With some gentle prodding from blogland I was determined to get The Bastard Quilt finished while I was at sewjourn.
The potted history goes something like this....
Once upon a time I decided to make a quilt. I decided that I would just "wing" the pattern, because I knew kind of what I wanted it to look like in my mind. I figured that, since it was to be my first quilt I would not be keen to pay to have it quilted, so I decided to make three quilt as you go sections and then join them.
I blame Mr Google and Mr You tube for making it all look so easy - it is their fault.
Over time , the quilt got a few airings on the blog but I gradually fell out of love with it. The first mention seems to be January 08 but I think I started it before then.
So, even though I still love the idea of this quilt and I adore the green and white idea, whenever I look at it, all I see is all the bits I fudged. I see where the batting moved away inside when I joined the sections. I see the dodgy machine quilting, I see the crookedness and the fact that even though the sections worked well perhaps it doesn't work so well as a whole.
And yes I know it is my first ever quilt that I have done all by myself , and that I started it quite a while ago and my sewing has (hopefully) improved since then, I know all the things I would say to someone else who doesn't love something they made.
but I have never been good at listening to my own advice - the jury is still out.
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59 comments:
A very big THANK YOU for showing us your gorgeous green and white first ever quilt. I love it!! I've always felt that finished is better than perfect, as my work will testify. :>} The real test, of course, is if Eloise and Jude find it comfortable. ;0)
Love it Love it Love it
em
aw... its lovely Jodiepoo.. and you know what? after you have washed it a dozen times when the kids/cat/dh has been sick on it.. and the kids/cat/dh sleep on it, you'll not notice the YOU you put into it possum...
I think finished is better than perfect and I sometimes do finish stuffs *w*..
Lissa
who is suddenly thinking about the three bastard quilts she has waiting for binding.. then the three tops she has ready for quilting and the #?%@#$ projects he has started...
I do know what you mean about not listening to your own advice; we are often our own worst critics.
Everytime someone says I love it, you just see the bits that annoy you even more. (It's like when someone says I like your hair, but you hate your hair).
One day your grandchildren will feel those bumpy spots, and the bits that aren't quite right, and say - hey look grandma wasn't such a perfect master-quilt maker after all.
One day you will love it. Maybe not now, but one day.
And, if we loved everything we did and everything was perfect first go, then there'd be no-where to evolve to.
(I've just crocheted my first very wonky scarf, very wonky. Sam keeps saying its ok as it's my first ever. But I just see the wonks.)
I do love your green / brown / yellow + white, and the play on rectangles and squares.
can i offer some unsolicited advice?
1. look at gee's bend quilts, precision is obviously not imperative to make something of beauty
2. my mom always said that cotton is very forgiving and time has a way of working these things out.
and i love the photos of this quilt. with anything it is so easy to focus on the negative. i do it to myself all the time :)
What?! Your first! Looks fantastic, love the green and white. Well done xox
We are our own harshet critics , I think it's lovely .
Well, I think it looks just splendid!
Well, I'm a quilter, and I think that is most definitely a beautiful quilt. First time or not! The green and white is something people aspire to, but few are brave enough to try it. What you have made there is a quilt that makes you draw breath in when you see it, and dream of tropical islands and verdant fields.
You know me - I don't lie. It's lovely, Jodie.
I think it looks pretty mint.
I have a tendency to point out all the faults of my finished objects too. Don't do it! I love the quilt, even if it's not perfect, it's finished, and it looks snuggly. I have yet to get to finished-and-snuggly with my own first quilt, so you're doing better than me :)
Jod,
Let me put you out of your misery and remove this heavy burdon you've bestowed upon yourself. I'm more than happy to take it off your hands Hee! Hee!
Well, I love it. And I'm not just typing that. You have, however, made me extremely pleased that my first ever quilt (which is supposed to be the easiest peasiest in the whole wide world) is for a baby born last week but is for a single bed. It seems it's going to be a long drawn out angst-ridden affair...
