel like maybe, just maybe i can do this!...i don't know if i have mentioned this before but i love love love the loop dee loops...i always doodle loops & seeing them in your pillows & now this quilt...ahhh so sweet!...thanks for the inspiration & hope that maybe i can do it:)
Posted by: emilyruth | January 04, 2008 at 02:51 PM
absolutely extraordinary.
Posted by: emily | January 04, 2008 at 05:26 PM
It is *so cool*!! I may be biased, seeing as how it incorporates so many of my favorite colors, but I don't think so. What a wonderful gift.
And yes: couldn't you just stand there forever looking at your basted quilt, petrified of beginning the actual quilting? Happens every time....
Posted by: meg | January 04, 2008 at 06:15 PM
okay-- no one-handed baby typing. i have a lot to say about this quilt. it is so good. modern, but still so *quilty*. the colours were such a great, bold choice that translated so well... i love it. in fact, i'm going to try my hardest to copy it in a different palette. i shouldn't say that, cuz yours will be better, but oh well.
when you come, i'm going to need a little lesson on the quilting. and apparently i'm going to need some gloves.
Posted by: melissa f. | January 05, 2008 at 11:44 AM
That is a stunning quilt. The quality of your quilts is amazing
Posted by: meg | January 06, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Goo d on you for tackling the quilting yourself! It looks great!
Posted by: Caron | January 08, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Oh it's beautiful!! And inspiring!
Posted by: Amy | January 09, 2008 at 01:56 PM
I adore this quilt and the idea behind it. I'm getting married in December this year and am searching for inspiration everywhere. Your post about your sisters wedding day even made it to my inspirations book. So thank you!
Just wish I wasn't an only child so that my older sister could do the same for me. Sigh...
Posted by: Philippa | January 18, 2008 at 08:44 AM
So lovely! "Wrestling the fabric alligator" is never easy, but it is rewarding once you've got it done!
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