please excuse these less than clear photos. i was in a hurry and the only quick spot i could think of was clipped up on my curtain rod.
because these two quilt tops are being readied to send out to be long-arm quilted.
yes!! you heard me right! i’ll admit i never thought i’d try it. i always thought that the ‘perfect’ look of all that swirly quilting just wasn’t my thing. most of the professionally quilted quilts that i’ve seen online and in real life, had more of the the fancy quilt show type look. i’m more of a handmade utilitarian simple look. besides that, i can quilt pretty large quilts on my own sewing machine so why would i send one out?
then one day i realized that the reason i thought i wasn’t a fan, was NOT because they were quilted on a long-arm machine, it was simply because a lot of these quilts hadn’t been washed yet!!
if you know me, my philosophy is that your quilt is not complete until it’s been washed. no quilt looks right until it has that slightly crinkled washed look. so that’s why i thought those ‘fancy’ quilts weren’t my thing. then i saw some long-armed quilts that i loved, and realized that the washing was the main difference!
ok, i still am not the swirly flowery type. i generally like my quilting to be mainly texture and not it’s own design. (although i’m open to being converted from that viewpoint!)
so i’ve found a quilter who’s gonna do an awesome job of these ‘big’ babies, and once they’re back, i’ll share more of the goods on them, and the quilter!
meanwhile i have to go make backings, and check for stray threads etc. i’m just slightly nervous about someone else seeing my piecing flaws!
Your single girl looks wonderful! Cant wait to see it all quilted and washed! x
i've only sent a quilt out once, adn I was a nervous wreck about someone seeing how I quilt. These are lovely! can't wait to see the finishes.
Me too! I am trying to get my nerve up to take a quilt to be done professionally but I am so afraid they will be critical of how I did the piecing!
I love your quilts–and I agree–they just look so much better when they've been washed and they get all crinkly! Here's hoping you get a lovely non-judgemental quilter!
Cute quilts!
Funny I was just thinking about your quilting style and how I admired your casual but professional finishes. Not that there's not benefit to trying something new. I'm sure they'll be lovely!
Fyi-I have an inexpensive long arm quilter. You can see her work and her contact/pricing info on my blog. I decided to start sending out my quilts because it was the least enjoyable part of the quilt making process for me and the most time consuming. 🙂 best wishes!
I'm a longarmer. Please be sure to remove all colored threads that show from behind the white, they do come through once quilted. Your quilt tops are lovely! Can't wait to see them done!
I always us a longarmer. I can't wait to see these two fabulous quilts, when they get back from yours.
They both look lovely, like stained glass in the sun! I can't wait to see what they look like back from the long arm. I still have yet to do that. I have one circle of a single girl quilt and then I gave up because I wasn't loving it. Your neutral backgrounds have me thinking about pulling it out again.
OKay, I also have to admit I am completely jealous of your Heather Bailey (I think?) curtains and that doll house – is it vintage, I swear it is bringing back memories!
gorgeous tops, so looking forward to seeing them all quilted and washed 🙂
beautiful quilts!
i grew up with that little people house i see over there. that thing got a LOT of use in our house! and still does now when my little nieces come to visit.
back to quilts. i think we have the same sentiments on quilting. if it hasn't been washed it's not done yet!
Love both these quilts! I have to admit I have thought about sending mine out to be quilted, but can never get over the price… I totally understand why they charge so much (at least around here), but can't justify it for most my quilts at least… Those are both so beautiful though!
Really awesome quilts!!!
They are both gorgeous! Love the light behind them too!
We don't have that option here, so not decision to make, easy life ;D
I still love all your quilts! Don't have time lately with my baby, but Ican't see the moment I have a bit of time to cut and sew pieces of fabric, I have another big one in my mind 🙂
I love the look of the tops with the sun coming through them. My family has threatened to hang my tops up as curtains many times. (Not because they love the tops, but because I can't be bothered to sew curtains.) Now, I'm wondering if they're on to something. 🙂
Good luck with sending them out. I'm a bit chicken too. Not that my machine quilting is anything to brag about, but when I say I made a quilt, I mean that I did every step of the quilt. Silly, I know.
I can't wait to see what you get out of this. My theory is that it's none of anyone's business what the back of your pieced tops look like. If they are beautiful–and yours are–no one will be the wiser.
gorgeous! i can't wait to see what the quilting is!
They are allready gorgeous so I am sure they will be totally awesome when you get them back.
I'm especially in love with your second quilt. It just looks like it is having fun. And you might get me sold on the long arm business. I have disliked the results for the same reason. Thank-you for opening that thought in my brain. I will be waiting to see those results!
I don't know which top I love better. I do know I want to make the second one though – it is totally yummy.
Love these pictures in the windows. Good luck with your quilting.
Jaw-dropping gorgeous, as always, Jolene. Both tops are so beautiful. Your work is so inspiring!
Look forward to hearing how the quilting goes.
I think both tops are great, but the bottom one is just w*o*w! Loooooove that one! Can't wait to see more.
both of them are gorgeous! Love scrappy!
both of your quilt tops are amazing! they look so pretty hung with the light shining through. nice work!!!
I'm totally with you on the non-fussy quilting thing, and that a quilt isn't really a quilt until washed! (Though, to me a quilt starts feeling like a quilt once the layers are all pin-basted.)
just stunning-both of them! You almost make me want to start the single girl but I vowed not to start another thing until a finish a couple first!
cannot wait to see them quilted!
I just sent my first quilt out and it's going to arrive back any time. So excited! Also, it felt like cheating =) But it wasn't! Right?
I thought you were showing some really, really fancy new curtains made from your quilts!! You'll find sending your quilts out quite liberating, I'm sure – you can be making while they're quilting!
This is very nice quilt..very nice work and beautiful design over quilt..looks so nice..as curtain.
Joint Replacement India
i love the log cabin style quilt! i very much like log cabin quilts and the more modern and wonky they are, the better! good luck with the long-arm! i use a long-arm on my own quilts and i love it. it's sooooo much faster than my sewing machine. also, i'm with you on the simple quilting designs. i love a nice straight (or mostly straight) line and a good loop-de-loop or meander are also nice.
I love how your Single Girl is turning out! I'm doing a low volume scrappy background on mine, too and I am loving it!