Last night I finished my vintage sheet quilt. You remember, the one I wanted to finish last summer. The one that has been quilted and has had naked edges for months... that's the one. I suddenly got the urge to finish her. And I'm so glad I did. She's brought some sunshine to the gray days of my Oregon winter...
And has made me think of "The new Jan Brady" and her fake boyfriend George Glass.
Before the unveiling I'd like to share a quick binding tip with you. I love a nice hunky binding. Empty feeling binding makes me sad. When it's time to trim the backing and batting off of my quilt after quilting, I don't trim it completely flush with the quilt top. I leave about 1/4" of the backing and batting beyond the quilt top. Then I sew the binding on like normal.
This way, when I fold the binding to the back to hand stitch, the top edge of the extra batting and backing fold over on the inside creating a fuller feel to the binding. A quilting lady showed this to me when I first started quilting years ago. I love this tip!
I love hand stitching binding.
The finished quilt. All washed and dried, ready for snuggling. I think I'll name her Jan. Since I was a middle child and all.
I love how the big blocks really show off the prints. I cut the squares at 10 1/2", and set them 7 across and 7 down. I search thrift stores for vintage sheets, but haven't had great luck. I had much better luck searching on Etsy, where I purchased fat quarter sets. I've also seen lots of great old sheets on Ebay. Vintage sheet hunting is fun!
I hope you have a blessed week. Please remember to keep the devastated Haitian people in your prayers. I know we are all heart sick and wish we could do more to help. I know there are many great organizations that we can give through. We sponsor a child through Compassion International and love that organization. Donating on their website is very quick and easy, and our donations are sure to help many children and their families.
Thank you for visiting. x
Your taste in colors is SO different from my own, but I love what you have done with this quilt. I really liked the binding tip. I have always wondered how to finish it so it's attractive. Thank you!
Suz in the Tules
Posted by: Susan | January 17, 2010 at 04:14 PM
Jan is beautiful. Aren't you glad you finished her? Now you can snuggle under her while the cold rain pelts your house. I hope you have a hot cup of tea and a good book with you.
I'd trade all our snow for your rain. It's not too cold here, but it's most definitely winter... and we're sure to get three or four more months of it.
I remember that Brady Bunch episode - funny!
Posted by: Rachel | January 17, 2010 at 05:11 PM
Oh wow your vintage sheet quilt turned out wonderfully. I love old vintage sheets, and yes they are hard to find at thrift stores nowadays.
Posted by: Jocelyn | January 17, 2010 at 05:29 PM
My heart also goes out to the Haitian people. I can't imagine their horror. We will keep praying and doing what we can.
The vintage sheets are fabulous! I wonder if you have any trouble machine quilting with sheets (I read it was a no-no.) I'm all set to make my first quilt, planning to cut 12.5" squares. I love the way the large blocks show off the fabric. Thanks for the binding tip!
Posted by: Melissa | January 17, 2010 at 05:35 PM
so lovely. and it looks so snuggly. exactly like a quilt should.
Posted by: christine | January 17, 2010 at 05:47 PM
It's beautiful Sarah! I hereby nominate you to make all the cozy quilts for the compound. Thanks for the cool binding tip too!
Posted by: thimbleanna | January 17, 2010 at 05:47 PM
Absolutely lovely quilt; pastel flowers and a striped binding. Doesn't get better than that. Your photos show your love for your new treasure and I love that you named her Jan. Enjoy! xo,
Posted by: Nanaofnc.blogspot.com | January 17, 2010 at 06:13 PM
love it! I love vintage sheets!
Posted by: Jeannine | January 17, 2010 at 08:36 PM
Sweet and lovely, that´s all I can say!! You´ve done a wonderful job and thanks for giving us the binding tip!! :o)
I hope you already snuggled in this beauty!!
Our snow is melting away and we have lots of rain now, it looks ugly outside.
But what a bless that we can stay at home cozy and comfort. It makes me so sad thinking of all the people in Haiti!!!
