My Very First...Quilt

I have this thing about gift-giving.  I really hate buying gifts for people.  Pretty much I like to make things hard on myself.  J is impossible to buy for--he never knows what he wants, and when he does, he just buys it for himself.  

Last Christmas I decided to make him a quilt.  And, in typical fashion, I went way out.  Start out practicing on a mini-quilt or placemat? Not my style.  I made him a quilt that is taller and wider than I am. It's a bit over 5ft square. He went to the Ohio State so the block O seemed like a fairly easy pattern to make myself, and it was! 

I just pieced together some extras and matching fabric for the back.  I actually kind of hate it because it looks like a giant letter "F." 

Too bad I didn't realize that before.  I'll probably add a label at some point which should break that area up.  Oh well, it was a learning project.

It was at this point, when it went in the washer, that I was freaking out.  Would the fabric bleed? (Couldn't find my color catcher sheets) Would it actually get crinkly?  Would my hand-stitching on the binding hold?  It did (: 

Rolled it up.

Tied it with a spare piece of jersey. 

It may not be perfect, but he really likes it.  I did a simple straight-line quilting grid about 1/4in away from the seams.  On my little machine it was difficult, but totally worth it.  I can't wait to make another--more girly this time.