Making a Quilt

Quilt making has come a long way since the days when the ladies said around a large frame and completed each part of composing a magnificent quilt by hand.

Today there are machines which do portions of the work 'for' the quilter. But it is still a task that requires attention to detail and commitment to a project that may take many months to complete.

The story behind this quilt goes back about 12 months. It was at that time that the idea began to take shape in my sister's head, kind of like those proverbial sugar plums.

Her daughter-in-law had professed her interest in all things Grinchy. That was when my sister had an idea...a most wonderful idea, so unlike the Grinch . Her marvelously wonderful idea was to make a quilt about Mr. Grinch.

And she set out to do so. It was an odyssey that would last all year long. She spent a total of fifteen weeks composing,formulating, orchestrating, and creating the Grinch quilt pictured in this article.

'I learned so much as I made this. I know if I make another one it will take much less time,' she told me, and I could hear the relief in her voice. Relief that she accomplished her goal of finishing in time for Christmas and relief that now when she made a new one, it would be less of a challenge. A challenge. But one she knew she would be able to tackle with new knowledge.

Because it is a time consuming project, it is being presented now so you will have time to complete it.

Just in case you are not familiar with the Grinch. here is a little information about him. He is one of Dr Suess fame. He is one of the most famous characters he invented. It is almost impossible in late November and the whole month of December to not find a Grinch movie or book somewhere...in a store or on television.

The Grinch had only a tiny piece of a heart it is said. It really bugged him every year when the 'Who's down in Whoville, the tall and the small' celebrated Christmas with all of the singing and joy and happiness. He had none of those feelings. His plan: steal Christmas packages including all of the trappings even the roast beast and Chrstmas would not come.

He did all of those despicable things. And something wonderful happened instead of what he planned.

Please read How the Grinch Stole Christmas to see what happens.

You may want to know...the fabric is Robert Kauffman 100% quilt fabric. Inside of the layers of fabric is thin batting.

The finishing touch was a striped binding.

The following photographs were taken throughout the year as my sister was working on this quilt.

After the quilt was complete but with almost no time left before her trip to Florida for Christmas this year, another idea emerged. Of course!! A tree skirt. There must be a tree skirt.

It is pictured here ...completed almost as she was racing to the plane. Finished though and ready to be part of a spectacular gift for someone this year.