My First Quilt (honest)
Yes, it's true. This is the first quilt I made and I still have it. Very faded!
I can still remember ordering the kit from a magazine back in 1984 or 1985. It was either Family Circle or Woman's Day (I bought those religiously right off the newsstand) and it seemed almost scandalous for the price to be somewhere between $40 and $50. We were a one paycheck family and I had two little girls at home. We scrimped and saved all the time. I think I must have saved up some birthday money.
Anyway, the kit arrived with a very simple pattern. Look at this! A Nine Patch alternating with an appliquéd heart. I stitched it by machine. I raw edge appliquéd those hearts with a satin stitch.
And I HAND QUILTED it! I hadn't heard of machine quilting at that time and I actually didn't mind.
But back to the scandalous part. When I pulled the little pile of fabrics from the bag, my calculations began and I realized I had about $6-7 worth of fabric. I was horrified, to say the least. I vowed I would NEVER, EVER buy a kit again - EVER (did I already say that?). And you can bet I never have in over 30 years.
I love this little quilt. It has draped over a little two seater couch in my house and has moved with me from home to home. It has covered my little girls and then their little babies when they needed to cuddle on the couch.
I thought you might enjoy seeing this. Do you remember those magazine ads? Seems so long ago, doesn't it? Thus began my quilting journey and I've not stopped since!
I can still remember ordering the kit from a magazine back in 1984 or 1985. It was either Family Circle or Woman's Day (I bought those religiously right off the newsstand) and it seemed almost scandalous for the price to be somewhere between $40 and $50. We were a one paycheck family and I had two little girls at home. We scrimped and saved all the time. I think I must have saved up some birthday money.
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| First quilt! |
And I HAND QUILTED it! I hadn't heard of machine quilting at that time and I actually didn't mind.
But back to the scandalous part. When I pulled the little pile of fabrics from the bag, my calculations began and I realized I had about $6-7 worth of fabric. I was horrified, to say the least. I vowed I would NEVER, EVER buy a kit again - EVER (did I already say that?). And you can bet I never have in over 30 years.
I love this little quilt. It has draped over a little two seater couch in my house and has moved with me from home to home. It has covered my little girls and then their little babies when they needed to cuddle on the couch.
I thought you might enjoy seeing this. Do you remember those magazine ads? Seems so long ago, doesn't it? Thus began my quilting journey and I've not stopped since!
Faded or not it's a beautiful quilt. More importatntly, you have shared some sweet, precious memories.
ReplyDeleteThanks for those kind words; I'll pass then on to the little quilt.
DeleteAlways loved that pink and gray combo.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha Susie. That's not gray but a very faded blue. But faded is still sweet, right?
DeleteThe scandal of kits = no leftovers for your stash!
ReplyDeleteThat is a PERFECT saying. May I borrow it (and I'll give you credit, of course!). Yes, kits don't leave you with any leftovers.
Deleteevery saturday when she came into Lexington (VA) to buy groceries (and to visit in front of the store with kinfolk) my grandmother bought these magazines for 10 cents each at grocery. They also had crochet patterns and that was her love. As a child I looked at them, as a young married I bought and used all the hints and recipes. Still 10 cents for a long time. Yes, precious memories, magazine and the lovely quilt.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do remember the 10 cent magazines. I really miss the excitement I had snatching up a new one every few weeks. I bought them for decades.
DeleteLove the quilt.
ReplyDeletethanks! She is well loved, for sure.
DeleteI have always thought the price of kits are scandalous. They contain barely enough fabric so there is no room for even small errors and most don't come with the backing and binding fabrics. If all the pieces were precut to the pattern requirements and the kit included everything needed to finish the quilt, I might consider it.
ReplyDeleteI like your first quilt.
Hi Debby! Aww, what a fun first quilt. And to know that it has covered your girls and their little ones with your love is just sweet. I have rarely purchased kits for the reason you list as well as I prefer to pick my own color choices. It makes me smile to know this quilt is adorning your love seat couch (that's what we call them around here in Wisconsin). ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteYes, simple fun first quilt. I prefer picking my own fabrics and also digging through my stash for something I may have bought years ago. Love the hunt instead of someone picking my fabric for me.
DeleteI loved that quilt but the price of the kit scared me off so just the picture went in my file of projects to make. One day while thumbing through a basket of discounted patterns at a quilt shop, I found the one for that quilt and purchased it. I still intend to make someday from my dusty blue and rose scraps. I buy kits now but only on clearance and if the price of the fabric is less than I can buy flat folds off the table at my local quilt shop.
ReplyDeleteLove your first quilt, Debby! My first was made in a night school class and it was also hand quilted and took a whole semester! I still have it and treasure it. I learned everything from templates to bindings in that wonderful beginning class, remembering my first teacher very fondly. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love your first quilt. Mine sits on a bed in the spare bedroom and what I make now is much better than that one although it looks just fine.
ReplyDelete