Wednesday 21 December 2011

Crazy Christmas Quilt

Not so called because its a crazy pattern, just because at 8pm last night I decided Christmas day just couldn't arrive without having decorated the bed!

Have I ever made anything bigger than a lap quilt? No. Have I ever managed to cut, piece, quilt and bind a quilt in 4 days? No. Do I still have a mountain of handmade presents to make? (and mostly before Friday as that's when they are being exchanged with visiting family). Yes. Did I let any of this hold me back? Oh no!!!

So at 8pm last night I madly started cutting, fortunately I had a head start as I already had a fair number of charms left from the Modern Christmas Swap I hosted. I added to this with fabric I have been hording for years, anything with a Christmas feel went in. I basically wanted to be able to put the quilt on our king size bed. I was rather daunted by making such a large quilt. So the finished article doesn't hang down the sides, I don't mind, after all it will only be used for a few weeks and is most likely to be dragged off the bed and spend half the holidays on the sofa with us!

Here is what I had by 9.30pm last night after an hour and a half of cutting. I then added some large 9.5" squares around the outside as it wasn't big enough for my liking.


By Midnight I had pieced the whole top, hurrah!


I dragged my reluctant daughter out of bed at 9am to dash straight off to the quilt shop for some batting and more red thread as I had run out. A quick trip Trago Mills (the local discount warehouse) and I had 2 yards of festive red fleece to back it with. I had wanted red flannel, I am crazy about flannel right now, but with the time available fleece will do. Then my cunning plan came together, baby girl was worn out from shopping so went for a nap, big girl was bored from shopping so went on the computer to play and I got down to basting and quilting.

Lots of piecing bits of batting together (to save money!) and piecing the back as 2 yards still wasn't quite enough and taaaaa dahhhhhhh........


It is quite possibly the worst quilting I have ever done but my most favourite quilt by far! I think just because I wanted to make it SOOO much! I had to unpick quite a lot of the quilting and man I hate un-picking :(

But I got there, by 3pm, just in time for photos before baby girl woke up. I am so lucky she loves her sleep!

It still needs binding, hey I'm no superwoman! But I have zig-zaged the edges so if time runs out it can still be used for now. Cue gratuitous farmhouse showing off Christmas quilt shots!



Sorry about the next one, I couldn't help myself! I've always dreamt of having a range in the kitchen so I had to show it off!


This next one is our Library! Big girl decided as soon as we realised we had a large upstairs landing it should be a quiet reading area. So now it is complete with sofa and a bookcase full of books. However, anyone has yet to sit there and read, we are all too busy! One day....


And finally, on my bed. I am so proud of myself. Hope you all like it too.


Merry Christmas everyone. I'm off to make more presents, wrap even more, cook dinner and cakes and turn myself into a goddess (pah!) for my Christmas girlie's dinner out tonight, all in the next hour and a half before hubby gets home! Wish me luck, I think I may have used up all my superpower making the quilt!

11 comments:

Catherine said...

your quilt looks amazing, well done! I made one too, out of the swap fabric but I am busy unpicking some fmq on it so it isn't finished yet: altho we are still using it!! have a nice time tonight

Fiona @ Poppy Makes said...

It's fantastic! Well done!
I am so tempted to start a last minute Christmas quilt too, those Christmas charms are calling me, but I'm trying to be sensible.......

Canadian Abroad said...

I cannot believe you got that all put together in twenty four hours (or less)! Amazing, fun and well done you!!

Judith, Belfast said...

Way to go! Spontaneous creativity - love it! The quilt turned out brilliantly! Jxo

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Go girls!!
Hope you've had a fab night out after that fantastic bit of making! Brilliant x

Sheila said...

I'm exhausted after reading that - what a feat and such a Christmassy quilt, well done you.

Julzie said...

Oh I love your Christmas quilt, the big blocks with the smaller ones works so well, I think I might take inspiration from this and use up some fat quarters this way....well dne for powering on and getting it done so quickly :)

Katy Cameron said...

Oh wow, that was amazing, I would be procrastinating for week lol I have a quilt I really, really want to make, but I've held off to finish the big pressies. Not sure I'll be able to get away with taking it to mum and dad's either, so that'll be my first job when I get back - I hope it comes together this quickly!

Cindy said...

Good for you and your zany idea, miss Emily! I love it! I like your get up and go spirit! It totally served you well :)

Nicky said...

You were truly inspired then Emily! We will expect a quick turnaround on all your quilts now! Is the next one a rainbow coloured charm quilt?

Doesn't it feel great to have a finish ...? Could get used to the feeling if I can shift some more UFOs!

Sarah @ FairyFace Designs said...

It looks fab Emily, hope it got lots of use the last few days :-)