Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Rotating Bed Quilt Project


Believe it or not, in over two years and twenty quilts I have yet to make us a king sized quilt for our bed. Partly due to the obvious - making a king-sized quilt is a lot of work. Partly due to the fact that we're comforter-with-a-duvet-cover people and convincing Mark that a quilt will be cozy enough takes a lot of, well, convincing. And also partly due to the fact that I can't decide which of my beloved fabrics I'd like to see day in and day out on our bed. So since I couldn't decide on just one, I've decided to make THREE! The plan is keep our neutral colored bed linens, and interchange three different quilts with coordinating throw pillows as the mood strikes.

The above stack of beauties is my collection of double gauze cottons, both from the 2009 Chelsea line by Echino and various Nani Iro prints. I truly love, love, love all of these fabrics and have been longing to see them sewn up. I've waffled about going strictly Nani Iro or adding in the Echino, but when I lay them all out together they just seem to fit. This one will be large, simple patchwork with lots of emphasis on the creams and white prints (more are on order). I have plans to splurge on an all double gauze backing, too, so this will be one light and luxuriously delicious quilt. The final touch will be hand-quilting.

The second one is the grey/blue/gold/cream 'drunk love' quilt, and it's already coming right along. These are such fun and relaxing blocks to piece, and I've also been having a bit of fun amassing some more prints in this color scheme to add in. As if I needed an excuse to do more fabric shopping! Twenty-one blocks are finished so far, and for a king I have quite a few more to go, but it should go quick. This quilt will be the first one I'll send off to a long-armer. Honestly it makes me a little nervous, but not more than trying to machine quilt such a monstrous quilt myself.



And quilt number three is my long term,  paper piecing Liberty of London hexagon quilt. This one was started last spring and has reached a bit of a stalling point since all of my hand-stitching time has been devoted to knitting lately. I'm in no rush, though. I've bought, swapped and been gifted almost one hundred different Liberty prints for this and every time I do pull it out it's a joy to work on. I can't imagine how thrilling it will be to be able to put it on our bed. As girly as it is, even Mark appreciates the time, effort and beauty in this one.


So that's my goal for this year. Whether I'll be able to pull that off while having a newborn and a toddler remains to be seen. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this new little one will appreciate the joys of sleep more than his or her big sister!


20 comments:

  1. What a grand plan Megan! And I know you can do it. It will be fun to see the fabrics all sitting together in one place! The grey, blue, gold and cream is beautiful and the liberty one goes without saying!

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  2. I love it Megan!! Great plan! Hope you are feeling great!!

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  3. They are all gorgeous - you are so productive!!

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  4. How do you do it? The only time I get is after 7:30 when both are down. That said...YOU GO GIRL! THanks for all the inspiration this project is the icing!

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  5. Incredible, 3 king sized quilts in a year. Go you! Also incredible, 100 liberty prints. wow. You are going to have one killer bedroom.

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  6. these look awesome!

    I'm doing the same thing! And with three quilts too... (also King-sized)... I've got my pickledish, my chubby stars, and I'm planning one in a mixture of Laura Gunn fabrics!

    Can't wait to see more of your progress! :)

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  7. Looking forward to seeing your progress! I'm finishing up the hand quilting on a kingsize hexagon quilt I finished piecing back last summer, and it is taking FOREVER, but I just can't wait to see it on our bed.

    Also having serious Liberty envy - I've got a treasured stash of Liberty prints, and I'm contemplating either a hexagon or perhaps a postage stamp (with a few larger squares for the big prints) quilt with them. I look forward to seeing your huge quilts develop!

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  8. You are going to have three heirlooms that you'll treasure forever. Great plan!

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  9. I am loving that yellow and grey combination - I think it's going to be this years new aqua and red!

    I think the Liberty Hexies are fantastic! Am so tempted to start this myself but I'm trying to ween myself off hexie quilts until I at least finish the last one!

    I'd love to make some big quilts but I have no space to bind and quilt. I looked into Long arm quilting in my area just this morning and the prices run into hundres of pounds - at that price - on top of fabric etc I'd be too scared to use the quilt!

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  10. ack this is GORGE, I really love that liberty quilt to, what size are you hexies? I need to post progress on my hexie quilt to ;)

    Quilt on my friend

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  11. Hi there my first quilt was a kingsize!
    It was completely handmade and took me two years.

    I am also handpiecing a large hex quilt, which is making my fingers sore!!

    It will be worth it!

    Clare

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  12. Sure, if you haven't made one, why not make three? Makes perfect sense to quilters (wink). I like where your drunk love one is going.

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  13. You are one ambitious girl!!! All three are going to be gorgeous, but I have to admit, I am a bit partial to the Liberty quilt (and jealous over how many prints you have collected).

    We must be in the same knit mode!! I saw that you just queued the tiny tea leaves cardigan and I just received all of my vintage to make it. I'm gonna wait until I am done with my herringbone though....i fear that if i put it down, I won't ever pick it up again!!

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  14. wow, those are going to be gorgeous quilts! it'll be so nice to have a variety of large bed quilts. Can't wait to see what you do with the Nani Iro!

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  15. wow, I mean WOW! These are going to be treasures! (Especially the Liberty hexes. GORGEOUS.)

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  16. I love rotating my bedroom quilts! I have a Christmas quilt, summer quilts, winter quilts, fall quilts etc all depending on the colours and weights. I'd get bored too easy with just one to not rotate :-D

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  17. Mmmm, good idea about the long arming....would never take on quilting a King! I think I need to find one even for some of my smaller projects!

    Also like the idea of mulitiple quilts. I have a hard time commiting to just one fabric/style so haven't made one for my room, this strategy could be just the ticket ;)

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  18. wow! this is an ambitious goal. i look forward to seeing how it progresses. i love the idea of rotating quilts. it should keep things fresh! what color are your walls painted - neutral?

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  19. The hexi quilt is to die for. It will certainly be an heirloom to be passed on generation to generation.

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