Hi everyone. I'm new here and thought I'd start off posting pictures of the quilt I'm working on. It's my first one and it's going to be my husbands Christmas present.

The colors are mostly green because that is his favorite color, and the theme is motorcycles because he's got one and loves to ride. There's no real pattern to it. It is all hand sewn because I don't have a machine. Let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Remember, this is just what I have done so far... mostly it's a lot of unfinished pieces.

This is the piece I just finished today. It's supposed to be the open road heading through some fields towards the mountains:
[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...2/IMG_8421.jpg[/IMG]

This is the center (and largest) block for the quilt:
[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...ey2/center.jpg[/IMG]

This is one of the unfinished motorcycle pieces. I cut out some of the motorcycles from the leftover center block fabric and used heat'n'bond to bond them to the fabric. I still have to finish the border:
[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...ycleblock1.jpg[/IMG]

Another unfinished motorcycle piece:
[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...ycleblock2.jpg[/IMG]

These are just a couple small squares:
[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...uarepieces.jpg[/IMG]

Motorcycle helmet piece. (Finished 12-5-08)
[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...2/IMG_8438.jpg[/IMG]

I'm also making a piece with an old fashioned gas pump (the kind you have to crank).

-Jessica

Very nice Jessica, he will be so pleased! Love your ideas and green is a favorite of mine too. Welcome from Washington, you will love this site!

Very creative!!! Can't wait to see more.

Kyia

Wey hey!! It's coming on a treat, don't stop now..get sewing some more to show us :D

Welcome from NY--the country part!
You are so creative!! Those that don't follow a pattern and make their own way--well, we always pay attention and are inspired. :D

My only suggestion is to sew a bit around the ones you fused on--I just used some fusible stuff and a few corners came up. If it was a wall hanging it might not be as important--but if it's a quilt, I'd definitely secure those babies!

Speaking of babies--looks like you're a new mommy?

Welcome from Dallas, Texas and

WOW to the quilt. And all hand done. WOW. Beautiful work. Can't wait to see more.

WOW! That is going to be a wonderful quilt. You are doing well. Keep the pictures coming. My only suggestion is the same as barnbums. :-)

Love the green.

very nice, what a good idea. keep up the good work.

Excellent! Love it! Welcome to the board!

Barb

Welcome to the board----first quilt?????? You are doing a marvelous job, I personally wouldn't attempt anything without a sewing machine (no offense to all the hand quilters out there in cyberland) I LIKE IT! :lol:

I am very impressed that your doing it all by hand! That's love!! :-)

It looks great so far. I can't wait to see it all done. Do you and hubby ride?

I'm impressed! And all by hand? Wow! Great job! And, a big welcome from your neighbors to the north in Washington!

You are super busy, doing it all by hand and taking care of a little one....ambitious for Christmas! Great job!!

Your husband will love it - and by hand too - that is great!

wow! what a awesome quilt. he's gonna love it

Very cool. I love those motorcycles. He's going to be amazed. Does he know or is he still completely in the dark?

Welcome to the board.

Looking good. I'm sure he'll love it. Welcome from NE CA

To barnbum:
Yeah, she was born on October 11... just a couple days after my b-day. I've used the heat-n-bond before and it seems to stay on ok. I was worried that maybe the edges would fray though if I didn't stitch them down so I was thinking about doing that.

To shellyp: I don't ride but he does. I want to start and we hope to buy another motorcycle in a few years when we have the money. I could never ride his bike because it's too big for me.

To Elizabeth A: No. He knows I'm making him something but he doesn't know what. Heh, he just asked that I not make him a hat because I sewed our daughter a cap and it turned out pretty bad because it's not stretchy material so I had to sew it to the size of her head so it came out looking kind of funny... it was flannel material so it also frayed a whole bunch. Luckily that was just my first attempt at a cap and I've gotten better since then, lol.

Thanks so much to everybody for the comments; they are encouraging. I'll post some more pics to my original post soon.

-Jessica

Nice work. Welcome from Southern California!!

Welcome fromIowa, what beautiful work. watch those garage sales when they come up, you can find sewing stuff when people try to clean their houses.

welcome to this amazing group of quilters - If ever you need help, these ladies are always there to lend a helping hand. As someone else said, how wonderful are your talents to dive in without a pattern or a sewing machine. Maybe a sewing machine could be first on the list ahead of the bike? Best of luck and continue your efforts and give that baby lots of love/kisses.........

My grandma is getting me a machine for Christmas

What a wonderful thing for a grandma to do and how exciting for you...

Hi JA,

Welcome from MN.

You're doing a great job on the quilt. You are to be commended on all the hand sewing. I love hand sewing but my stitches aren't so good so I stick with my sewing machine.

You have a terrific grandma to buy you a sewing machine. I was going to mention that you might want to check out Goodwill and thrift stores, sometimes they have older ones that work just fine.

I like your mom and daughter pic.

Deb G

Welcome and you are doing a wonderful job. Can't wait to see him with his new Quilt.

Wow you are brave creating.....just think what you can do with a pattern.... keep up the good work

Cool quilt, can't wait to see it finished!

You are putting so much love into this quilt--and it shows. Your husband will be tickled to death!

Hi and welcome from Mass. Great job.

That is a great quilt so far and I admire you coming up with your own pattern, hand sewing...!

Love it, did your grandma teach you to sew? You are very creative and I love the fabrics you chose. Hand sewn is the most valuable right now, my sister the expert quilter, tells me. I enjoy my quilting and hope that you'll love it as much.

My only suggestion was already given, secure those heat and bond cut outs. It will lift with use and washing. Are you going to tie it or quilt it? It's surely beautiful and I just know he's going to love it and you so much.

Congratulations on the new baby and Welcome to my home away from home. My sewing machine and I live in North Carolina but we visit a lot of states and countries right here on the bb.
Sharon

Awsom work and so creative. Beautiful baby. Welcome from Southeastern WI Keep up the great work. Enjoy that baby, they grow so fast. :)

Welcome from Michigan. Your pieces so far are very good. My husband love motorcycles too, I know he would love what you are doing. Thanks for sharing with us and please show us more as you go.

Linda

mimisharon: what does it mean to tie it? I'm new to this. My grandma taught me some basic sewing... mostly how to sew with a machine. I don't remember but I think I first learned to sew in middle school home-ec class about 9 or 10 years ago.

WOW I would never attempt to sew by hand. Love the colors and awesome work. Cant wait to see it finished.
Welcome from windy panhandle :D

Great quilt! That is a really cool idea you have. I like the block with the road on it and I love your fussy cut motorcycles~

You are very creative! Can't wait to see the finished product!