As a quilter, I tend to find it a bit challenging to incorporate my quilts in my home decor because:
a. I am a dishaholic – my plates and other things compete with my quilts for wall space
b. I am very particular about what goes on the walls
c. I am very indecisive about what goes on the walls – it takes months for me to decide on anything
So, my favorite way to display my quilts without having to involve the walls is to simply neatly fold the quilts (that’s important to me) and drape the quilts over my wingback chairs! I admire and love the look of how quilts flow in a free-form way and drape casually over chairs in magazines, but somehow I can’t stand that in my own house. Back to my original point, draping quilts over chairs allows me to change out the quilts with the seasons, and it also allows me to actually use the quilts when I am relaxing in the chairs.
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I am showing you how my neatly folded “Kitty Kollage” is draped over my chair. This quilt is my favorite scrappy applique quilt to-date simply because I haven’t done that many applique quilts. It has over 50 different fabrics – did I have fun picking out those fabrics!
This quilt had appeared in the 2007 Spring Issue of “Quilting and Embroidery” presented by Creative Machine Embroidery. I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful editor on my very first published quilt (thanks, Annette!). My multi-talented husband drew the kitten pattern for me. He also often acts as my color consultant, and in this case, he picked out the blue sashing to give the quilt an extra “oomph” and set all the colors off in a very complimentary way:
The kittens were appliqued by using traditional method, while the flowers were by machine embroidery. My favorite part of the quilt is the flower quilting motif that appears at various places through the quilt. I hope you are able to see it:
Since I have only quilted a little more than two and half years while working as an engineer in research for most of that period of time, I don’t have an extensive collection of quilts suitable for draping over chairs. So, this darling quilt would probably stay draped on that chair for the rest of spring and summer. I might need to make a fall quilt so my chair won’t feel too lonely when the kitties are gone come fall. Hmmmm…. definitely an idea worth pursuing, don’t you think?
So, are your chairs lonely? Try keeping them company with a throw, a quilt, an afghan or a blanket that you have kept in your closet and see how your chair becomes invitingly comfy and homey instantaneously. I would love to know if you too drape stuff over your chairs.
A final disclaimer: there is of course not a correct way to drape – neatly (and symmetrically, I might add) folded like mine or free-flowing like in the magazines. Till next time! :)
I’m going to have to check my chairs and see just how lonely they are. Your kitten quilt is wonderful…
This quilt is amazing! The stitches are so exact! I am so impressed, and congrats on being featured in a magazine! How exciting! I never thought of my chairs as being lonely, but subconsiously I must feel that they are to be cozy and look lived in and inviting! LOL! …because all of my chairs have coordinating throws and pillows in them! Some of them are casually draped with a throw, in a way that might look as though it was just thrown there, but they actually take more time and patience adjusting them to perfection, than the ones with throws neatly folded. LOL! So I have them both ways, just depends on the chair!
Hope all is going well with you! :) ~Rhonda
Haha… Rhonda, you see… I have a strange decorating “personality”… I like things to be very exact, orderly and uncluttered. Therefore, things tend to look “cold” and even sterile. So, I guess discovering that I can use other things like a quilt to lighten up the mood was a big deal to me. Good for you for having matching throws and pillows and stuff.
Oh, yes I definetely have things draped over my chairs, however, it is typically hooded sweatshirts belonging to a grandson or laundry fresh out the dryer waiting to be folded, but that’s probably not what you had in mind, huh? I could use some help!!!
Hi Rhonda,
Oh… we definitely have sweaters draping over chairs once in a while at home too. But with just the two of us, I can easily put them up…
what a beautiful quilt! And a wonderful idea. I drape mine over china cabinet doors, stair rails, and cradles…LOL!
What an adorable quilt, I love it! Love your blog too, thanks for visiting mine.
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I am really on the same side as you. I will be signing up to your feed for sure. I’m really hoping you write more very as soon as you can! My world has been changed forever because of your website, thank you. This sure is a whole lot to try and take in and I’m not sure if I am able to fully understand what you’re saying. If you can, shoot me an Email and we can chat because I have an idea I think you might love.