I have finally finished my first ever patchwork quilt!

[overmydeadbody]

My first quilt

I made it using lots of my accumulated scrap fabrics (It has made a little dent to the mountain!) and backed it with a double flat sheet. MY quilting skills are nil so I just stitched in the ditch vertically (my squares didn't all line up perfectly horizontally, never mind, it looks ok for a first quilt). Even the binding I made out of lots of fabric scraps, so it is a missmatch of fabrics but it looks lovely to me!

I'd love some feedback, I know it' not a piece of art or anything and real quilters would do a far far better job, but I have got the quilting bug now so hopefully my next quilts will be neater!

I have learnt so much doing this. It was great fun, even if it took me 16 months of procrastination to actually finish it!

[backwardpossom]

Oh wow, that's really impressive! Love it :)

[DewDr0p]

OP your quilt is gorgeous - really lovely mix of colours.

[lifeistooshort]

congratulations, it looks lovely. It is a real labour of love isn't it!! I have just finished DD's quilt yesterday so know the feeling of achievement....it took me a year!

[stealthsquiggle]

I am blown away by the sheer scale of your first quilt, OMDB. My "finished" quilt top is now in danger of being chopped up and turned into a stacked coin one to make it a big bigger (but would still only be single bed sized at most)

[UrsulaBuffay]

Thanks so wash and then cut then sew. I'd have done it all back to front

[UrsulaBuffay]

Thought of another stupid question - do you make a template for the squares and how big do you recommend?

[UrsulaBuffay]

Urgh scissors I haven't ever heard of the other... Iron?! >falls down dead

[TunipTheVegedude]

A rotary cutter, with cutting mat and ruler, is a wonderful thing. It makes your shapes so much neater and thus makes it easier to sew them straight. It's also way quicker if you're doing a lot. But for big squares you'll be fine with template and scissors.

[UrsulaBuffay]

I will add it to my list ( have yet to even attempt using machine!)

[fairyqueen]

I've just bought a sewing machine with the hope of learning quilting and yours is proper inspiration. Congrats.

[overmydeadbody]

Thanks for the lovely comments!

I would also recommend a rotary cutter if you are cutting squares or strips for quilting, I cut out 725 squares for my quilt, there is no way I could have had the patience to do that with scissors!

A rotary cutter is like a pizza cutter, but you use it with a cutting mat and ruler, and you can cut four or five layers of fabric at once so you can get a lot cut. Lines are perfectly straight too.

My squares were cut at 3.5 inches, so the finished squares when sewn together were 3 inches wide.

I only ever iron fabric for sewing too, never clothes! When the ironing board is out, that means a project is in progress!

[toomuchpizza]

Well done - that's beautiful! I remember when you first blogged about it and it was around then that I decided I would do one too. I cheated and bought the fabric as I'm fairly new to sewing and my stash is nowhere near big enough yet! I finished it in time for Christmas and it's here if you fancy a look. I also used the stitch in the ditch method as my free motion quilting is not really up to scratch. I love the pocket effect from stitching in the ditch and think I actually prefer it to fancier designs.

I also recommend 505 and a rotary cutter. A quilting ruler is really handy too for all sorts of projects. I have a 6" x 12" one and it's been one of my best purchases.

[roguepixie]

Wow, absolutely beautiful ... and a lovely blog too.

You have inspired me to try one myself. It's long been ambition but you have galvanised me to try.

[overmydeadbody]

toomuchpizza thank you! I am glad I inspired you and I love your quilt! I am not also following your blog, thanks for the link!

Rouge I am glad this has inspired you to give it a try too! It is very very satisfying.