My First Quilt

I never thought I would make a real quilt from start to finish, but I did!

 

When I first joined the newly-formed quilting group at my church, I didn't take on any tasks beyond pinning and hand-tying the quilts that other people sewed. Eventually, I agreed to help cut squares. I took a bunch of the donated fabric home so that I could cut squares when I had time. All of the fabric we use is donated and comes in different sizes, so I ended up sewing scraps together in order to make as many squares as possible from the fabric I had. Sewing the small pieces together to make the larger squares gave me the confidence to try sewing an entire quilt top. 

I arranged the squares in a pleasing pattern, took a photo, then waited until our next weekly get-together so one of our experienced quilters could teach me how to sew the quilt top. 

It was fairly easy at first: sew six squares together, one by one, to make each of the eight rows. Then sew two rows to each other, add another row, and then another. Set that aside, sew the other four rows together, and finally join the top and bottom together. Each step was more tricky than the last, because there were corners to (try to) match, as well as a lot more fabric to manage. 

In retrospect, it would have much been easier to start with a quilt with 20" squares instead of 10" squares. That would have given me fewer corners to (try to) match. And, if I'd picked the fabrics, I would have skipped the directional one. I had to use my seam ripper more than once when I sewed one upside down.

Eventually, I had a finished quilt top! It was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it was sturdy and followed all of the requirements of our beneficiary, Lutheran World Relief. I ironed the quilt top and chose a warm tan fabric for the backing. I layered the back, batting, and top, then pinned everything in place.   

I gave myself a week to tie the quilt. We tie every five inches, so that meant 208 ties to complete it. I put the quilt on my lap and rolled it up as I finished each row of 26 ties. 

The last step was binding. That was probably the trickiest of all for me, but it was SO satisfying to get it done!

My first quilt very much looks like a beginner made it. There are a lot of mistakes, but it is warm and comfy and I made it with love. I am thrilled that it will go to someone in need, affected by a natural disaster or by war. I can't wait to start on my next quilt!