Of course you can still play. Quilting is not a contest in my book. If I improve, then it's for me not someone else. I too want my quilts to be used--that is what they are for. I had to read this thread because "blanket maker"--she must be from the south. Let's go see. No, she is from way up in WI! I remember I gave a quilt to a neice (very southern gal) and she wrote a note thanking me for the "blanket" and I was taken aback. I got over that--it is what it is! And quilting is where it is at!

Loving it!

WOW - Great thread!!

I read your original - about needing to get started and was intrigued.

I am SOOOOO thrilled for you - that you have made a whole quilt!!!! AND a beauty!

I agree with what everyone else has said - all quilts are good quilts!

I would add though - I have been quilting for over 30 of my 41 years and EVERY DAY I read something on here that is new to me! I know my quilts each get a little better than the last - I'm sure yours will go on improving too!

(love the bringing the backing round to make binding - nice and hard wearing and a great quick way to do it.)

I'm not a purest!

Again - WELL DONE!!!!

My sentiments exactly!

I love making small quilts for charity...it gives me an excuse to buy fabric, cut & sew, quilt and bind & no one complains! Everyone has a different goal in life; therefore, different goals in quilting are fine, too. Keep playing with us and your fabrics; you're having fun & that's what counts!

Everytime you make a quilt, you'll learn something. I learn from my mistakes (or try to, anyway) and in this way we grow as artists. It won't be the first time or the last time to make a mistake so just enjoy the process and do the best that you can.

I can't wait to wash my quilts after they are complete because they always look so much better! they are also softer and more cuddly!

Ditto MamaNan, I love your avatar. Never made a blanket for a car. Or is it?

Thanks for showing us the photos. You had me thinking it was a real bad experience but I think it looks looke a cuddly quilt. You are indeed a quilter.

Living in Dublin, (Georgia) we have an annual St. Patrick's Festival. We have two quilting guilds in the area and we pooled our odd squares and made the cover for the VW. We drive it in the parade to draw attention to quilting and our annual quilt show which is held during the festival. We get a lot of attention and have a lot of fun.

Running thru the machine an extra time without detergent will give that extra assurrance that detergent is rinsed out. My son who has allergies taught me that! And for the record - I like that puckered quiltery look on my quilts!

I like the puckered look too!

those little "mistakes" are what makes it your original !!! the is a little ole lady that comes to the local quilt shop , she does beautiful work on quilts , she told me one day there is no such thing as a perfect quilt!!!

Hey Som I just realalized I haven't washed any of mine. I just gave them away. I did't know that I was supose to wash,, I should have realalized because of puppy hair, My helpers. Cminor You do beautiful work, most of my Qts were tyed. That was all that I knew to do, I love you Qt and your binding. Good job. Theresse

Remember, nobody is perfect and nothing we do is perfect this side of heaven. If we wait until we can do things perfect, we would never do anything. It is not perfection that makes a quilt beautiful or comfy or warm it is the love that goes into making them. It is true that we see the flaws and mistakes much more readily than others.

You are a quilter! Your quilt is darling and looks sooo comfy. Good job! Dani

Sharon, you took the words right out of my mouth. And, I too, would be gone a longggggggggggggggg time ago. Perfect would be nice but I think there is a long learning curve before you get there. Enjoy your learning and the quilts you put together along the road to perfection. I think it will be more fun that way.

:P

I can't wait to see your quilt. I don't have one yet, and maybe never will. but please post as soon as its done. God bless. Penny

I totally agree with your statement !!! :-D

I totally agree with your statement !!! :-D

all my quilts are hand quilted and used every winter.I won't
make a quilt I can't use.So what ever you come up with don't be afraid to use it.

I have learned to not judge my work until the quilt has been washed and dried. I looks so much better them.

Sharon

Amen.
You are a quiltmaker, for sure.
Afterall, (say it along with me, folks) "It's YOUR quilt!"

We are our own worst critic. Nobody sees the mistakes unless we point them out.

I agree, there are no quilt police.

All of my quilts are to be used and if each one is a little different.... oh well on to the next one.

