My First Quilt.

2012 has been pretty great so far. I'm still soda free (and loving it! I've never felt better!), I'm doing more in the kitchen (which my family enjoys) and I've learned some new creative skills. Not to shabby for the first month in, right?

My newest obsession is making blankets. Not my usual fleece, tie/braided edge blankets. Nope, I'm obsessed with quilts. Having never used a sewing machine, or done any sewing in my life, I randomly decided quilting was something I wanted to do. And really, what's the point of starting small? If I learn something new, I go all out the first time out of the gate. It's just my style.

So I made this pretty awesome rag quilt, using retro colors & different prints. Some cotton fabrics, some snuggly fabrics. I just mixed it up. The pattern I followed came from this blog: Rag Quilt for Baby  She has a step by step process, along with pictures-which I find helpful. Probably because I'm a visual learner.

Anyway.  Here is my most amazing fabric. I love it!

I did all my cutting of fabric and batting, followed by layering said fabric & batting.

Laid it out on the floor to my personal specifications.

And sewed it together. Followed by ragging the edges, which was a laborious process, but so worth it!

Finished product!

It currently resides here, on the back of our couch. It looks so great!

This is the non-ragged, flip side. Still very cool!

Here's a closer shot of the ragged side. :)

Now, I got this awesome new sewing machine (because my hubby loves me ;) so after practicing on some leftover fabric & following the instructional DVD, I put it all together. Yay for learning new skills!

My new favorite toy!

 I did discover, after talking to my Dad, that my Great-Grandma Jessie (my namesake) was also a quilter. Except she did it old school-quilting circle, by hand, with a loom, kind of old school. I think it's really cool (and fascinating) that I have something in common with the woman I'm named after. Perhaps her skill was passed down to me??? Either way, I've taught myself another great craft and I cannot wait to get started on another quilt!