I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve had a quilt finish, but here’s one for the summer. Knowing that TheFirstChild and his little family would be moving here this summer, I felt the need for a picnic quilt to use in the backyard when the grandbabies come over to play. I started this quilt a month or two ago and finished it just a few days after the move was completed — perfect timing!
This quilt was so quick and easy, I almost feel like it’s cheating to call it a quilt finish. I’ve had a big pile of blue jeans that I’ve been hoarding for years. (I know this because when we lived in Minnesota over 20 years ago, TheManOfTheHouse and I used to play a little game with his jeans when they were worn out. He would put them in the garbage and I would sneak them out and into my hoard. Sometimes he would catch me and throw them out again, but I always won LOL.) Anyway, I finally cut into some of those jeans. I cut my pieces into 8″ squares and then pieced them into 10 rows of 10 patches, making this a finished quilt just under 75″ square.
The backing is a piece of fabric that I bought at Ikea several years ago after seeing someone post it on the internet. It’s a heavier weight than normal quilting cotton, and I bought it thinking that someday it might make a cute backing for a picnic quilt. Sometimes, my plans actually do get implemented! I used DMC cotton thread (in pink, green, yellow and orange) and big-stitch quilted the squares in a big “X” pattern. Here’s an in-progress shot on the quilting frame.
Quilting through denim wasn’t exactly easy, but I ended up taking just one stitch at a time and using pliers to help me pull the needle through, so it didn’t seem so bad.
This was a really fun quilt to make! And the best thing is, it’s already been pressed into service. Grammy had a little babysitting session this afternoon, so we had to break-in the new quilt and have snacks in our secret little place under the Ugly Tree. It was perfect!
Happy July (Already)! And Happy Picnicking!!!
XOXO,
Anna
That’s one lovely picknick quilt Anna! Such a sweet photo of your granddaughter under the Ugly Tree!
Yayyyy, a finish!!! And it’s a fun one! I love that FinallyAGirl picked the backing to be the upside for your picnic under the “why is it ugly tree – it’s gorgeous to me” tree. Definitely a bright girl. And the hidden benefit was the workout you got using those pliers to pull the thread through on each stitch. I won’t be challenging you to arm wrestling anytime soon…
I think that tree is beautiful – I’m sure you have a reason for calling it “ugly”
Such a fun quilt Anna and with your sweet cherubs back and nearby I know it will get lots of happy uses!
A super quilt, Anna. I see a lot of fun picnics in your future with these little angels. Have a wonderful summer.
Amalia
xo
Love this. You need a medal for quilting with pliers. That’s a picnic quilt that will never wear out. C will be using it with her grandchildren.
Lovely! Is the back really the front, as in the photo?
So wonderful to have those little people near you!
Love it! good work there!
That is beautiful, and the best example of what I hoped to sew, the reason I saved piles of old jeans from seven people for many years — and then eventually gave or threw them away! I think I gave them to the thrift store thinking that people might look there for worn-out-denim fashions :-)
It’s good to know that some “of us” are still working this craft. And don’t a lot of clothing rags go overseas to be made into… something? May the old jeans never die, but keep being reincarnated!
So you stitched this quilt by hand? Your stitches are AMAZINGLY even! Great finish :)
Anna, I love your picnic quilt! I have made lots of denim quilts from old jeans and everyone who receives them loves them. I can’t believe that you hand stitched-quilted it. You’re a better man than I!
Happy Days under the Ugly Tree with the picnic or tea party. (I like the Ugly Tree)
What a gorgeous picnic quilt