See - perfectionism is a curse!
I love it of course.
Very fresh and pretty.
Bugger that Jo in Tas!
I was going to bags and bar it!
I just LOVE green and against the white it just looks so crisp. We're our own worst critics. I have discovered for the most part that if we don't point out our mistakes no one else is going to find them.
You have been to a place I haven't dare to tread - the quilting place. People talk about it, many venture and some return.
It is lovely! And, it is finished! Over time it will probably become your most favorite because it was your first!!!
There always has to be a first quilt so you have something to compare to the future award-winning quilts. I haven't made an award-winning quilt you but I can tell you that your first quilts looks a hell of a lot better than my first quilt!
so you didn't like it? Never mind it can come live over here on the other side of the world. You will never have to it see it.
i know it seems hard to love the quilt now... but one day you will... i say this because i went through the same thing... I started my first quilt in 2003 and finished it in Nov of 2005. By then I had finished 16 other quilts or so and my first one looked like a train wreck. I forced myself to finish and then it got neatly folded into a pile of other quilts. This year I took it out and looked at it with love... because no matter how bad it is (its bad) its my first and if I had never made it I wouldn't be here today... :-)
Well I love it too, and it is a whole lot better then my first quilt which will never ever ever be seen in blogland way too embarrassing!
I only hope that my first one (which I'm starting really soon) will turn out as well!
Tami
Its all about the journey, right? But I love the destination. Beautiful design and lovely, lovely colours.
If the jury is still out then the jury is stooopid! (and as Senior Management I get to say that and you have to listen) The quilt is beautiful. Ignore the inaccuracies and just enjoy the good bits!
A new member of your extended Kinder family has just been born by the way!
Locket xxx
You KNOW what I think!!
l.o.v.e.ly!
Surely it would keep SOMEBODY warm! :)
it looks beautiful to me! I can't see any faults. you could do what I always do, hide it away for a bit then bring it out and look at it and you will see how lovely it really is.
your quilt is gorgeous!
you're right the colours do really pop. all that other stuff? Well that's just a learning curve.
Now, if only I could take my own advice!
I loved it the first time I saw it, and I still love it now. It's gorgeous. And all the MORE gorgeous for the bits that just aren't quite right. Nothing perfect is ever as wonderful as something with a few *dings* in it. Honest.
x
don't be too hard on yourself because that's an awesome quilt. And any little oops areas, just think of as handmade charm!
I think its really pretty! And when I went to Quilt Camp as a kid (yes, there is such a thing in 4-H) our leaders said if you can't tell its crooked from a galloping horse, its okay!
You'll be happy to know that 1/2 a world away, none of those flaws show up. It looks perfectly gorgeous from here!
i learned this weekend that perfect is not really what it's cracked up to be...(after repairing jon's graduation quilt which started out pretty good and is now perfect because it has flaws and a fabulous story)...as does this one. a great design too...i love the free feeling of this quilt. bet it's great to cuddle under too.
pat yourself on the back from me and say "way to go, girl!"
You're the only one seeing the flaws, Jodie. Besides, perfection is overrated. ;o) I think it's beautiful and I bet over time you will too.
It looks bloomin good! I want to do one, but it looks hard and I am a big sook about it. Give yourself a pat on the back, because I can see nothing wrong from here! :)
I like it a lot.
Just call it a wonky impro quilt... very fashionable.
I really like the square quilting on it. Good idea. I think I'll give away the first quilt I made (for my son) he doesnt even look at it and I hate looking at it. I just look at all the things I could have done better lol.
Despite what you say I think it is really a very nice quilt. Honestly you should see my first attempts they are appalling. It would be a great meme "Show us your first quilt"
I think it looks gorgeous...so lovely and fresh. You know, nobody ever sees any of the flaws! It looks great.
oooh! it's pretty!
