This one is one of those quilts that just feels right for me, it’s the one quilt out of every ten that makes me feel like I’m making the quilts that I want to be making! Make sense? Mostly I don’t dislike the quilts I make, but often there’s some little thing that feels flawed to me, whether it’s construction or design. Or maybe I just don’t feel that connection with it, because it’s not completely ‘me.’
This one is me, though. I wish I could figure out the formula, and only make these favorite quilts and cut the rest! Doesn’t seem to work. It’s just one of those things. Sometimes I don’t know if I’ll like it till I pull it out of the dryer. Often the first washing of a quilt turns it from a flat object to a piece with soul.
Anyways, enough on that! This little quilt was made completely with strips from my scraps. The center red squares are 1 1/2 inches x 1 1/2 inches. All the strips going around are 1 1/2 inches as well. No wonky or improv on this quilt! This is an old fashioned log cabin block!
Combining the hand quilting with a Kaffe Fasset shot cotton on the back, (color is called Steel and you can buy it here) makes for a veeeeery soft little quilt!
The border on the front is a Moda Grunge print, although I don’t know which color it is. Talking a bit of simple design here, I think this border is very important. For such a small quilt, these four big diamonds could be overpowering. While I was making them, I wasn’t sure they were going to look right for a baby quilt. Adding the border made all the difference. (and I needed it for size anyway, since the quilt was too small without it)
Sometimes you can make a quilt look better by leaving off a border, but sometimes it’s just what the design needs to breathe a bit.
This one is a beauty.I truly understand what you are saying about the elusive feeling. I have the same issue. I love when it comes together.
what a wonderful quilt, Jolene. It has such a vintage feel to it, the colors, the pattern, that border, and the quilting, all work together in such perfect harmony.
It is PERfect—Makes me want to run and pull out strips, start cutting and try to make one just like it. 🙂 Only that wouldn't work cause I don't have those EXACT fabrics. :/ 🙂 It really is such an inviting quilt. Great job.
Such calm, soothing colors in your log cabin. I know I'd have wonderful dreams under that quilt (if I were small enough to fit).
I think we all have a favorite quilt we make over and over. I've got a few that I never tire of: log cabins, courtyard steps, basic HST pinwheels, and disappearing nine patches. I think these are my favorites because they're so scrap friendly.
I LOVE it. It's super old fashioned in the very, very best way.
I love the colors you chose for this and the hand quilting is perfect for this traditional design. Thanks for sharing about your favorites–I think it is all part of the creative process, making mistakes or just slight missteps. But it's nice to know that other people go through this! It's so wonderful when you make something that is perfectly what you want it to be–this one is lovely for sure!
I love it when that feeling works out.
Very nice. I'm really drawn to the colors in it.
LOVELY! I've been waiting for this quilt to make its appearance after seeing sneak peaks in other pics 🙂 Log Cabin-ing is on my Bucket List!
The border is just perfect! I love the little touches of pink floral here and there too. Such a stunning quilt!
It's beautiful! With all those crinkles it almost looks like a vintage quilt.
Love this one.reminds me of the kind of quilts my grandmother had when I was a little girl. The kind that were so soft and the warmest ever.
I always enjoy reading what you have to say about quilting. Sometimes we do have to get back to basics a little in order to focus better and get the quilts we're wanting to make. Your quilt is gorgeous and the border is absolutely perfect for the little quilt.:)
The quilt is soooo pleasing to an eye to look at! Very beautiful!
gorgeous! I totally get what you mean about the 'me' thing, it's a journey isn't it?! I love those pops of red and those beautiful hand stitches!
I am a great believer in soft equals hand quilting. I have made two full size quilts that were hand quilted. Everyone who sees them, ooohs and ahhhs over how soft they are. There is a place for both machine and hand quilting, but for true soft, snuggly type quilt, its hand quilted!
PS the log cabin my favourite and yours is very lovely!
You can't go wrong with log cabins I don't think! It's wonderful.
Love this quilt! Great job!!