Hugs,
Sabine P.xxxx
Posted by: Sabine | January 17, 2010 at 09:35 PM
that is a beautiful quilt, I do my bindings exactly the same way!
Posted by: Shiree Johnston | January 17, 2010 at 10:29 PM
Jan is very sweet and snuggily. I spy your name quilted in the pattern. Perfect project for a grey day.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 18, 2010 at 04:40 AM
that quilt is lovely and you have inspired me to get my butt in gear and finish a quilt I've been working on since May.
question--how wide do you cut your binding?
2 1/2 inches is what I've been told but I'm not sure.
I love the tip about leaving some extra batting...this will be the first quilt I've ever done so I like to get the tips first hand so that it will be a good experience that will have me wanting to do it more!
Posted by: Kelly O. | January 18, 2010 at 06:36 AM
Jan in gorgeous!!! I so love vintage sheet quilts! Did you know there is a vintage sheet swap going on over at Rosey Little Things? You should check it out - there's still time to sign up!
Posted by: Evelyn | January 18, 2010 at 06:45 AM
This is beautiful!! I think I may have to make one of these someday!!
I just wanted to let you know that when I was thinking about trying my hand at quilting, your blog was the 1st one I found. I read it from beginning to end. After a couple weeks of regular re-visits, I finally decided to make a quilt and try machine quilting it on my own. It's been a year now and ever since, I'm hooked. Just thought I'd let you know that you were one of my first inspirations to start to quilt. Your work is beautiful and your blog is fantastic as well as extremely informational! Thank you for stirring an interest in quilting for me!
Posted by: Jen | January 18, 2010 at 08:51 AM
Thanks for the tip! The quilt is beautiful and I LOVE the big blocks!
Posted by: Chrissy | January 18, 2010 at 02:40 PM
Well it is lovely and the name certainly fits. I know a lady that judges quilts and if the binding isn't "full", it gets a big deduction. So see. You're ready to win a first place in a quilt show!
Posted by: nanette | January 18, 2010 at 03:09 PM
Sarah, your quilt is so beautiful. Very cozy. It reminds me of the flowers in my cottage garden.
Posted by: cathleen | January 18, 2010 at 03:24 PM
what a lovely sweet quilt! Your hand stiching on the binding is wonderful. I guess I need to practice more, but I get frustrated and then end up doing it on the machine.
Posted by: Diane | January 18, 2010 at 03:44 PM
Your quilt is beautiful! It looks so happy, I love it.
Posted by: Allie | January 18, 2010 at 09:26 PM
Jan is so beautiful!!! I like big blocks too.It makes me think of spring.
Posted by: Jacque Huseby | January 18, 2010 at 10:06 PM
What a gorgeous quilt, Sarah! The vintage sheets must make it soooo soft. And your quilting is lovely as always. Love how you stitch your name in. I'm also a big fan of hand-stitching binding. In fact I'm almost done with one now. It's so relaxing!
Anyway, enjoy "Jan"...love the George Glass reference!
Posted by: Jen in NY | January 19, 2010 at 01:58 AM
I've got that sheet , the one you;ve used for the backing -- how spooky we should both have the same sheet and be so far apart...
Posted by: periwinkle | January 19, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Gorgeous quilt. I have some vintage sheet squares all ready for sewing...You've reminded me I need to pull them out and get cracking :o)
Posted by: Sew Create It - Jane | January 19, 2010 at 02:11 PM
I LOVE this quilt!
You've inspired me to make one just like her.
Only I will call mine Jan"e".
:)
Praying for the people of Haiti with you!
Jane
Posted by: Jane Swanson | January 19, 2010 at 10:04 PM
What a gorgeous cozy quilt. Your binding is so neat! Being left-handed, photos of sewing in progress look the 'wrong' way to me :-)
Teresa x
Posted by: Teresa | January 20, 2010 at 03:44 AM