Back At It

The Roundabout Quilt is finished.

I quilted free-motion spirals in the circles and stippled everywhere else.

It was really fun and I love it. So does Jake. He was home sick from school the day I went rummaging through my stash and started it. He helped with placement of the blocks and got very attached to it while we designed. He pushed me to quilt and then bind it and now he won’t part with it. The thing is, I wanted this one. For me. Not to mention that he is an eleven-year-old boy into heavy metal music and all things grunge.

Really? Pink and yellow flowers?

In an attempt to reclaim it I pieced a new top just for him:

but he’s not terribly interested. I think he likes the circles (I know I do). So the new plan is to make the same pattern again for him, but with fabrics that evoke more boyish thoughts (or at least less girlish ones). Now don’t get me wrong, I’m as open minded as the next left-wing-mommy. Jake had anatomically-correct girl and boy dolls. He played dress-up with my clothes and supports gay marriage. But I know how boys can be and I don’t think latching onto this quilt will be popular at the sleep overs.

Also, did I mention that I want this one?

When I posted these on Flickr, a few of people mentioned that they would like to know how difficult piecing the circles was. I was thinking about documenting the process of making Jake’s replacement quilt and writing a pattern and tutorial for it. Anyone interested?

It feels good to be quilting again. Now if I could just get to the dishes…

45 thoughts on “Back At It

  1. Lisa

    Re. the pattern- Did you use a different method than a Drunkard’s Path? I recently made a DP quilt and at one point had it laid out like this. Do you do yours by sewing four squares together, cutting a circle and then appliqueing it on?

    I just love this quilt and found your blog from Flickr because of it.

    I have a big color wheel/circle on my design wall right now and every kid that walks into my craft room wants to touch it. (Which I encourage.) It must be the circle thing! LOL! (I love them myself.)

    Reply
  2. susan

    This is a beautiful quilt. Great color choices. I would be interested in a tutorial. I think it would be fun to try some circles.

    Reply
  3. Kathleen

    Love that you mentioned the dishes, since I was just about to ask you when you do your sewing :) I have pieced squares waiting and a long list of projects, but way too much competition for naptime… Sigh…

    Reply
  4. MichelleB

    I love it! There is something about circle quilts, isn’t there? I like the new one, too. I’m anxious to try one that’s all in solids.

    Reply
  5. elizabeth of course

    DON"T tell me this! I keep thinking if I make something all pink and girly, it’ll be for me, being the only one in the house with a uterus and all. But this is bad news if I can’t even plan on that being mine…….

    Reply
  6. Tonya

    I love this quilt, and I would love a tutorial on how to do circles. I have wanted to do a quilt with circles for a long time. I once tried a log cabin design that had different widths on both sides of the block. It came out with a curved effect, but it wasn’t circles. So, yes I would love to learn how you did this one. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Tara Thayer

    Hi Amy. Glad to hear you’re up and running (so to speak). I’m not a candidate for your tutorial, but from a civilian’s point of view, this is one of the most gorgeous quilts I’ve ever seen. Maybe the most. It’s really spectacular. It’s even hard for me to understand how someone can create something like this from scratch. I’m awed.

    Reply
  8. Frogdancer

    Yes! Tutorial! Circles! Yes!

    I’ve just woken up and had a coffee. I think the caffeine has kicked in.

    I laughed when I read about Jake latching onto the quilt. Boys are so funny. They’re a little bit like dogs. Once they get an idea in their little heads there’s no moving them away from it. Unless you offer food.

    Be prepared though. Even with the more manly colours, he may not give in. I know my third son wouldn’t. Once that kid likes something, he likes it for life. (That’s why I know he’ll look after me when I’m old and starting to fall apart. It’s such a relief to me.)

    Reply
  9. julia

    Well (trying to be serious while supressing giggles because of boys and their choice of colors), I can understand you both. I’d want that one for me, too. I’m a girl so nobody will laugh about pink and me, but maybe Jake just likes it so much because it’s perfect ?
    Because it really is. It’s cheery and lovely and the colors go well with the circles which go wonderfully well with the quilting. I’ve been looking at the pictures you made of it every so often and like it as much as the first time I saw it.
    So yes, please, it would be a delight if you made a tutorial or just documented the process of piecing circles (not that I’m begging here).
    And you have to say one thing for your son: He has got good taste.

