Quilting Confessions

Ok, I confess, I haven't really made that many quilts. And I hadn't bought a jelly roll until last month. I made my first quilt in, um, 1984. It was a queen size lone star quilt, that I hand quilted. I made at least 3 more quilts that were also hand quilted. And then I stopped, because hand quilting just took so darn long.

But I love quilts, and love the piecing and the design, so I've gotten back into it. But I'm a planner and a matcher. I first stepped out of my comfort zone with my Sunburst quilted wall hanging that I strip pieced. And with the jelly roll (so yummy), I had to throw matching to the wind.

What's a jelly roll, you ask? Well, it's a collection of fabrics, all cut in 2-1/2" wide strips across the width of the fabric (42-44" long). The one I bought had 30 or so fabric strips, and no two were the same. I planned my design, but I had to just trust the colors to find their place. Full disclosure: I bought a book with patterns using jelly rolls, but I can't find it, so my design is based on one in the book, but is probably not exactly like it. And I'm making a table runner instead of a full size quilt.

The picture shows my first 4 blocks, and the part of the jelly roll that's left. Only 4 more, but with a twist, if that's possible. You'll have to wait and see. I'm pretty happy with my fabric combinations, and hope when they're all put together they have a real Bohemian effect.

More confessions to come...