Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Two-Color Quilts


I've had a fastination with two-color quilts since I started quilting. I've made two-color quilts, but they've been scrappy. I really want to make a two-fabric quilt!

This quilt was hanging at Road to California. I've looked through that $1 program (which, incidentally, they were giving away free on Sunday!) and I can't find which quilt this might be to give credit to the quiltmaker. If he/she reads this blog, I just want them to know I think it is stunning!
Turquoise is my new favorite color, and the quilting on this quilt was awesome. Hmmmm.....
I have a question for the blog ring. Do you wash your fabrics before cutting a quilt or not? Sometimes I do; sometimes I don't. Just wondering what you all do. I'm procrastinating big time on this quilt for the boss. Those oodles of yards are just sitting on the cutting table. I'm having a hard enough time making myself cut - I can't even imagine ironing all that fabric. (sigh) Tell me what to do. I'm putty in your hands tonight!
Because I'm tired. This weekend really did me in. I realized today that I'm no spring chicken. At 55, I guess I'm an autumn chick?
Yesterday and today were tough days emotionally, too. Mom's 92nd birthday would have been yesterday, and today is the 22nd anniversary of her death. I've been thinking about her all week, and just plain miss her.
I talked to my brother today. They are in their house! Hooray! Don said they're still doing finishing work inside -- they have baseboards and crown molding to put up in the bedrooms, and one bathroom countertop is not in yet. But all the new furniture was delivered on Monday, and they decided just to move in with the new furniture. It's been five months since their house burned. I think this rebuilt has been remarkably fast, but it sure doesn't seem that way to them! I'm hoping that once the construction folks are out of there, that they will be able to relax a little and enjoy life again. They surely deserve a little quiet time now. I'm hoping to get down there in late spring or early summer. But I was ordered to bring a quilt for my bedroom! They're waiting to decorate that guest room around the quilt! LOL!

20 comments:

Mary Johnson said...

This is a beautiful quilt - I also love 2 color quilts but don't often make them unless they are scrappy.

I don't wash my fabric but wash the quilts when they are finished before they are given away or donated.

I'm sorry for your loss even though it was so many years ago.My Dad has been gone for 18 years and I still miss him.

Unknown said...

Vicky, it seems fast for Don to get back into their home in 5 months too but I can understand how 5 months seems like a long time to them.

I wash everything before it goes into my stash and I've still have reds and purples run. Remember when that red Hoffman ran in the Bear Paw quilt I made? I kinda like ironing the fabric after it's been washed.

I suppose we never get over losing those close to us. I'm sorry you're having such a rough time at work and missing your mom too. I told you what to do . . move to MO! :)

That quilt and the quilting are absolutely gorgeous!! I want to make feathers like that.

Judy L.

Joyce said...

I love that two color quilt. I will probably never make one. Too much of a scrappy fan. I don't always wash my fabrics but I feel guilty when I don't for some reason.
I don't think we ever get over losing our parents no matter how long it is.

Unknown said...

An unusual but beautiful choice of colour for that two colour quilt - lovely pattern

Carol said...

I'm not a washer...I wash after the quilt is quilted....haven't had a problem.oo

Doodlebug Gail said...

Vicky, I love 2 colour quilts and would, one day, like to do a blue and cream quilt (2 fabrics only). I wash all my fabric before it even gets to my sewing room - I also wash the quilts once they're finished.

I'm so glad that Don is in his new home - 5 months is a good time to finish all that. I'm sure they'll be very happy with their new home. Love that he asked you to make a quilt for "your" room.

Hugs, Gail

The Calico Cat said...

That is a nice quilt, I thingk that narrow turquoise strip in each block really adds to it. My Shakespeare in the park will be a 2 fabric quilt, but both fabrics are "faux Ricky Timms hand-dyeds" so it won't "look" like a 2 fabric quilt.

I too like them, they end up very graphic...

The Calico Cat said...

Oh I forgot - 99.9% of the time I do not wash...

