My first quilt!
 

Well, I did it! I finished my first quilt. I did it as part of my senior project/exhibit and managed to finish it in just about 3 months exactly. Not sure if that's fast or slow but I sure worked my butt off! I used the "Antique Civil War Star" from this link: http://www.fonsandporter.com/content...lt-pattern.pdf

I machine pieced as well as machine quilted. I really wanted to hand quilt but that just wasn't in the cards this time! Maybe my next one :o. My piecing is nowhere close to perfect (I know, I know...we see our mistakes more glaringly!), but I managed to keep MOST of my points. My quilting could use some help in terms of keeping my stitch length consistent. I learned so much by just diving in head first and being stubborn enough to try things I was told might be too hard my first time around! As you can tell, all my blocks are very different, some blended, some a clear star, etc. etc. I really tried to play around with my use of fabrics and I learned how doing so creates different shapes.

BUT with all that aside I love it so much. There is so much meaning in it to me; I had a really hard first half of the semester and having something to work on and keep me busy/clear my head is what kept me going. Things are great now, AND I have this wonderful quilt as a prize! I am so proud of myself!
*I'd like to thank Diet Coke, Netflix, & my mother for making this all possible...* hahaha!

Now for the real reason y'all are here: PICTURES!

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sandwiching and spray basting (The coloring in this photo is truest to real life)

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the backing (Love this as ALMOST much as the front.)

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Pinned it up while trying to decide how to display it in the gallery.

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In the gallery! (With the other half of my project - calligraphy!)

And last but not least...
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...thoroughly enjoying the fruits of my labor! :D

I am hoping to get some better pics soon as the lighting in all these isn't that great but there you have it!

Wow, what a fantastic first quilt!!! You should be very proud of all your hard work. What are you planning next??? The sky is the limit!!!

You did a wonderful job. I love the touch of red in the quilt. I don't know if I would have thought of that. You have every right to be very proud. Make sure to put a label on it with your name and date on it. Thanks for sharing and welcome to the blog.

Wow, you did such a beautiful job. If this is only your first quilt, I can't wait to see what you do next !

I love your fabric choices,the backing is beautiful , the quilting looks great! Looks like we might learn something from you! Keep up the good work!

Oh my goodness don't stop now. You have a natural talent. Can't wait to see what you do next :-)

Gorgeous! That's the way to do it...just jump right in and tackle points and all. I still have problems with them. Very impressive!

absolutly amazing!!! Good for you to not let yourself hold you back! you will be able to make what ever you set your mind to and look back at this quilt as a reminder to that!!!

That is absolutely gorgeous, I love your colour choices, and especially like the 'actually using it' picture! As a newbie myself I'm hugely impressed at the scale of it!

Lovely. What a great job you have done. Lovely fabric choice.

Well, you certainly have a flair and talent for quilting. Glad you followed your own muse when it came to advice. It paid off. Beautiful quilt.

For a first quilt this is awesome and the back is great too. Good job!!!!

you did a wonderful job... can't believe this is your first quilt!

Blue ribbon from me.........

Your quilt is just beautiful. The colors are so soothing and the red is just perfect. Nice, nice job.

Wow what a great job you have done and a first too !! Your a natural!

Oh my! Wow, what a beauty! I really enjoyed looking at your pixs this morning. You sure have the eye for color as well as taking pixs. You did a wonderful job and should be proud!

beautiful and great job

Your quilt is beautiful, and your workmanship is as well. Great job!

That is an amazing quilt! You were born for it and may this be the first of thousands. Thanks for sharing it.

You have every right to be proud! Your quilt is beautiful and you did a great job on it! :thumbup:

Your quilt is beautiful! You have a natural talent. Can't wait to see what is next. Years ago I took a hand piecing class, we did 12 different star blocks, they were 12 in. blocks, some had over 50 pieces, but our instructor told us... when you get done with this class, there is'nt a block out there you won't be able to make, and she was so right. When I started machine piecing, I just jumped right in. She gave me the confidence to tackle anything!

Wow...is right!! If that is your first quilt I can't wait to see your second, third and fourth one. Great job!! It's beautiful.

Absolutely beautiful! Very soothing. I can picture myself cuddled up in it in front of my woodstove on a snowy evening. Inspiring for your first quilt! Keep stitching! :)

That is an amazing quilt and looks like someone who's been quilting forever! Congratulations!

you did a fantastic job, hope to see more beautiful quilts from you

Most of us only WISH our first quilts were that good. I know mine was nothing like that fine.

I love your quilt including the beautiful backing...very impressive first quilt

very pretty

You just jumped right in. this is lovely.

What a great first quilt. I'm with you I like the back almost as much as the front.

You did a wonderful job! Fabric choice, piecing, quilting, and display = A+ :D

Great job and great first quilt.

WOW - That is wonderful, great job and thank you for sharing
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

Three months for that quilt is not slow. You picked a little more advanced pattern than most people do for a first quilt. It is just lovely

Great job! It's much nicer than my first quilt :)

I'd be proud too if that were my first quilt. Good for you for jumping right in on something a bit more challenging. Your quilt has a coziness to it that I love. It's wonderful. Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Happy quilting!

Wonderful quilt - can't believe this is your first one. You did a fantastic job on both piecing and quilting. Thanks for sharing

Congratulations on such an accomplishment. It is beautiful and you will feel an affinity for the first one, I think. On to the next....

An amazing first quilt....I think you are a natural!