Quilts

I have made quite a few quilts over the past 8 years.  My parents took me sewing machine shopping many years ago because I has this great idea to make work out wear.  My husbands trade is fitness.  He is a fitness consultant.  At this time he mostly personal trains, but his knowledge goes so beyond that world… we hope to one day have our own gym.

I won’t share any more detail than that, just because we don’t want any one to steal our ideas.    Any way that is why the fitness clothes came into my head.  I was going to the gym a lot, in pretty good shape I might add.  I really wanted to design my own clothes to go to the gym in.

Well, motherhood got in the way, I had a 3 year old and a 1 year old… and no time.  I was also pretty young and just couldn’t juggle it all, mentally mostly.

So the sewing machine got put away for quite a few years, and then I decided I wanted to sew.  Quilts seem to be the easiest thing for me to start with.  You can start with squares, that all go together.  Use different colors and make your own design… right up my alley.

That was it after I made one, I just kept making more and more of them.  I had another baby which meant I could make a small blanket… less time.  I also could use left over clothes or old jeans, or even sheets I don’t need any more.  So cost was even low.

After 8 years I have come a long way.  I really love the whole process.  I start on graph paper, and use the squares as measurements and a visual color map.  I recently made a horse blanket for my daughter who would live in a stall if she could.  I also made one for my 6 year old boy from an old army fatigue I got from my sister, who got it from one of her husband’s friend.

I made one with my son’s name in it, I quilted a cross in one, the possibilities are endless.  My favorite part is using old clothing that reminds me of my family.  I actually used my old sheets from when I was a young girl, in one of my daughters summer quilts.   I have put my husbands old jeans and shorts on my sons blankets.  So it is memories preserved.

I hope to start the picture process soon so I can share them with you!

There are so many options in quilting

If you want actual instruction and great tips on how to quilt then check out …  How To Quilt

This is a great site and tool if you are truly interested in the hobby.  I just want to point out that you can choose your own colors!!! Don’t be fooled by the old fashion look of the quilts. It is all about colors you use in the design, and learning good technique in the whole process.