I finished my quilt for Japan on Saturday night. I am so pleased with it. I think it might be one of my very favorite things I've ever made, and it will be a privilege to donate it.
As I mentioned last week, I made this quilt for the Quilts for Quake Survivors benefit being organized by Susan and Daniela. They have been hard at work continuing to organize this huge undertaking to help anyone interested make, donate, and auction off quilts to benefit the people of Japan. The Quilts for Quake Survivors blog has a ton of information about what is involved right now and how anyone can help so please check it out.
This is my first log cabin quilt. Turns out, I love this technique. If you've never done it before, you have to try it. Whenever I saw log cabin quilts in the past, I always thought that all of the "logs" were cut into short pieces. But that's not what's happening. You can watch this video of Susan making a block to see how it really works (her video shows it better than I can explain it). How easy is that!
The finished size of my quilt is about 40" x 55". I didn't actually follow a specific pattern, but used Susan's lovely new book, Modern Log Cabin Quilting: 25 Simple Quilts and Patchwork Projects, to help me understand how the blocks are created and how to put them together. This book covers all of the basics for you, and it contains specific patterns for many inspiring quilts, bags, pillows, and other projects. For the QfQ quilts, the girls asked that we use 3" center pieces and 2" strips to make blocks that are about 11 1/2" square. I put strips of 2" wide sashing between all of the blocks, piecing the lengthwise strips with 2" squares. For the back, I joined two widths together with a patched strip:
The strip is hand-embroidered with the words "Made with love and prayers for the people of Japan by Alicia Paulson on April 1, 2011, in Portland, Oregon, USA."
I tied the quilt with pearl cotton, then bound it by machine and hand (machine stitch the folded binding to the top, then flip it over and attach it to the back by hand with invisible stitches). That's my favorite way to do it.
You tend to think about things a lot when you are working on a quilt. Even a small quilt like this is a lot of work, and as it tends to be quiet, contemplative hand-work toward the end (several hours to tie it, six hours to do the binding on this one), your mind can wander. I thought a lot about who will get this quilt and I hoped it would help them in any small way. I thought about what I was going for in the quilt's design: sort of a blossoms-blooming-out-of-the-dark effect. A metaphor, maybe. Purple and peach are totally not my normal colors but I liked them together and they felt hopeful and springy. I thought about what I like about quilts and what I don't like about quilts in general these were all just personal preferences I hadn't really defined before but which occured to me here. What I like is randomness. I like quilts that feel like you threw a bunch of little pieces of fabric up in the air and then stitched them together sort of where they fell. I don't like quilts that follow a super-dedicated color scheme or pattern or make a picture of something else. I like it when things are more sort of controlled-chaos. My favorite blocks in this quilt are the ones in the very center, with seven kinds of fabric instead of just the four "picture-frame" blocks. I never plan which fabrics will go where — I had a big pile of strips on the table next to me as I sewed and I just kept picking up random strips and adding them to the blocks in a more-or-less auto-balanced way. I don't count how many strips to cut or how much fabric I will need — I just sort of start going. (These fabrics were all from my stash, so that kind of makes it easy.) When I laid all of the blocks out to put the top together, I didn't fuss too much with the arrangement, either. I just wanted to make sure it was fairly balanced with the lightest colors spread out a bit. I don't belabor this; I sort of slap it together and keep going. Organizing anything more than that kind of gives me fits, and anyway, I like the way random looks and feels a lot better. I am also one of those people who doesn't pre-wash any fabrics (unless they already happen to have been pre-washed to make clothes or something and are already in my stash). I make the quilt, tie it, and bind it, and then I recklessly throw it into the washing machine, wash it in warm, and dry it hot. It comes out soft and wrinkled and puckered and that's how I like it. I don't like quilts that look like pieces of art. I like quilts that look like you just rolled out from under them in a nice warm bed.
Apparently, I have opinions. Who knew. That said, I can't deny that quilts look pretty cool hanging on the wall. Better make some more. This one's going off to a good home across the ocean. I truly hope it brings peace, hope, and comfort to someone in need.
Very pretty, I'm sure it will brighten someone's day in Japan.
Posted by: Anita | April 05, 2011 at 07:52 AM
Wow, that is beautiful, Alicia. You have such a good eye for color and design. Love it!
Posted by: Robin | April 05, 2011 at 07:53 AM
This is so beautiful! Your color combos are absolutely perfect! Thanks for doing this Alicia! xo
Posted by: corinne | April 05, 2011 at 07:54 AM
Words are failing me, so simply... beautiful, touching, heart-warming, generous, loving. xo
Posted by: Jodi Anderson | April 05, 2011 at 07:58 AM
That is drop dead gorgeous. I have so been looking forward to the end results. I LOVE sewing Log Cabin style. It is so meditative and relaxing. I absolutely agree with you regarding your opinions about quilts. Too funny. Thanks for sharing what will be a huge gift of love to someone who really needs it. What wonderful energy to send around the world.
