Ok, this post is WAY overdue! 🙂
But alas, it’s here!!
A photo timeline of the very first hand quilt I’ve quilted. As a self taught hand quilter, I learned most of this from youtube videos, but also missed a couple things.
Lets begin shall we!
I found the pattern above on Joan’s project website, then proceeded to go pick out fabric: KITTY THEMED!

I still didn’t know about getting more fabric if you’re going to do fussy cuts, so some of my kitty blocks were cut off, but it worked out!
I decided to get pink floral print and beige bird print fabric for the other blocks.
Keeping the quilt neutral, I added baby blue, brown and beige with pastel yellow borders. I actually extended the borders about 3 inches each to make a wider quilt than the pattern.

I had not the slightest clue that you had to sew your pieces with a 1/4″ seam allowance, so I sewed almost right on the edge of the fabric pieces! I followed the written instructions on here and NOWHERE does it say anything about seam allowances.
Silly me! 😛
Some things you just learn down the road and look back and chuckle at what you did before. Lol

I didn’t iron, press or mark ANYTHING! Lol
I just sewed along with a double threaded needle and put it together!

After sewing my quilt top, I got ready to baste away with Raymond and Jeanie’s supervision! 🙂
They were actively involved in the creation of this quilt!
I read online somewhere that using bed sheets make great backings for quilts, and considering that I have a linen closet full of flat sheets we never use, I used a flat sheet as my backing. 🙂 frugal and crafty!

After pinning for a couple of hours, I was finally done basting this kitty quilt! Boy, were my fingers ready to fall off! But I think it’s worth it to safety pin things, specially because I haul it around the house to work on it, then Raymond and Jeanie tug around it. It’s just more secure for me. 🙂 do you pin your projects like crazy?!

I attempted to hand quilt it on a hoop, but I determined real quickly that quilting on a hoop is not for me.. I preferred hoop-less quilting, I’m sure that Raymond did too! 🙂 he slepted on it, while I quilted, as often as he could!

It took me about a week and a half of continuos hand quilting to get to the borders 🙂 I quilted in my bed, on my recliner, in the car, at dinner, all night long! Lol I wanted to finish it!!

I bought a leaf stencil and quilted that design on the inner border.

For the outer border, I simply traced the lid of the box of pins in alternating patterns. 🙂 plain and simple! I discovered water soluble markers and friction pens during this quilt, and absolutely love them! I mark everything now!

I cut the excess batting and prepared to bind the wrong way. Lol I know that now!

I didn’t know how to properly bind, so I left about two inches of the backing, folded over and sewed it on. I attempted to use the binding stitch or invisible stitch, as some call it, but I did the best I could. I’m a bit embarrassed of my corners, but they are still sewed on and secured to this day! 🙂 and that’s enough for me and Raymond and Jeanie!

And then , AFTER THE INCREDIBLE LEARNING JOURNEY, IT WAS COMPLETED!!
I dated it and wrote a little message from our three babies, and their paws, to gift to their daddy! 🙂
They all absolutely love it and it means a lot to me<3
Since the completion of my very first hand quilted kitty quilt, Raymond, Jeanie and Timmy sleep on it every chance that they get!!

AS I TYPE, I’m sitting on my recliner, covered with the kitty quilt and Jeanie and Ray sleeping in between my legs!! 🙂
It’s truly heart warming that my babies adore this kitty quilt as much as I do!!
Now, a compilation of pictures of my babies interaction with the kitty quilt will follow! Enjoy!!

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR READING!
As I write about the beginning of my quilting and crafting journey, feelings of excitement and enthusiasm resurface.. I’m uber excited and motivated to craft on and share my projects with you all!
I hope you’ve enjoyed and chuckled at my stories and posts! I would love to hear about your quilting journey and how you started to sew and craft! 🙂

Toodles for now,
Diana, Timmy, Jeanie and Ray<3

Here’s a insight as to what’s consuming all my time right now, keeping me from sewing and blogging; I had to empty most of my crafty room to install the foam tiles and perforated hard board. I also got rid of my old desk and bought a quilters design table, which took me three days to put together.. But I’ve finally got my room back in order, just organizing on my peg walls and setting up my desk to start sewing again! 🙂
I will be blogging about it all soon!!!