All of my work is extremely flawed! I haven't been quilting very long, and see every mistake. Even tho I'm not overly happy with them, I know the more I do, the better I will get. You should see the first quilt top I attempted to make for my DGD, it was my first time quilting. I was so unhappy with it that it has never been finished! Boy, have I learned so much since then! Just keep quilting.

I have the same problems. I think I enjoy quilting too much to take so much time to do it perfect. I want to create and not spend months doing it.

However, I have found a product that helps when putting the layers together and quilting thorugh them.

It is a adhesive spray. Completely repositionable. disappears after first washing, but holds layers together well enough that they don't shift while you are quilting (even machine quilting)

Is this a basting spray? I use one, also repositionable, when I am going to quilt a lapquilt myself. Never have a problem with it. I have a very small apt and have to use the floor area to make the sandwich. The basting spray makes it so much easier. The bed sized quilts I take the LAQer. She does the sandwich and quilting.

I love *505* spray. Couldn't find my can the other day and had to go buy a can of June Taylor Spray. Cheaper yes, but Yuk, hate the smell. If I had to pin my quilt sandwiches together instead of spray basting...I think I would find another hobby. Quick..Easy..Done is my motto! :lol:

I find flannel very hard to work with unless I use a walking foot.

But, I've said it before and I'll say it again.....If you ever run across someone that says they've made a perfect quilt STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!!! If they'll lie about their quilt making they'll lie about other things too.

Thanks everyone! I had a good time doing it. Yesterday I spent about 6 hours cutting my scraps into strips. I had my cutting mat on the floor and was using my rotery cutter and watching the movie Clue. When I was in middle school my friends and I watched it on video all the time. I still remember a ton of the words. My daughter thought I was crazy . . . talking along with the movie :) But it made the time go fast, and now that I can actually see something in the fabric I have I think I will be inspired to make something out of it! :)

I have to agree with all the comments made on this board, its the thought and the time and effort you made to put into the quilt and how it would be use by others. I often wonder at quilt shows that those that won blue ribbons were ever, ever use or if they were just a show piece on someone's wall. To me quilting is about giving and enjoying the comfort that someone thought you special enough to put forth the effort in creating one for you. That's just me and its my personal opinion...there also is an art form in quilting, but then I know a lot of artists and they don't create their work on how the judges decide who get a blue ribbon. They create their work on personal satisfaction just a a painter, or any other artist would do. Do deviate from that thought would not be considered "non-creative" and no originality to the end product. Thats just my personal feelings on the topic.

Grama used to say that a handmade quilt is a warm and loving hug from the heart of the quilter.
I like that and I think I see "warm and loving" in your quilt.

Pretty quilt and such peaceful looking colors. Just keep making quilts, learn what you can and you will be surprised how you will be more pleased with your work.

I try with every quilt to make a perfect quilt and haven't achieved it yet, I keep trying, Oldest Daughter tells me there is no such thing. I figure if I keep trying, I may at least get closer than if I don't try. I can be very hard on myself.

Well said. I bet they lie about their age and weight too. :lol:

Blanket maker. Hmmm. I like that.

I'm with you - I want my quilts to be used - not just looked at.

JAQ

I'm an Amish quilter. They never make a perfect quilt, always one mistake in their quilt (deliberately if need be), but I'm just more Amish than some of those ladies.

I heard somewhere that a true handmade quilt always has one mistake in it somewhere.... other wise it could just be made in a factory

Even factories have a "fudge" factor.
I worked for one of the best factories in that they inspected and expected a high standard of performance. I was encouraged to do it all perfectly, but there was a bit of a leeway no matter what operation.
I know where every mistake in my quilt is, but I know that my work is quality and the next one will be better, because I will try harder.
Part of life and living is understanding that as humans, it is darned near impossible to be "perfect" ... but KEEP trying ... that is the most important part of the process. If we ever quit trying to be better, we become less of the person we were designed to be.
One of my bosses had a sign that I have treasured since the first time I ever saw it:
"A mistake is evidence that someone tried to accomplish something"
Do not rob yourself of joy because you don't get it all done correctly ... be proud of the fact that you can figure out a more effective way to achieve what you want - - a good product for the use it was designed. And, be grateful that tomorrow, you may have the opportunity to give it another go -- <wave>