Not just any completed quilt. My very first. And an I Spy Swap one. At several points during the process, I decided it would be my only quilt. Ever. But now that I’m done and I’ve rested a bit, I’m can’t stop thinking about it. So that could mean there will be more. Eventually.
I learned quite a bit. Like, my general let’s-just-go-for-it-and-see-what-happens approach yields some surprises along the way. I tried to follow one binding tutorial in particular, and realized pretty quickly that what I was expecting was not what was happening, but fortunately, I liked how it came out. And while I’ve done a lot of piecing and decorative stitching, I’d never used a walking foot before. Clickety clackety and fun and not nearly as scary and difficult as I imagined.
I’ve had a few moments of beating my chest triumphantly like Tarzan looking at the finished product. My kids just want to climb all over it, and now that it’s done and photographed, that’s a-ok. I figure it needs food and beverage stains on it in order to have an authentic feel, no?
In starting this one, I knew my kids would like the I Spy game. K already does, for sure. M will get there eventually. Because the 180 novelty prints I wanted to use were soooo chaotic, I decided to do some arranging by color, and then add sashes that accented the color spectrum. Then framed it up with another print, a wide white border and a bright binding. Even the description is chaotic.
Stephanie says
I must get the courage up to do a quilt. I just love this one…I love how you went for the crazy, lots of patterns/fabrics idea and then organised them by colour :)
Stacey says
I loooooove it! How bright and cheerful and utterly, distracting for temper tantruming babies and toddlers. I especially love the binding fabric. Who’s it by?
I think once you finish that first quilt it becomes addicting. That is if you can find the time.
crafterhours says
The binding is “Stamen” in red by Joel Dewberry. Part of the Manzanita line. I think you’ll see it again in some other projects!
Kelli says
Oh my gorgeousness! I LOVE it!
Heather@ My Frugal Family says
Oh, my goodness, that quilt is amazing!
Laura says
Love this :) I made one for my son for Christmas this past year and now I’m addicted to quilting all of a sudden. I know what you mean about thinking “never again” and then just being so proud of the dang thing that you make another one anyways ;)
Care says
GORGEOUS!!! I am so impressed!
I hope you’ll be making more quilts; it would be a shame not to! You’ve absolutely got an eye for color and design that should be showcased in more beautiful quilt creations!
(I’m linking to your finished quilt today!)
Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com says
So pretty, and your decision to organize by color was sheer genius. I think it took a lot of the chaos out of the quilt. I would LOVE to make a quilt like that… brilliant job.
Brittany says
Love this!! It looks so cute in that rainbow pattern! I’m linking this post to my blog. Thanks for sharing.
Leslie says
i love this quilt!!! it looks amazing. you did such a awesome job. i really love how you quilted it. i am inspired
Karen says
I am speechless. I truly love your quilt. I kind of does remind me of those “I Spy” books. Thumbs up for you. I am in the process of putting to together one myself with fat quarters! Obviously an adventure in the making.
Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com says
Thanks for visiting my site & linking in your sidebar – so very cool! :) I should have told you I found you via Care/Obsessively Stitching. Nice to meet you!
Susan says
I love how it turned out! You have a great eye for color! You are going to be hooked on quilting for sure. Just keep it small and get fabrics you love, love, love! Thanks for doing the swap with us!
SewAmy says
oh my goodness, it is so cute. I just love the way you put the colors in order.
Suzy says
So great! I really love the french fry square! Where did you find that pattern? Did all of them come from the swap?
crafterhours says
All of the squares came from the swap! Such an amazing variety. You know, I put them in order, sewed them together and quilted them, and I’m still noticing things I hadn’t noticed before. Yay, swap! Yay, Care!
Carrie says
I love this quilt. I have swap squares piled around my craft room without a clue how I want my quilt to look. But now I know. I want mine to look like yours with the rows of different colors! I love it!
Brandi says
WOW! I love this quilt! I think it’s amazing!
Miss Muffin says
Congratulations!!!! What a cool quilt! I did not even sort mine yet. :-( And I see you also have a baby (very cute pictures!). How do you get so much stuff done?!
I even found some of “my” fabric squares in your pictures. Totally funny seeing them on another blog. :-)
Hope my quilt – will also be the first one ever – will also turn out as great as yours. Even if it will take MUCH longer! :-)
Alisa says
This is a beautiful quilt. One of the nicest “I spy” quilts I’ve seen!
Marisa says
This is great! I can’t believe this is your 1st finished quilt. I love the idea you incorporated for the sashing!
Crafty Girls Workshop says
This quilt is awesome. I love your blog! So glad I saw you on Everything Etsy. I’m going to be a follower now.
Anna
Care says
Ahhhh….
I am staring again. Now that I have 2,717 I-Spy squares, it’s probably time to start sewing more of them together……..
I am SO going to attempt one like yours!!!!
Michelle says
Wow — that’s amazing!
gonestitchingblog says
the best i-spy pattern i’ve ever seen. thank you so much for sharing!
Deputy's Wife says
Bravo! What a beautiful quilt. Very good for your first one. Watch out, you might catch that quilting bug!
LambAround says
This is so, so gorgeous! I’m going to have to send your link to my nana :)
I’m having a 200th Follower link party. If you have a free moment, I’d love for you to post this project on my blog. Thanks!
http://lambaround.blogspot.com
Anonymous says
Amazing!
Hanna says
Hi there! I am your newest follower from the blog hop! Lovely blog you have:) You can find me at http://www.bouffeebambini.blogspot.com
WOW! beautiful. I wish I could quilt