    Reply
  10. V

    eew, I hate dishes too.
    yes please lets see how you did those cirlces!

    The quilt looks great! I like the one you did for him too, but it’s those cirlces! so fun and different! gotta make another mom!

    Reply
  11. kate

    I certainly would be interested in finding out the piecing technique for that quilt, it is gorgeous! And like you…would only want it all to myself!

    Reply
  12. amy

    Love the circles and would love to know how hard it was to piece!
    My kids do the same thing–I make stuff for myself that I figure they’ll never like but that’s the one they want! Anything I want for myself, they must have too! Nothing is sacred!

    Reply
  13. lucy

    Amy, this is truly spectacular a quilt. And yes, I’d love to hear about your piercing method for the circles (since i have attempted Drunkards path once before). Mine is all with african fabrics and kingsized. i sewed the pierces by hand. needless to say, it cured me of any desires to try it again.

    Reply
  14. anne

    oooooooh yes please a tutorial on this beautiful quilt would be great. Cannot wait to see your next creation for your son. Please please please do a tutorial. Happy Stitching

    Reply
  15. Lucia

    Oh, I just love this quilt. And please count me in as one of those interested in a tutorial. I’ve only tried curved piecing once and I failed miserably. I need help!

    Reply
  16. amylouwho

    I love that circle quilt! I love that Jake loves it too! It’s quite striking – color and design. And of course I would love to see a tutorial! Glad you are feeling better!

    Reply
  17. Gina

    Since I have no quilting skills a tutorial would be wasted on me- but I am such a fan of those who can quilt like you do, your circles are beautiful.

    As a side note- just like the little girls I think boys secretly love pink too- it’s a very soothing color- no?

    Reply
  18. Beth

    Put me in the interested column for a tutorial! The quilt is beautiful and I see why he doens’t want to part with it. My own kids amaze me too – it seems they always want what they have a hand in creating, regardless of what it may look like (colors, fabrics, etc.).

    Reply
  19. Sara

    I am itching to do circles, so would love to see what you do! It looks beautiful finished, but I think "nightmare" when I think of sewing curves!

    Reply
  20. Ashley

    What a great quilt – the circles are so fun, and I love all the different colors and prints you used. The quilting is fabulous too – spiral circles – love!

    Reply
  21. Sarah D.

    Love this quilt- and your story. we gotta talk. I’ll message you next time we’re in your neck of the woods.

    Reply
  22. Caroline

    The quilt is fabulous! I can totally see why Jake is attached to it. Even though I think I’m light years away from attempting a circle quilt, I would appreciate the tutorial, for future reference. And I love your left-wing-mommy-open-mindedness. We need more of that :) .

    Reply
  23. Rebekah

    Both of these quilts are gorgeous! I love the circles on the first and I love the long bricks and bright colors on the second. Beautiful job!

    Reply
  24. jacquie

    amy,
    wonderful job on this quilt. i’ve got my circle quilt in line to quilt and i sure would love to do those free motion spirals…totally cool looking! don’t blame you a bit for wanting to keep this one.

    Reply
  25. Christina

    It’s beautiful. I’ve only ever completed a small wall hanging of drunkards path…but now you make me want to do a bigger quilt. Like I need another project right now! :)

    Reply
  26. magikquilter

    I adore the circle quilt and even more now i know the story behind the quilt! I made a lush purple upholstery quilt for my unofficial godson and decided his friends might not get it…although he is a goth now so maybe they would have!

    Tutorial please!

    Reply
  27. maya | springtree road

    that is seriously the most beautiful quilt i’ve ever seen. i’m sitting here contemplating learning to quilt just so i can make one.

    i doubt i have the patience to do that. but a girl can dream.

    and i often do.

    :)

    Reply
  28. cindy

    I love this quilt! I want the tutorial, is it already posted and I haven’t found it yet?

    By the way, my husband was standing over my shoulder and gasped when he saw the quilt. He also loves it. There must be something calling to the testosterone in those circles. Wait, I think I know what that might be. Just some Freudian realization I had…

    Reply
  29. Shay

    That quilt is freaking gorgeous!

    Oh Please please please post a tutorial . I’ll be your best friend forever….

    I so badly want to make this it almost hurts!

    Reply

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