Quilt Washing

Enough multitasking.  I worked on the quilt binding until it was all done.

Next step is to toss the quilt into the washer.  To me, a quilt is not a quilt until it has been washed - the fabric wrinkles around the quilting resulting in that "old quilt" texture that I love to touch.

No matter how many quilts I wash it is always a stressful occasion.  I still expect it to come out in multiple pieces with the quilting undone and the colors all run together.  However, that hasn't happened yet.

I stated out hand washing them in the bathtub.  I did that once and it's too much work.  The washing machine is much simpler.  I use the gentle cycle and a very mild liquid detergent.

This is what happens if you try to take a picture without a flash.

Next it is moved to the dryer on low for about 20 minutes to get most of the moisture out.  Then it goes onto the clothes line or over the ironing board in bad weather.

Here is the finished quilt.  It is "Threads of Tradition" and is the cover quilt of "Vintage Gathering" by Kaye England.  Besides changing fabric and colors the only thing I did differently from the original is to add the border all around instead of it being just on the sides.

I really like the book.  Until now it was one of my fantasy books.  One that I looked at and fantasized about making the quilts.  Each time I look at the book a different quilt appeals to me.  Then I had some fat quarters that I thought would go good in this quilt and I stared making it.

I really like this quilt.  The piecing was not difficult and it went together rather quickly (for me).  The finishing took longer.  I'm tempted to make this again and again with different colors and fabric styles.

But I already have my next quilt planned and it's different.  I'll be using 30's fabrics.