I think it looks fabulous - at least from a distance. And, you are probably the only one who will notice the stitching (unless, I suppose, you have a fussy, quilt-making relative who inspects such things!) Most people just love quilts and the work that went into them without judging the technical stuff!
Would it make you feel better if I said your right? It isn't perfect? It doesn't look like a professional quilter made it? It looks like it was a long journey and a creative learning curve? It looks like in the years to come you will look back at it and give a little sigh, and you will secretly have a little love for it.
:)
I remember seeing this and absolutely loving the various greens against the white!
I think its looks fantastic and would be happy to take it off your hands if you just can't bare to look at it a minute longer. LOL
But seriuosly, I can relate to what you're saying. We tend to be much more critical of our own work than others would be.
Kimberly :)
Jodie, thank you for finishing it and showing it off! I am such a big fan of your writing; it just makes me laugh and often makes my day. And I love to quilt, and now I love it that you have made a quilt too! It's almost like a bit of your cleverness rubs off on me because we share a common interest now (albeit possibly a weakly common interest thus far :P). What I would really like to know is: how did you first get the design idea (it's so original! and cool!) and I honestly would love to see close-ups of your quilting--it looks very interesting. Even if it isn't technically "perfect", it's really quite arresting and makes me think I'd like to try something similar.
Well Dearie......if you don't want it.....I do!!!!! Wonky stitches and all it's a Jodie original and never to be repeated by the sounds of it....vbg. Having seen it in the flesh - I just wish my first quilt looked that good.
I'll show you my first quilt next time ....
Yep.....know how you feel!
I love it - it's beautiful!
If you don't like it, don't keep it.
I often make things I don't like, but I've given up thinking about that. I know *someone* will love every last thing!
i. love. your. quilt.
i love green and white.
i've been waiting to see this. so glad you stuck with it and finished it!
and i'm with all the others who would love to cuddle under it! if you really hate it, i could send you my address . . . :)
I started reading your blog toward the end of finishing this quilt. I thought it was beautiful and was wondering where I could get the pattern. I would have NEVER guessed that it was your first quilt or that you took on the challenge of "wing" the pattern.
You should be VERY proud of what you have done. Not many people would have even tried to make a quilt or to do the whole thing themselve.
It works for me... love the green and white, love the design. You'll grow to love it too in time.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
I made my first quilt over twenty years ago and it is still keeping us warm and that is the main thing with a quilt. When I look at your quilt I see beauty and handmade goodness and if it keeps you warm, wow bonus. Way to go.
I saw your "peeks" of the quilt a while back. I really liked it, and sorta copied it! I used a variety of colorful scraps in place of your greens ones on a white background. It is baby sized and I'm currently hand quilting it. I just started hacking scraps into chunks and bordered 2-3 sides with 3" strips of muslin. I laid them out on the floor and jig-sawed them together and filled any gaps that were left open. I really liked the randomness of it, and the white background, but piecing it together got really interesting. Thanks for the inspiration! It's one of my favorite quilts!
I can so relate to how you fell, but honestly - I love your quilt. And I'll try to keep it in mind next time I'm beating myself up over something I've made that isn't perfect.
Love the quilt. The colors are so fresh and inviting. You are very talented! Thanks for sharing.
Well it is a great idea. It is classic yet modern. I like it. You had a great idea here. I don't see the flaws in the picture. Sort of like we don't see the flaws in our lives through others blogs. And it is ok, because we like them no matter what. I'm not sure I'm making sense. But oh well. The quilt is nice. And sometimes it is painful to look at old quilts because I think "how did I think that was a good idea???" but they show progress. And that is a good thing.
Well I just love it, as do 57 other people obviously. How many more people do you need on your jury?
I adore your quilt ... and each little imperfection records some or your 'sewing history'... your lessons learned, tehniques tried and so on. IMO your quilt wouldn't be quite so interesting if it was perfect.
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