Blue Irish Chain

I thought I would be brave today, and show you one of my first quilts.  I made it for my niece’s 40th birthday.  At the time, I had not learned to free motion quilt, so its done by stitch-in-the-ditch method.  This was also my first irish chain.  I’ve made a few more since then, and also purchased a Baby Lock Quilter’s Choice Professional sewing machine.  It has a larger opening of 9”, and that allows me to quilt a queen size, though it doesn’t help my arms and hands at all…they still get quite sore and tired, and my back has some degeneration, so it can be quite uncomfortable if I spend too much time in one spot.  I set three folding tables up in the garage, then I pin baste the sandwich, then put the machine on the table near the edge, and quilt the sandwich as it lays out open on the tables.  Not the easiest way to do it, but since I don’t have a long arm, it will have to do.  Needless to say, I don’t do a lot of queen size quilts, but I will do at least one more, for our bed…I still haven’t made one for hubby and me!

This one is full size.

    

Still no where near a pro, but I’ve become much better in the last 4 years.  Even though it isn’t heavily quilted with pretty designs, this was one of my favorites…I like the blue and white, and I love the toile.  I  made a  queen irish chain in burgundy tones for my son and daughter-in-love, several baby quilts, another full size quilt using horse pattern fabric for my horse loving granddaughter, and three or four crib size for my youngest granddaughter.  She uses them as rugs for her stuffed animals…all that work for a stuffed animal!   I’ve also made tea themed quilts for three of my tea club friends, and crib quilts for baby showers.   

Here’s one:

 

I also have a Brother PC 8500 with the embroidery attachment…I have so much fun with that!  I’ve embroidered on my granddaughters’ clothes, quilts, and tea towels.  I’ve also started hand embroidering again…last time I did that, I think I was maybe 10!

I have enough fabric to make about 10 or more quilts, but I really don’t have the “passion” that some quilters do…I just love going to the fabric store and buying the fabrics, organizing them, and then just standing back and admiring all the beautiful colors and prints.  I do enjoy cutting and piecing, but thinking about doing that quilting gives me pause.  Maybe that long arm is in my future somewhere.  My only other option is hand quilting.  I love the look and feel of hand quilting, but I’m impatient…I want it done NOW!  Maybe some day. 

God bless you, every one!

Mary