& decorating around a quilt is far better than making a quilt to go with the decorations...

Laurie Ann said...

I always wash because I tend to be a little paranoid and don't want to take the chance of colors running or I suppose what I am most worried about are fabrics shrinking unevenly. So everything gets washed before it goes in my stash. Why take the chance? Then I never have to worry about what is washed and what isn't.

Patti said...

So glad to hear the good news about your brother's house. I've been wondering how he is doing.

Two color quilts are beautiful but I've made VERY few of them. After a few blocks I get bored to death working on them. I do love to see them however. That one is a real stunner.

Paula, the quilter said...

I wash. I finished a quilt recently that had some swap blocks in it that HAD NOT been washed. Guess what? One of them bled all the way through the quilt on to the white backing. Akkk! It's folded up on the guest bed for now.

Dawn's Daily Journal said...

That quilt is just fantastic!!! I love two color quilts. I think I may try one for my next go-round.
dawn

tami said...

I love 2 fabric quilts too, but only have made small ones. I
usually buy stash fabric one yard at a time so I don't have enough to a whole quilt.

I always wash. When fabric comes home from the store it goes into the laundry.

Gail said...

don't stress out - avoid all together! LOL Start your pumpikin bom instead, I'm eager to, but have some other things to get out of the way first, it will be my reward to myself when I catch up.

Sharon said...

I also appreciate 2 color quilts. . but after working on a blue & white for a former co-worker I've realized that I can't stand working with only 2 colors. Guess I am a scrappy person to the core.

I wash my fabrics before I cut into them. In fact, with smaller pieces I wash them with my regular laundry. Part of my reasoning is I want to find out if there is a problem with running (I have a dress from Hawaii that still bleeds & I have washed that at least 10 times!); the other reason is that I want the shrinkage done with before I start working with the fabric.

Losing a loved one is never easy. . .my grandmother passed 26 years ago & there are still times when I ache to be able to speak with her. . .some emotions just never heal no matter how long the time has been.

Have a wonderful day!

Nancy said...

I'm so glad your brother is getting settled into his new home so quickly!

On washing. I do if it's a very strong color that I suspect will run. But mostly I don't bother and have never had a problem with running. Yet. I'm sure one day I will and maybe then I'll change my habits.

I like 2 color quilts but have never had a desire to make a 2 fabric quilt. I'm currently working on a red/white but I have many different reds and whites.

Darlene said...

Like you I love two color quilts also and it would be nice to have done in just two fabrics. Maybe one day!

I understand how feel about the loss of your mom - I feel that way about the loss of my grandmother (she raised me) and it's hard to believe that she's been gone 20 years. Miss her daily!

I'm glad that your brother and family are moving into their new home and will be settled very soon!

I love your "Road" purchases - great job!

Unknown said...

I have a two color project stewing in my "some day want to do" pile. Red and white Lady of the Lake quilt. Your blog is the second one this week that reminded me I want to do that project, so I might even start it soon!

I don't wash fabrics before I use them - there aren't enough hours in the day and I'd rather be sewing that doing laundry. Most of my quilts aren't to be washed anyway. That said, however, I DO prewash my backing fabrics (after a very disturbing bleed-through to the front of a project). And, if I'm making a quilt (that's meant to be used) as a gift, I always wash it when I'm done with a little Synthrapol to help with any potential bleeders.

Sweet P said...

That is one terrific quilt. I'm making a scrappy dark red and white quilt right now.

I usually wash all the fabric before I make a quilt. I didn't wash the fabric for a red, white and blue quilt I made and when I washed it the red bled and I haven't been able to get the red out. So now I use Retayne on my fabric before I start a quilt.

Anniversaries of death and birthdays of departed loved ones is hard. My son who was killed on Nov. 1, 1997 would be 31 this March 3. Those two days are always hard days for me.

Darlene said...

Another little visit to say Hi - I'm working my way through the Stash Quilts Ring just to say Hi.