Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Quilts on Tuesday-She Must Be Crazy

Recently I did a series on quilts in my possession and why they are so special to me. As I have said before, it is hard for me to consider sleeping under a commercially produced comforter. Mom mom has kept me in quilts since I was four. She has also provided quilts for each of my kids since they were infants. Unfortunately, since Diana got a double bed about 4 years ago she has been using a soulless commercial quilt.

That will be changing in the next few months. She will be graduating and heading off to college in the Fall. It is important to me that she have a decent quilt to take with her. We have talked on and off about a quilt for her for some time. She expressed a desire for flannel. Here is an example of the pattern of a rag quilt I want to make for her. It seems like it will lend itself to my very beginning level of skills and my interest in piecing rather than hand quilting. Rag quilts have exposed frayed seams and no bound edges. This pattern sticks with squares, which will make piecing easier for a novice like me.

Although my mom could easily make any sort of quilt Diana could want I really want to do most of the work with Mom as an overseeing consultant or maybe an assistant. I think it's time I learn to do something of this nature. I have to say Mom has already been indispensable. I showed her the design, told her how big I wanted each block and how big I wanted the finished product. She punched all the information into some snazzy quilt software she has and it told me how much fabric of each color I'd need. She also agreed to go halvesies on the fabric since the cost of that kind of serious yardage stopped me in my tracks. Since a rag quilt basically is three layers of flannel it ran into some hefty change. I did manage to find plain king-sized flannel sheets on sale for $20 which I will use for the middle layer. BIG bargain! Woohoo!

Now the fun part comes. For Diana's birthday I gave her just the sheets but didn't tell her why. She is confounded as to why I got her king-sized flannel sheets. For Christmas she will be getting the plain backing fabric from me and the different plaid patterns for the top from my mom. It's going to be an interesting stretch of time until Diana finally knows what she is going to be getting because it is driving her crazy trying to figure out why she got the sheets.

Ssshhh....don't tell.

I'll keep you posted on the progress once she gets all the fabric and I start actually assembling it. If I succeed I can cross #46 off my bucket list.

22 comments:

Suldog said...

Huh. Quilt software. Who woulda thunk it?

She will treasure this just as you treasure your quilts. You're a good momma.

lime said...

suldog, i never would have imagined but boy am i glad it's software my mom knows how to operate. it really made calculating yardages a LOT easier. it has some other very nifty features too.

S said...

Is that RennyBA holding the rag quilt?

That is going to be super warm!

furiousBall said...

wow, quilting software?

Balou said...

Flannel will make a great quilt. Love the pattern. And that does look like Renny!!

Elle Dubya said...

i am giddy with excitement to follow the quilt's progress! i swear i am going to drag my sewing machine out of the hall closet when i'm home with the kids next week.

lime said...

s, i never thought about it since i was mainly looking at the quilt. it does look like renny, but it's not.

furiousball, yes sir. and wanna know something else? my mother introduced me to the wonderful world of online chat forums because she was in a quilt chat group. lol

balou, it should be nice and warm

ella, you'll have to share what you make too.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely idea. We [I] made our first rag quilt about a year ago with my daughter. [it was a ready made kit I'm afraid] but because it was made of fleece it didn't / doesn't fray.

Well done you on eeking out the surprise. Glad someone else like's to taunt their children!

Cheers

Anonymous said...

p.s. thanks for the piccie!

Bijoux said...

That looks warm and funky. I bet she'll love it!

Desmond Jones said...

I'm chuckling also at the notion of 'quilt software'. . .

Anonymous said...

Ok this freakin ROCKS!!!! I love your quilts and I think you making one is an awesome thing to do, especially for Diana! :)

I am in anticipation to see the progress! Yay!!!

Anonymous said...

Ok this freakin ROCKS!!!! I love your quilts and I think you making one is an awesome thing to do, especially for Diana! :)

I am in anticipation to see the progress! Yay!!!

Anonymous said...

Ok this freakin ROCKS!!!! I love your quilts and I think you making one is an awesome thing to do, especially for Diana! :)

I am in anticipation to see the progress! Yay!!!

CozyMama said...

hi lime, i know what you mean about quilts. i have had some made for me that i cherish and i have made one on my own that i gave a wedding gift. i smile every time i go to their house and see that very much used quilt. oh yeah, it's Jodes. remember me??

barman said...

Wow this is so wonderful. I have never seen a quilt like that but I must admit it has a different look (something Diana in particular should love) and it sure does look warm.

I love what you are making a quilt for Diana and I bet it turns out wonderful. You just know she will love it. That is she will love it if you do not drive her insane first.

You know this may start something. You may have more than one quilt to be busy one.

Good luck on the bucket list and I look forward to updates in the future and yes, you are crazy but only in a good way!!!

Kat said...

That. Is. Awesome. That will be so special for her to have a quilt that you made for her with grandma helping. I love it. There is gonna be so much love in that quilt. :)

snowelf said...

Lime, she will LOVE it. My aunt makes fabulous personalized quilts for everyone and they are so special. Both of my kids' are just precious and fantastic. And I know you, you're going to do a great job. :)

--snow

Lulda Casadaga said...

When I visit my mom up in PA for xmas I am going to show her your blog about the quilts...and maybe she'll get the hint to make me one!

I really like the look of this rag quilt...maybe, just maybe???!!! Please mommy make me one!! :D

Look forward to seeing your finished product. Good luck!

G-Man said...

The suspense is killing me......

Moosekahl said...

Three layers of flannel! Ohh, that might be enough to convince me I need to make a quilt.

Lolly said...

How special! Good luck with it.