I'm throwing my quilt in the ring! I've decided to enter "Kimonos in D Prime" in the Bloggers' Quilt Festival. (The name "Kimonos in D Prime" comes from the fact that I used darker versions of the primary colors, red, blue and yellow.) The BQF is a fun way to see what blogging quilters are doing out there in the world. I look forward to more adventures in the world of quilt blogs!
One summer, DH and I went to visit friends up in the NH Lakes region. We stayed at a B&B, Glynn House Inn (which I highly recommend, if you are in the area). During breakfast, I was reading the B&B's brochure which said something about Keepsake Quilting. I asked the owner about it and he said it was the "largest quilt shop in New England"! My husband was sitting behind me. Though I couldn't see him, I could feel his energy draining because he knew once I heard that, we were not leaving New Hampshire without a stop to Keepsake Quilting!
If you've ever been to Keepsake Quilting, you know that there are rocking chairs out front. My husband promptly plopped himself in one and I went inside. I must have spent about 40 minutes in the store. As I was walking to the register, I saw this kimono quilt pattern by Betty Blais of Embellishment Village. I fell in love with those kimonos! Well, I had to shop again for fabric for the kimonos! I went to the register with my purchases. The cashier asked me if I had ever done foundation piecing and advised that the pattern was not for a beginner. I replied no, but "I write code for a living -- it shouldn't be a problem." Famous last words. Another 30 minutes later, I was finished shopping and found my husband and another husband napping outside!
I immediately started working on the quilt when I got home. And boy, was I in for it with this foundation piecing pattern! It took me an entire day to figure out the first block -- the one in the top left corner of in the quilt. As you veterans of foundation piecing know, you are kind of doing it backwards. And, I was trying to make sure the directional fabric went the right way, etc. I had holes in my pattern by the time I was done. I was determined that this quilt was not going to become a UFO, however, so I soldiered on. By the time I got to the 6th or 7th kimono, I had gotten into a rhythm.
I learned that I will never tell anyone that I can do anything just because I write code (Um, did I really say that!!) and that skill does not prepare you for every endeavor you'll attempt! I was surprised that I ended up with darker colors but am very pleased with the result. I dared not put any quilting on those hard-earned kimonos, so I tied it by hand.
One summer, DH and I went to visit friends up in the NH Lakes region. We stayed at a B&B, Glynn House Inn (which I highly recommend, if you are in the area). During breakfast, I was reading the B&B's brochure which said something about Keepsake Quilting. I asked the owner about it and he said it was the "largest quilt shop in New England"! My husband was sitting behind me. Though I couldn't see him, I could feel his energy draining because he knew once I heard that, we were not leaving New Hampshire without a stop to Keepsake Quilting!
If you've ever been to Keepsake Quilting, you know that there are rocking chairs out front. My husband promptly plopped himself in one and I went inside. I must have spent about 40 minutes in the store. As I was walking to the register, I saw this kimono quilt pattern by Betty Blais of Embellishment Village. I fell in love with those kimonos! Well, I had to shop again for fabric for the kimonos! I went to the register with my purchases. The cashier asked me if I had ever done foundation piecing and advised that the pattern was not for a beginner. I replied no, but "I write code for a living -- it shouldn't be a problem." Famous last words. Another 30 minutes later, I was finished shopping and found my husband and another husband napping outside!
I immediately started working on the quilt when I got home. And boy, was I in for it with this foundation piecing pattern! It took me an entire day to figure out the first block -- the one in the top left corner of in the quilt. As you veterans of foundation piecing know, you are kind of doing it backwards. And, I was trying to make sure the directional fabric went the right way, etc. I had holes in my pattern by the time I was done. I was determined that this quilt was not going to become a UFO, however, so I soldiered on. By the time I got to the 6th or 7th kimono, I had gotten into a rhythm.
I learned that I will never tell anyone that I can do anything just because I write code (Um, did I really say that!!) and that skill does not prepare you for every endeavor you'll attempt! I was surprised that I ended up with darker colors but am very pleased with the result. I dared not put any quilting on those hard-earned kimonos, so I tied it by hand.
15 comments:
Deliziosi questi kimono!
Ti invidio un po' per i negozi che avete voi, con le sedie a dondolo per i mariti che possono aspettare comodamente seduti a dondolarsi....
Ciao
Greetings from Maine! I love your quilt!
Margaret
www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com
-I like this quilt, gorgeus!!!
Bente- Germany
I love your Kimono quilt and such a story to it. More husbands have slept on Keepsake porch!
Nice kimonos - I've got a kimono quilt on my horizon list. :)
Love it- it's adorable!
well done, great work. I once made japanese girls using the foundation piecing method too and it was really hard, but well worth the effort.
Kristina
www.priscillacraft.blogspot.com
Love your quilt!
I had a chuckle at your story. I'm an ex-code writer and I can understand where you're coming from! The analyst side of your brain just thinks you should be able to figure anything out, doesn't it. I like to think that I'm naive, not arrogant! haha
Love the story! I often just barge on with projects, too. I think the colors are just perfect. Really makes me think of kimonos i've seen for every day life, not for fancy occasions and i find that very pleasing and comforting. Thanks for sharing and have a great day
My daughter lives in Boston and sometimes when I visit we go up to Keepsake quilters... oh dangerous place! I think I have seen this pattern and there are a lot of other kimono patterns out there in quilt land.
Love your quilt. I have a bit of a thing about Japanese designs and your kimonos are lovely.
BTW I live just outside Boston - the one in England!
Hi Tina in Boston, I cannot find an email address for you. I do have a picture of my japanese girl small quilt, but don't know where to send you :-)
Kristina
www.priscillacraft.blogspot,com
Hi! That is beautiful quilt! I would love to make kimono-quilt to add to my Japanese inspirated works! Thank you for sharing! x Teje
Lovely quilt - thanks for sharing!
Great quilt! Good story too! Lucky you that your husband will come with you to quilt shops!
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