I finished a quilt!!! Quilts take me years to complete, so it is entirely an understatement to say that I am excited. I started this Winding Ways quilt at the beginning of 2016! It was quite a journey, and I hope you enjoy the photos and reading my reflections on the quilt. I am also sharing tips on this pattern, if you want to make one yourself!
Most quilts I make start with a sketch, but when I started this quilt, I didn’t like any of my proposed sketches. I used this handy coloring sheet to try to sketch it. None of them were right, but I forged ahead nonetheless and knew the quilt would take shape as I worked.
Cutting Out the Quilt Blocks
I love how the curved triangles create these beautiful circles in this pattern! I saw so many different ways to bring out the lines in the quilt, and I hope I was able to really capture how beautiful this pattern is.
To cut out all the quilt blocks, I used my Accuquilt Die Cutter with the Winding Ways Die. One of the biggest aspects of making a quilt is accurately cutting out each piece. The first quilt that I made was simple squares that I had cut out by hand. I quickly bought an Accuquilt after that because it took so long to cut a quilt by hand, and it wasn’t nearly as accurate. I also wanted to do more than simple squares, and I knew that I wanted the speed and precision of a die cutter.
If you do not own an Accuquilt, the Chic Country Quilt pattern can be purchased to use with a Quick Curve Ruler to make a similar block. I would definitely recommend using the curve ruler or the Accuquilt die to make a Winding Ways Quilt. Cutting this pattern out by hand would take a long time and not be nearly as accurate. Also, the Quick Curve Ruler blocks will need to be trimmed so you will have waste and will NOT have the accuracy that comes with the Accuquilt die cutter. The Quick Curve ruler is definitely cheaper in comparison, especially if you do not quilt very often.
My life quickly took a turn and some really tough times were ahead of me when I cut out that first quilt block. My first blocks started out so bright and full of life. As my quilt grew, though, I let the quilt take on my emotion, my tension, my disappointment, and my grief.
I was glad to have a happy and artistic place to express what my tumulted insides looked like during this time. Quilting was an area I could control and be exact. I am calling my finished quilt, “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” It represents the part of me that was never quenched, never defeated, that found light and hope and kept going. The wonderful thing about this quilt is that by the time I finally finished, I was well past the hard times, and I had this interesting piece of art to look back and reflect on the faithfulness of Jesus!
The finished quilt top measured a KING!! I couldn’t believe this quilt had become so big. I quickly pieced a back out for it, and then basted my quilt sandwich. I use spray glue to baste. It really makes basting easy. I just need a big enough space to make sure all the layers are even. I usually baste on my kitchen island because a kid may jump on it if I try to baste on the floor.
I used Quilter’s Dream batting for my inside layer. My roll is queen size so I pieced my batting by butting two pieces up next to each other and using a wide zig zag to piece them together without a seam.
I Hand Quilted a KING Sized Quilt!
I decided to hand quilt it. I just didn’t want to push this large beast through my machine. Nothing felt therapeutic about that at all. I don’t send my quilts off to be quilted for many reasons (I prefer less dense quilting on quilts, trust issues, and that makes it not fully made by me). No worries if you like a professional quilter. It definitely brings the artwork to an entirely new level. I also feel that when the quilting is very close and thick, it really takes away from the drape and comfort of the quilt.
To hand quilt, I use a No Slip Dritz hoop from Joann and Perle Cotton Size 8. I would grab the quilt and work on it anytime I wanted a break, sit to watch a movie, or when I was doing anything where my hands needed to be busy but my mind did not. It took me almost two years to handquilt it!
Binding
For binding, I cut 2.5 inches wide strips using the strip cutter accuquilt die. I sew it on the front by machine, and then handstitch it down to the back. I love the way a quilt looks finished when it is bound by hand, and I think this is one of the most relaxing parts of making a quilt. A few good movies (or Netflix shows) later, I have a finished quilt!
I normally take photos of a quilt right after I finish and before I wash it, but after being drug around my house for 2 years, this one definitely needed a nice wash before being photographed. You can already see the beautiful hand of the quilt after one wash.
I love how the handquilting shows up on the back! Here is a closeup of part of the back.
I am not sure I like all the fabrics I picked for all of the back once I see them together from afar. I think I was in such a rush to be finished that I didn’t think about whether the fabrics looked happy next to each other. Oh well, the front is what will be seen, as this quilt is already parked on my bed.
A Dose of Encouragement
This quilt gets it’s name from the light beaming from the center, but also from the meaning behind it. The light at then end of the tunnel is that thing you have in your life to look forward to that keeps you taking the next step. What keeps you going when you are really having a tough time, or are tired, or discouraged??
Everyone needs something that gets them excited, gives them hope, or that they can expect and look forward to. I look forward to sewing every day. I look forward to long walks. I look forward to time with my husband. I look forward to watching my kids grow up and see how they live their life, what they become, and the enjoyment of being around them. I notice this hope is so evident in my kids, and they often look to me for their source of “what’s next?”
Do you have a what’s next that truly excites you? Do you have passion in your heart that you are not pursuing? I know that when I was going through the most insane time, having just got out of the hospital and labeled a “sepsis survivor” and then a few months later a “cancer survivor” that I made it out because of hope.
A quilt post by me would not be complete without scripture. My Bible Study Fellowship leader from this past year says her greatest memory of me is that I often tell her “Jesus will help you!” That must be my life motto because it comes out of my mouth immediately when faced with hard things.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
“Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then, you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. ” Provers 3:6-8
“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
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