Posted by: Mary Beth | April 05, 2011 at 07:59 AM
Lovely.
Posted by: Alisa | April 05, 2011 at 08:00 AM
This whole post made teary because I keep thinking about the people of Japan whose lives will never be the same, and the thousands and thousands of people who are still living in shelters, mourning the loss of family, friends, home, security...
One of my best college roommates and close friend returned home to Japan after graduation years ago and still lives in Tokyo. While she is fine, so, so many others are not. Thanks for sending them some love, Alicia. It's beautiful.
Posted by: Abbey | April 05, 2011 at 08:01 AM
So pretty! I can see it wrapped around a little one, knees drawn up to her chest...
My first quilt was a log cabin. I've taken a 20 year hiatus. I think it's time again. I agree totally with your philosophy on quilts and you've inspired me once again!
Posted by: DeeDee | April 05, 2011 at 08:04 AM
Beautiful! It will be well appreciated and loved by the person who receives it.
Posted by: Natalie | April 05, 2011 at 08:12 AM
that is a beautiful quilt!!
Posted by: Eliz. K | April 05, 2011 at 08:13 AM
It's absolutely beautiful!!
Posted by: Heather | April 05, 2011 at 08:14 AM
Beautiful! :)
I like your attitude towards quilts, I have never personally made a quilt but you make it all sound relaxed and fun.
Vivienne x
Posted by: greenrabbitdesigns | April 05, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Did you hand stitch the wording on the back also? Beautiful!
Posted by: Rhonda | April 05, 2011 at 08:15 AM
They'll certainly feel all the love and thought and care you put into it, Alicia. I believe the things we make carry the residuals of the emotions and intent put into them.
Beautiful.
Posted by: Amy Kortuem | April 05, 2011 at 08:16 AM
So lovely! The bright colors against the "dull" sashing is gorgeous. I also agree with your preference for the random--a friend once described my quilts as "motley" which I thought was perfect. :)
Posted by: Kristen | April 05, 2011 at 08:17 AM
Everything about this quilt is special--your fabric choices, your giving of your time and efforts, the heartfelt emotions you quilted into it. These are the pieces that will go on to have great history--even if you will never know it.
Posted by: Melissa P | April 05, 2011 at 08:18 AM
It's beautiful! It looks so warm and cozy and relaxing. I love how simply it was constructed, yet what a stunning statement it makes. Whoever gets this quilt is going to know how lovingly it was made :)
Posted by: Mary | April 05, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Log cabin quilts are some of my very favorites. You colors are so beautiful and this quilt will be such a blessing!
Jennifer :)
Posted by: Jennifer | April 05, 2011 at 08:27 AM
What is the grey polka dot fabric? I've been looking for something just like that to bind a quilt I'm working on.
Beautifully done!
Posted by: Betsy | April 05, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Alicia,
It's really beautiful. I look at so many quilt blogs all day long as I am avid and what I realized looking at yours is that I can't pick out any of the fabrics. So many quilts run together in my mind as I'm so familiar with the fabric lines. Yours is uniquely yours. I realize I'm talking technique and substance rather than the beautiful spirit behind your gift. But, I agree with you -- I don't like quilts that are just so and with precise machine quilting designs either. I like to tie or hand sew. Really gorgeous!
Posted by: colleen | April 05, 2011 at 08:30 AM
I love how the neutral sashing makes the colors pop so well. When you were talking neutral, I wasn't loving the idea, but now that I've seen~it is stunning! So touching what you embroidered in the outer border! The recipient will definitely feel the love!
Posted by: Jan | April 05, 2011 at 08:32 AM
Beautiful, as are all of your projects. I have often taught young children how to make log cabin squares, helping them with the sewing machine and rotary cutter, and assembled them into quilts for charity or for their classrooms.The log cabin quilt is very satisfying!
Posted by: Shelley | April 05, 2011 at 08:35 AM
The quilt turned out great Alicia! I especially love the hand stitched message you put on there for who ever ends up with the quilt. Awesome!
Posted by: Kar | April 05, 2011 at 08:36 AM
Very nice. Another Japan idea; do you know what this quilt would bring, if you auctioned it off? Lots.
Posted by: Lisa | April 05, 2011 at 08:37 AM
It's gorgeous, I am inspired.
Posted by: Audrey | April 05, 2011 at 08:52 AM