Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Kiting in the Snow

When I first started sewing the picnic quilt a week or two ago, Scott & I told Gillian that we would take our new picnic quilt to the "Cherry house" and we would have a picnic & fly kites.  At that time, we thought we had about 3-4 weeks, until we would leave for Scott's Nursery Stock planting in Macdoel.
I was cranking along on my quilt. Then we find out, we are leaving in less than a week. Ack! I didn't think I could finish it in time.  But, I did.  I finished sewing the binding around the edge & we left the next morning.
But, we haven't had that picnic yet.  It is rather cold.  And rainy.  And, even some snow. 

The daddy was brave against the snowy cold & flew kites with the kids anyway.  I stayed indoors, except to take a couple photos.

It wasn't too easy to fly kites in such intense weather. 






The Picnic Quilt details - 60" x 60".
Canvas is the main material on the front, with small patches of standard lightweight cotton.
The back is all canvas.
The binding is 2 1/2" strips of cotton of various prints.

I pieced the front by making 9 blocks that were roughly 20" (very roughly!). 
I just sort of cut & measured & sewed & ironed & repeated that again & again.
I pinned my top layer, batting layer & back layer together with saftey pins, as my friend Paisley & Lace taught me to do. 
You lay you bottom layer on the floor & tape it down with painter's tape.  Then you lay you batting on that & stretch it tight & tape again.  Finally, do the same with the top layer. 
Now put safety pins all over it, to keep everything straight & in place.   
Once the layers were all together I machined stiched random blocks throughout the quilt.

After quilting, I ironed down my binding strip & sewed it on, with the aid of the Angry Chicken. 
This video was so enlighting for me.  Wow.  I never knew about sewing the inside first & then folding it over. 
The video is also hilarious, I think.
You may want to watch it, even if you don't give a rip about bias tape or binding.

On our road trip to Macdoel, I embroidered words on the top of the quilt, just for fun.

Maybe next week we can have a picnic?

12 comments:

Stef said...

Erin, it turned out fabulous!!

Lizzy said...

Hi Erin. Are the kids under the blanket in the first and second picture? The kite you guys have is really cool i bet Gill loves it.

Erin said...

Hi Liz! The blanket is actually hanging on a tree in those pictures. The kids were sleeping when I took the pictures. It was cold & rainy!
Gillian does love the kite. We have an airplane one, too. But, Scott can only fly one at a time. :)

LindaFaye said...

kites! it reminds me that we have an eagle kite we have yet to take out. seems like work to me. but you've inspired me. i'll have to get it out soon.

Erin said...

It seems like work to me, too, Linda! Note that I didn't do any kite flying. Ha!

Krista said...

It turned out great Erin! It looks like you guys are having a good time, despite the cold. :) We miss you!

paisley and lace said...

You have not had a picnic, yet? Gill's anticipation must be growing:)

Stephanie said...

Your quilt turned out BEAUTIFULLY. I particularly like that bright mustard yellow color - it's so full of summer.

stephanie@metropolitanmama.net

Erin said...

It seems like work to me, too, Linda! Note that I didn't do any kite flying. Ha!

Stephanie said...

Your quilt turned out BEAUTIFULLY. I particularly like that bright mustard yellow color - it's so full of summer.

stephanie@metropolitanmama.net

Krista said...

It turned out great Erin! It looks like you guys are having a good time, despite the cold. :) We miss you!

LindaFaye said...

kites! it reminds me that we have an eagle kite we have yet to take out. seems like work to me. but you've inspired me. i'll have to get it out soon.