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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Well Worth It!

Oh boy!  There isn't anything like the feeling of finishing a quilt!  It's one thing to make a quilt from start to finish...that is rewarding in itself.  But making a HUGE custom quilt and having it come out as planned, well it's a relief to say the least! 

I stress from start to finish.  Did I pick the right colors.  Will my customer love them. Should this piece go here?  Will my customer love that.  How should I quilt it.  Will my customer love it.  Time for a wash.  Will it please not bleed....you know the feeling.  One more hurdle to go.  One more bit of time for stressing out.  Although I have sent pictures throughout the entire process, will my customer love it in person???

It isn't any secret that I love to make abstract, improv quilts.  And it is totally subjective. People like what they like.  When I first started making and selling my work I wondered if there were others who would like what I do.  Insecure quilter!  

So, this was the first post I did on this massive quilt:  Officially It's BIG.  The start of the process.  A big undertaking!

And here she is!  A massive bundle of joy, stress and accomplishment!  Thankfully my customer gave me the thumbs up to 'just do what I do'.  It helped my mindset a little bit!  


Let's talk stats!  This is a for a queen size bed.  The final measurements ended up being 90" x 96".  White background was requested because the bedroom is dark, which is why I was freaking out about bleeding in the end!  I barely had enough room to pin the top to the back, but after moving a piece of furniture or two, it worked.  


Because of the size and the fact that my machine couldn't handle anything much bigger, I decided to quilt it using organic vertical straight lines.  Varying widths.  Simple.  Effective.  



Did I mention how heavy this quilt is?  And how big it is?  It wasn't easy.  I will admit I had some sore arms and shoulders!  I intentionally made it much bigger than the finished size (but of course).  I knew that I would need some 'play' when it was time to square it up. Smart cookie!  Actually, I learned that lesson from a previous quilt!

This size of quilt is also hard to photograph!  I enlisted my son and daughter for help.  A couple step stools, a couple tall people and a camera.  I also have a hard time getting good shots of white fabric.  It more often than not ends up blue-ish.


This quilt is the biggest I have ever made.  There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into this one.  But in the end...so worth it.  Its gratifying.  

What is the biggest quilt you have made?  What was the biggest challenge you had during the quilt making process?

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22 comments:

  1. Wow girl! another amazing work of art. xxoo

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  2. That looks fantastic!! Excellent job!

    Katie =^..^=

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  3. Jayne - first off I love it! I really enjoy your "effortless look" in your quilts. I've never made anything that HUGE but did make a weighted quilt that was twin size and the weight of that was like wrestling an octopus (weighted with polly pellets) I wanted to put a special message on the bottom front in free motion and I to take brakes due to the weight of it.

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  4. I have the same anxiety over custom orders, no matter how big or small. Great job Jayne!

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  5. Gorgeous! Love all the improv and the negative space - a triumph of modern! :-)

    Largest was about the same size, I think. It was made for my sister's bed. My brother-in-law is very tall....

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  6. This is an amazing quilt I love it! I've made a few queen sized quilts, and one monster king sized beach quilt. Insane to quilt on a home machine, but setting up tables around the machine to support the weight helps.

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  7. This quilt is amazing! I love the colours you chose and the improv piecing looks really modern and lovely.

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  8. LOVE it! I'm inspired by the organic straight-line quilting. I'm just now starting to do machine quilting, and that technique sounds great. I also adore the look of the top.

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  9. Visiting from the lets be social group. Fabulous in every way! She will love it!!

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  10. Just lovely! Congratulations on a great finish!

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  11. This biggest quilt I've made was 100x110" for my dad. Fortunately it was a simple pattern, and I was able to take it to someone else for quilting, as I don't have my own long arm machine. I'm also currently making one in similar dimensions for my own bed.

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  12. Wow. This is an impressive quilt - I love the improv.

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  13. Love love love this quilt! Great job!!!

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  14. this is wonderful- one of a kind and so modern. The quilting really compliments it! I recently finished a king sized top that I have yet to brave quilting- when done, it will be far be my biggest project ever.

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  15. I'm a fan of modern quilts and improvised pieces so this quilt hits all the buttons for me. Very effective - and very impressive to quilt such a big quilt on a domestic sewing machine - did you do it QYG in sections or in one piece?

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  16. Congratulations on this large and beautiful finish! The piecing is dramatic and the quilting will look wonderful on a bed!

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  17. Large quilts are hard to quilt, I've made 2 for King size beds but make them 130" wide so no one steals the covers, it happens trust me. Love your improv

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  18. Wow! What improv gloriousness! Well done, Jayne. Love the organic quilting!

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  19. WOW! Looks like an abstract painting!! Just beautiful. My largest quilt is a twin size.

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  20. ohhh my goodness, that is beautiful. I want to make a queen size, but haven't gotten that adventurous yet.

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