Tuesday 30 October 2012

Granny Square Quilt and another thimble or two

This Autumn I have been working secretly on this project:
 
 

I saw Granny Square blocks at the Blue Elephant Stitches blog and knew it was my thing. I had looked at the grey and pink floral summer dress of my own Granny so many times, trying to figure out the best pattern for the fabric. I had almost all of the dress left, so I knew I could make it the main colour in this quilt.

 
Other florals and solids to match were easily found in my stash. I had been cutting 2½" squares of white leftovers for a long time every time I made a Unicef doll. Well, I needed to cut quite many more to get the 360 white ones to make 30 blocks, but I enjoyed it. Putting the blocks together was, as usual, almost addicting. I made a rule: every time I pressed the seams open for 5 blocks I was making at one time, I also ironed five pieces of laundry.
 
I wanted to stitch the quilt in a grid so I figured the width of my sashings accordingly. Then I added wide borders. All the white is recycled bedsheets, the good parts around the edges.

 
The stitching took a while but was not too difficult. Finishing this quilt also gives me my third thimble in the Craft Olympics organised by Melanie. Only two more crafts to go, and there is time until the end of the year.


 
Over 8 metres of binding (light grey and white stripes) meant two evenings in front of the TV. This is taken after I washed and before I ironed the quilt. Every bit of fabric was from my stash, most of them recycled.
 
 
It was a birthday gift for my sister P. Her husband's starry birthday quilt is on my header at the moment. I hope it will keep her warm at their new summer cottage.
 

This morning I took a picture of the sunrise just before 8.  We had a sunny day, but windy and cold. The snow is gone so we spent almost two hours raking the leaves in the back yard. I'm still feeling a bit chilly, after two cups of tea and all. It takes time to get used to the colder temperatures again.


I decided to frame the little stitchery for now to finally earn my second (because I finished the framing before the quilt) thimble in Melanie's Craft Olympics. I can unframe it and use it for something else later, if I find the perfect use for the fantasy bird.


16 comments:

  1. Your Granny squarequilt is very nice and so is your stitchery.

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  2. Wow, that quilt is so pretty and having used your grandmother's dress makes it historical. I'm sure it will keep your sister warm and hopefully will bring warm memories too. The stitchery looks lovely framed.

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  3. The prettiest granny square quilt I've seen. It's also very special. I love the pink and grey combination. Good for you to have finishes to share.

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  4. Love the gray and pink together. Lovely that you could use your Granny's dress, very special for your sister. Very sweet stitched bird. Looks great in the black frame.

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  5. What lovely finishes! The granny square quilt has come out beautifully. Great re-purposing of the sheets.

    Such a pretty bird in just the right frame. Well done on completing 2 more thimbles. I have them both in my side bar now.

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  6. What an amazing quilt and the perfect quilting for it! Your sister is very lucky and so is your brother in law! Beautiful sunrise.
    The frame is perfect for the stitchery. So, it will look very good for as long as it is in the frame!
    Congrats on your second and third thimble. Still working on mine.

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  7. I love the quilt! The fabrics are so pretty and I love the quilting.
    I'm working on my 1st and 2nd thimbles right now.

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  8. So beautiful, and I love that you have been using true granny squares!

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  9. Hi Ulla, i love your granny square quilt, it is quite lovely. Lots of work, i can see why you have been quiet about it, busy getting on with it. And the framed bird and heart are delight. cheerio, k.

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  10. Just a gorgeous finish, Ulla! You are the best recyler of fabrics that I know! I think all that raking of leaves deserves an extra dessert, don't you?
    Cheers!

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  11. What a gorgeous quilt! I love the connection between the Granny Squares block, and using your granny's dress fabric.

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  12. I'm sure your sister will love the quilt. I love it when fabric is related to something or someone. The dress is perfect and repurposing useful fsbric always gives me a buzz you too I know.
    Little bird is beautiful. Three Thimbles yeah!

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  13. The quilt is GORGEOUS, Ulla! I love the simplicity of pattern, and the soft gray, pink and white color focus. Wonderful finish! HOORAY for a third thimble. I have two more to go too... thank goodness there's time left. ;o)

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  14. Dein Granny-Quilt ist eine richtige Fleissarbeit, wunderschön in den Farben! Und der Sternenquilt im Header gefällt mir auch. Das sind zwei ganz tolle Geschenke über die sich Schwager und Schwester bestimmt riesig freuen werden. Gratuliere zum dritten Fingerhut. Eine gute Sache, die animiert verschiedene Projekte in Angriff zu nehmen und auch fertig zu machen. Dazu hätte ich diesen Sommer/Herbst leider keine Zeit gehabt.
    Herzliche Grüsse, Barbara

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  15. A beautiful finish and a wonderful present for your sister, how lucky she and her husbabd are! Your stitchery is so pretty, lovely handiwork.

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  16. Super Granny quilt in pink,light and grey,GREAT work done,Ulla! Lovely sun,same one is shining bright at my place :-) Lovely framed bird,hurrah for the Olympic!

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