006

{Because of my upcoming 10th quiltiversary, I'm reliving the quilts of my past.  The goal is to remember the how and why of the quilts I've made over the years, eventually trying to nail down a total number made.}

Fall/Winter of 2005:

This quilt represents quite an undertaking in my young quilting career, mostly because of the size.  I don't remember the exact dimensions, but it was meant (and it does) cover a queen sized bed.

I made this quilt for my mother and father in law for a Christmas present.  My husband and I often find it difficult to buy gifts for them and so - needing another project, I'm sure, and solving the problem of not knowing what to give them - I embarked on making this quilt on nothing else but my domestic sewing machine.

Even though this was late 2005,  I still remember that I searched online for a fabric line that I thought my mother-in-law would like and ordered it.  I also searched the Quilter's Cache site for a pattern that'd be appropriate for the fabrics, keeping in mind I wanted some negative space... I was premeditating those feathered wreaths. :)

Because I was pressed for time, because I had limited tricks up my sleeve, and because I was quilting this big quilt on a domestic machine, I started with stitching in my ditches all over the quilt and then went in and quilted the feathered wreaths over and over and over again.  

I just have to highlight one other "first" for this quilt, the borders are mitered!  (Way to go, Jess! I didn't know you tackled that technique so early.)  :)

It's sweet, my mother-in-law redecorated their bedroom based on this quilt, I wasn't ever expecting that.  If I'm not mistaken, they might still use it on their bed.  

I look at this quilt now and think that I can do so much better.  But, I think that's missing the point.  I wouldn't choose the fabrics or pattern again, but times change, styles change, abilities change, and for that one moment in time, it all came together and I was able to show my love and appreciation for them using those materials and burgeoning skills. So? Worth it. :)