ArchaicArcane

DH wanted a lap quilt. He picked out some fabrics this summer (we went together) and we went through my "501 quilt blocks" book and he named 6 that he liked, all in a "Southwest" theme.

Fast forward now to mid-December. I tried 3 of the blocks and decided paper piecing wasn't for me. (not with that sort of deadline) I settled on a lap quilt of 25 blocks, set on point, using the navajo block. I didn't think it through - over 900 tiny pieces, less than a week before Christmas. Add to this the fact that the fabrics don't really speak to me, which made it that much harder.

At this point, I should mention, I've just passed my 1st year of quilting, and I really haven't accomplished much in that time, mostly small quilted projects, 1 quilt and one top, other than quilting tops other people have pieced as charity quilts.

If you can do it wrong, I did it on this one. Put the borders on wrong (didn't ease them), all of the blocks are a little wonky, I really need to check the 1/4" on my machine, I beheaded points, short cut the batting, then stitched "oops borders" onto the batting so I could quilt it, SITD in a dark Navy, then the best yet - I quilted about a 1/3 of the border, and decided I hated the thread color I'd chosen. 2 straight days of ripping!

Luckily, he loves it. (All of the white specks are lint. Kitty delivered.)

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joy

That is a very nice quilt... the colours work well and I love the pattern... well done...

QuiltnNan

looks good too me

JEL523

I think you are being too hard on yourself. For just quilting a little over a year, you did a fantastic job. I still can't quilt like that after more years than I want to admit! I think it is a perfect "guy" quilt and your quilting is great. Every project is a learning experience for me and I keep thinking I will get better . . . and I do but only incrementally!

Tartan

Well I love it too! I like the colours, fabric and you did a great job on the quilting!

ibex94

Lots of love and planning in this quilt. Kudos!! The quilting shows up beautifully in this picture. Good job! Wonky blocks are always the best in the long run because of the stories you can tell. If you had not have said anything, I wouldn't have noticed the cut off points -- didn't you do that on purpose? I would love to receive this quilt as a gift! Your hubby is right to love it! Keep on quilting!! These first quilts will be the ones you really remember.

Celine Fiderio

You are truly too hard on yourself! Your quilt is lovely!! I would have loved to receive this quilt! Kudo's to you for having the patience to finish it!

2011wannaquilt

Beautiful quilt and I think you did a wonderful job.

Baloonatic

I think this quilt is simply lovely! I really like the colors, and the busy sawtooths are perfectly balanced by the simpler fabric prints you chose. The quilted feathers in the borders made them flat, and are appropriate for the southwestern theme. There are many expensive books available on how to make wonky blocks for those of us who are wonk-challenged, but you did it all by yourself! And the beheaded points help to keep the quilt from being too heavy (no one likes a heavy quilt right?)! LOL And obviously the final approval is provided by that beautiful kitteh, so there ya go! So all in all, this is a fabulous quilt!!!

ArchaicArcane

Thanks ladies. Maybe I just got too close to it? I asked DH a half dozen times if I "did it again" - made an ugly quilt, because I just couldn't see past the mistakes. The one time he hesitated scared the beans out of me. His challenges to me were: No feathers (What?!?!) and nothing else "girly". He chose the fill, thought it looked like wind currents.

I'm actually really surprised at how well the quilting shows up. I thought it looked fairly flat on the frame, and I used only one layer of thin cotton batting. It did puff a little when I removed it from the frame and the side lighting helps.

Uhm yes... the beheaded points were on purpose. They served as a warning to the ones that were thinking of misbehaving.