Spring Break

So, spring break as come and gone, and while this time is usually a time to unwind and relax, I find myself playing catch up. And not just here in school work, but house work as well. But, I digress.

In the spirit of catch up, I’ve updated the tutorial page. I completed the Half Square Triangle tutorial and the first part of the Mitered Borders tutorial. I’ve also put up the introduction Evelyn’s Quilt. I linked the Half Square Triangle and Pinwheel tutorials to Evelyn’s Quilt, since those are essential to this quilt. I also finished part one of Piecing the Quilt Top for Evelyn’s Quilt.

Finally, I’m adding all the pictures that I didn’t use in the tutorial pages into the Final Quilt and Pictures page. These are mostly pictures of how I put together Evelyn’s quilt, but I’ll throw in some wild cards as well.

This whole experience of blogging Evelyn’s quilt has been so liberating that I’ve decided to complete four quilts a year. That’s a quilt every three months. I’m not sure who I’m making these quilts for, maybe just for me. But I like having the hobby and something to break my day up with, especially since next year is my last year of school (crosses fingers). 

Getting Down and Dirty...and covered in thread!

As you know, I’m making a quilt for my baby daughter (she’s four months old). If you saw my last main post, you know that I purchased and received the fabric a week or two ago. Now it’s time to get down and dirty, or covered in thread bits.

My Quilting Notebook

Before you can make a quilt, you must design a quilt. I completed the design for this quilt while my daughter was still kicking my ribs (inside the womb, not outside, like she does now). I’m not particularly good with numbers, and to make an quilt you must be. So while I was making up the design, my lovely husband (William) configured the dimensions for me. He loves numbers. Together, we came up with the Pinwheel Quilt.

I call this the Pinwheel Quilt lovingly, because I got the idea from MSQC (Missouri Star Quilt Company, you remember, ‘member). Their company blog has the best video tutorial on how to make Pinwheels. 

Pinwheel Quilt Version 1

Once you have the design you want, next is to figure out what color scheme you want. I put this step next because without a color scheme, you don’t know what kind of fabric to purchase. Our original color scheme was blue and purple, though as the months went by I landed on a different color scheme. This is what it looked like.

Version 1.1

When I was finally able to buy the fabric (the money finally available) I was lured in with a Daily Deal by MSQC and purchased a Charm Pack of solid colors for a buck. That’s how my Blue and Purple color scheme transformed into the pastel multicolor scheme you see in the supplies picture. So, now I have everything needed to complete Evelyn’s Quilt, on to the assembling.

A Wicked Diversion

For those of you who don’t know, I have a five month old daughter and the day after Valentines Day my husband William and I unceremoniously left her with the relatives (thanks mom!) and spent a much needed night out on the town. And where did we go, you might ask? To dinner of course, and then to see Wicked the Broadway play!

Wicked Tickets

First, we had dinner at The Majestic Grill downtown. This place was amazing. We don’t often spend more than fifty dollars on a meal, but I must admit, if you plan to have a special night out this is the place! The Majestic Grill has a way of making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, like you’re about to meet Humphrey Bogart on the station platform. That night, The Majestic Grill had a Wicked special. When we got there, we had a particularly gloat-full moment when a couple, dressed to the nines looking like they had more money on the planet than Donald Trump, entered in before us. They asked for a table and the hostess said, “I’m sorry we are reserved for the evening.” They turn around to leave and I had the great pleasure being able to say “Reservation for two” as the other couple left. William and I don’t have much, but every now and then it's great to be able to have something someone else doesn’t. Hey, we’re only human! But I digress. Back to Wicked.

In its’ third nationwide tour, Wicked came to our local Memphis theatre, The Orpheum. For three weeks it was here and two months earlier William and I bought the most expensive tickets we’d ever purchased. We choose box seats on the upper left side of the theatre and were able to see 90% of the stage. There was a small left side corner out of our view. That day, the day after Valentine’s day, was the second to last night that Wicked was playing in Memphis this year. And it was a full house!

It was by far the best play, musical or otherwise, that I’ve ever seen. The sets were amazing, bright and vibrant with as many colors as there are in the rainbow. The music was perfect. I’m dying for a copy of the soundtrack. Now, I’ve read the book and I know the ending well. But it was really nice to the “interracial” (and I use that term loosely) couple be together in the end. Best musical ever! 

Wicked Playbill

Now, this isn’t a review of the play. It’s just me gushing about the best date night my husband and I ever had. Nonetheless, I do recommend Wicked to anyone who loves The Wizard of Oz or theatre in general. And I can’t wait for the movie….

The Best Your Money Can Buy

Years ago, my mother instilled in me her personal philosophy on life: buy the best your money can buy. She believed this through and through and never once, that I know of, faltered from it. I think this philosophy came from her humble beginnings; she grew up on the south side of Chicago, IL. She’s seen things and been places I never want to see and be. But all of that hurt made her want more for herself and especially her children. So, when ever my mother had to purchase something (literally anything) she bought the best her money would, could afford. From household items, to clothing and food, we always had the best quality that we could afford. And as the years sped by, my mother was able to purchase better quality items (she has a lovely home in the suburbs and a very expensive Acura).

You may be asking, What does this have to do with quilting? Well I took this philosophy and applied it to my life, including my hobbies. So when I wanted to make this quilt for my daughter, I knew I wanted it to last. I want her daughters to be able to enjoy this quilt. So for the first time ever, I spent good money on the good fabric! This isn’t to diminish the fabric I’ve bought before. The Black and Blue quilt is made from the cheap stuff at the fabric store. But I wanted this quilt to be really special. So I bought Kona and Moda fabrics for this quilt. These two fabric makers are among the top of the line fabrics for quilts. They can run you $8 to $10 a yard, and sometimes more depending on the print or design. Because of this kind of quality, I know my daughters quilt should be able to withstand anything (except maybe buckets of spit-up eww…).

Finally, in a shameless plug, I purchased my fabric from the Missouri Star Quilt Company (MSQC). This company is a small (though getting larger) business in Hamilton Missouri. The offer everything a quilter could possibly need for quilting. I purchased three sets of precut fabric and two yards of quilt backing. The total was roughly fifty bucks for a crib size quilt. This is everything!

Two charm packs, a honey bun, and two yards of quilt backing (which is just a fancy way of saying fabric). Charm Pack, Honey Bun, I didn’t make up these names. This is exactly how MSQC names these products. But, I think they get the names from the fabric companies themselves. For a better look at the picture, click here.

So in short, buy the best fabric you can afford at the time of purchase and you will be able to make the best quality quilt you want to make.

Black & Blue Wall Quilt

My Current Project!

This is my current quilt top. Its called Black & Blue and as you can see, the middle is a little off center making it awkward. It still needs a final outside border of blue and then I can get the backing and quilt it together. I really like how this turned out with its dark colors. 

Awkward Quilting

Welcome to Awkward Quilting!

This little blog is dedicated to my hobby, quilting. When I have the means and the time, I create quilts for me and my family. I call my quilts awkward because I have yet to master piecing together the blocks in a manner where the points match. I almost always have something that is off center--and I'm OK with that.

Mostly, I hope this blog provides all you would be quilters the courage to quilt whether or not it turns out as perfect as the experts. In time, I hope to show you how I've put together some of my Awkward Quilts!

-E.