This is a very beautiful quilt – I think for me it is the obvious softness that is so appealing. Keep looking for that formula, but I sure love seeing all the different quilts you make.
Really lovely! Log Cabin is still my favorite block
I am in love with your quilt. Log Cabins have been calling to me a lot lately, and yours is another. I also love the quilting and the dark greys in this one. Thank you for sharing and being inspiring.
Your quilt inspires me to make my own log cabin which is a block I have never made before. I enjoy how the lights and darks contrast so strikingly.
Amazing – love the colour choice, log cabin is so versatile!
Yes, absolutely. I love this one too. I so know what you mean about 1 out of10 quilts feeling JUST RIGHT. I can't put my finger on what it is, design or color wise, so I think it's more about really learning or expressing something meaningful in that particular creation. Maybe?
Your wonderful piece has been whispering to me since I saw it two days ago. I also think that you have hit it square on! It's perfection. It makes me want to go back and create a log cabin from stash. And then hand quilt it. Maybe I'll unplug from all of the internet noise whilst I do this!
I believe I understand what you are saying. I am personally reflecting a lot on how I want my quilts to look, because I have the same "off" feeling about most of mine. I love them, but I know I can do better. I think for me it comes down to the feeling that I have not been able to successfully pull off my "own" particular style. I feel a long way off from it, but I know I am getting there.
I really love what you have done with this quilt, Jolene. It really does have a depth and a personality that speaks. It's beautiful.
An amazing quilt, wow!!
it's stunning, jolene! i can see why you love it.
i understand why you like it so much! It's so precious. and I know what you are trying to say. I think we all feel that way sometimes.
Just gorgeous! I enjoyed your commentary about the design process.
I love it.
Feel exactly the same way during the quilt making process. I sometimes don't love a quilt until it's quilted and washed, I might only like it up until then.
The first quilt I ever made was a log cabin quilt, so they hold a special place in my heart! This one is stunning. I particularly love the traditional red centers and how you've quilted it down the centers of the strips. Congrats on a beautiful piece.
I absolutely love it!
So right about the border. My mom is an artist and she tells a story about a watercolor artist, Weidenaar, who said it took him 100 paintings for every "masterpiece". Yikes! And yet, reminds me that its okay if every quilt isn't my favorite.
Thought you'd enjoy knowing that my daughter Kelsey (who quilts and blogs) just emailed me a link to your flickr quilt pics, saying how much she loved all your quilts! Even I didn't realize how many pictures I've enjoyed were yours – you do great work! Thumbs up on your quilts from both of us today.
I like the small burst of color that the red adds. It's so true, trying to capture what you really like as a quilter and then following that to see where it takes you. Lovely quilt!
i have to tell you this quilt (the first picture you posted of its progress a while back) inspired me to get busy and make my king size bed quilt. i have a collection of various dark navy, black, and text prints. my husband really likes red so i was going to incorporate red into it and use the white/text as an accent with the navy. once i saw this quilt, it was exactly what i needed to inspire me! thanks so much! your quilt is just beautiful!
Love the simple beauty !
I love all the quilts you make, but this one just absolutely SINGS! I adore the color scheme and the fluidity even among all your low volumes. Very inspiring – and it looks so soft and cuddly!
Absolutely beautiful quilt, lovely colours, the contrast and the accent square in red is a genius touch. Your hand-quilting makes it so snuggly too – it's perfect x
The little pops of red and yellow really make this quilt stand out! Love the breathing space border! Some simple ideas are the hardest to fulfill satisfactorily but this is it ! Very Japanese in its calming aura
Love the vintage feel of this quilt, Jolene. Log cabin is one of my all time favourites and yours is just beautiful!
I love your log cabin. New quilter from Oklahoma, USA. Glad to meet our Canadian Quilting Neighbors. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
The Log Cabin is one of my favorites….visiting from New Brunswick
love the log cabin. traditional, modern, small, big, straight, wonky… and how nice is it to hand quilt from time to time…
I am enjoying my visit via the Blogathon.
this is really beautiful!