My first quilt.

I have wanted to make a quilt for either our bed or as a throw for the sofa for some time. Here is the on going story of my first quilt, a quilt-as-you-go quilt. It's going to be a slow process as I don't really know what I am doing. I'm following instructions from a marvellous lady from New Zealand who is guiding me throw the process.

My batting, the stuff that makes the quilt padded. I've chosen a 100% cotton wadding that was bought by the metre from my local fabric shop. In this photo I have already cut it into 12in x 12in squares ready to start. I also chose a 100% cotton backing fabric in plain cream. Actually an Egyptian cotton flat bedsheet from Asda. (local supermarket) I cut this to match the batting.

I took one batting and one backing fabric, wrong sides together baste diagonally and then zig zag around the edges. This is taking the time as I have already bent two needles.

The colour way for the quilt is greens with reds and creams. I have had a great deal of help from the lady that runs the the local quilting shop, in choosing shades of greens and creams. This is a new shop and full of scrummy fabrics and sewing notions. Classes and sewing groups are also going to be held in the adjoining building but are a little expensive for me.

Now I have to cut up all that lovely fabric. It has taken me a while to pluck up courage to actually put blade to cloth. I am a big silly aren't I? To make this an easier task I have bought a long ruler thingy and have so far found it very useful. I already had the cutting board, as you can see from all the ink and paint stains on it. The rotary cut I bought years ago and totally forgot I had. It's so easy to use, I'd cut the wadding and backing in minutes.

No stitching of the fabric as yet but soon, very soon.