My year in review

This is a very exciting post to write, because this was my first year as a real quilter. I taught myself the basics, and jumped right in, making (what I now realize are) a large number of quilts (15!) and other projects. I still have a few holiday gifts to blog about, but I decided to take my time and do them over the next week or two to catch up.

My first real quilt was the spectrum quilt. I wanted to use a bunch of my favorite fabrics, and I arranged them in color order. The quilt is small– probably about 3 feet by three feet square, and now hangs in my office in front of my computer.

Actually, upon further review, my real first quilt was Simon’s “puppy quilt” I made as a way to practice my sewing skills before moving on to a real project (I don’t count the puppy quilt in my quilt total for the year).

After these projects, I felt confident enough to move into some larger quilt projects. I made quilts for both of my sisters for graduation gifts this spring. My younger sister graduated from high school, and my older sister earned her Ph.D. I realized as I was writing about this I have not yet blogged about my younger sister’s quilt, so that will be forthcoming! My older sister’s quilt was my first try at a deconstructed 9-patch quilt.

Around the same time, I also made a red and white mixtape quilt for our friends Nicole and Jimmy for their wedding.

Moving right along, I was looking forward to our July wedding. It was important to me that our family and friends involved in the wedding knew how much we valued their support, and I decided to make quilts as gifts for my wedding party, officiant, and parents.

For our friends Laura and Aimee, I made my first filmstrip quilt. This is one of my all time favorites, and I have plans to make a variation of this quilt in the new year! We also used the quilt as a backdrop for our outdoor photobooth at out wedding.

I made my first zig-zag quilt for my friends Karen and Justin.

I made a series of small, striped quilts as wedding gifts for parents and grandparents.

For the family friend who served as our officiant, I made my first stacked coins quilt.

I liked it so much, that after our honeymoon I came home and made one for myself!

I then began my sewing for the holidays, including 4 more quilts I made as gifts. I made a quilt for my grandfather, which I will be blogging about shortly, and shared a photo of the quilt top earlier this year:

I made a “stacks of books” quilt for my mom, whose love of books knows no bounds.

I finished 2 other quilts for the holidays as well, but still need to devote a post to each of them! I’m planning to do so soon, so stay tuned!!

Along the way I also made a number of smaller projects, including refinishing my desk chair, birdie sling bags, napkins and towels, and sewn journals. Details about all of these projects can be found under my “finished projects” tab.

Thinking about all the projects I’ve finished this year has been really exciting, and has helped me realized how much I’ve accomplished! At this time last year, I had yet to start (or finish!) my first quilt– now I really feel like I know what I’m doing. I also have realized that I have a number of finished projects I still need to share on my blog, including quilts and pillows and other projects. Plus, I have my next 4 quilts planned out in my head and ready to go, and I can’t wait to get started on them. I’m looking forward to more great sewing, and I hope everyone has a wonderful new year!!