Quilt Catalog-Advice from a Long Time Quilter

June 27, 2019
Fabulous Flower Tablerunner, Free Motion Quilting
Fabulous Flower Tablerunner
Fabulous Flower Table Runner, Lori Kennedy Quilts
Good Morning, Quilters!

Where is the Fabulous Flower table runner?

I was looking through some old posts and noticed the photos of this quilt.  It was a favorite of mine, but I don’t know where it is!

I sure wish I had created a quilt catalog of all of my quilts and projects!

Fabulous Flower Table Runner, Lori Kennedy Quilts
Keep Photos of Your Quilts

While I have a vast collection of quilt photos, the Fabulous Flower table runner is not among them. Hmm…

If I hadn’t had a blog post about it, this quilt would be forgotten.

Was it lost?

Stolen?

Given away?

Fabulous Flower Table Runner, Lori Kennedy Quilts
Create a Catalog

I really wish I had a catalog of all my quilts and to whom I gave them.

I’m sure I gave this quilt to one of my daughters or nieces.

At the time, I was probably confident that I’d remember.

Fabulous Flower Quilting Motif, Lori Kennedy Quilts

 

Inspiration-Another Reason to Keep a Quilt Catalog

Looking at this quilt gives me so many ideas.  Different threads, couching, new colors and fabrics!

And I could use a new table runner on my kitchen table!

Quilt-a-Long Anyone?

I have been planning an end of August quilt-a-long, but after seeing this table runner, I would like to re-create it.  Is anyone interested in a July Fabulous Flower Quilt-a-Long?

There are several techniques that we could explore…

Dots and Dashes Motif, Lori Kennedy Quilts
Blogging Success-Thank YOU!

“Finding” this quilt is just one of the many reasons I’m glad I started a blog. It has been a type of quilt catalog.

On a side note, I have been blogging for nearly 7 years! While millions of blogs are started each year, very few last more than six months!  Thank YOU so much for reading, commenting, encouraging.  I would not be blogging without all of YOU!!!!

What about YOU?

Do you keep a Quilt Catalog?

When is the last time you looked back through it?

Are YOU interested in a quilt-a-long?

We’d LOVE to hear!

Signed,

Lost-but-not-forgotten,

Lori

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to Lori Kennedy Quilts.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thank you!

PPS…Check out my books in my Etsy Shop !

 

 

Share:

109 comments

  • Gayle Mitchel

    I would love to do your Quilt Along! So far, I only have photos of my quilts on the computer. I need to catalog them and the QuiltAlbum software sounds perfect.

  • I do keep a journal of all the quilts I’ve made since 1994. I record information on where I purchased fabric (or received as a gift), name of the quilt, the year it was started and completed. I include a photo of the quilt. If the quilt was gifted, I try to get a photo of the quilt with person it was gifted to. I have a PICABOO photo book in progress and plan to complete it when I finish quilt #70 next year (hopefully).

    • rattie4fun

      Such a good idea to record fabric purchases. And I could include the fabric names too.

  • Hi Lori,
    Does a quilt have to be done by a long arm quilter to be an heirloom.

  • Cindy Knapp

    I’d love to participate in a small scale quilt along, and hoping I can keep up,

  • Linda Rouse

    Yes to the quilt along. If I was computer literate I would love creating a quilt catalog.

  • I started with good intentions, but have been quilting for over 35 years and when I look back at the photos, can’t remember making those quilts or who they were for. Love your blog and am so happy to follow along and try your designs. Keep it up. A quilt along is a great way to try new designs and have something to show for the work/play/fun. Thanks

    • Gladquilts…you made my day! I found a quilt UFO in one of my closets…don’t remember making it.

  • Yes to the quilt along. And Yes! I do keep a quilting journal that I am very proud of! I started it right away. A 5 x 7 paper journal with the elastic around it..It’s pretty. I take one or two photos of the quilt, then next to it, I write a page about it, who I made for etc. and the date! I hope whoever reads it down the road, will enjoy it and remember and appreciate all the love that went into it! The journal keeps me organized.

  • Joanie Mills

    long ago, when I was a very beginner, I started taking pictures of the finished quilts that I made, as most of them were for grandchildren early in their little lives. Over the years, I have just stopped doing that….not for any reason, just quit. I am glad to see this post, it is at at time when I am in the midst of finishing a lot of UFOs and donating most , so it reminded me that I need to give them a name and show what I did with them……if only for my own record and joy!!! Thank you!!!

  • Martha Cook

    My memory isn’t as good as it use to be so I am starting to keep records of my projects and now with the ease of the camera on the phone photos too. Sadly, I wonder about some projects I’ve done and don’t know where they are. I would love to learn more from you and do a quilt along. Thank you😊

  • Louise M Haddon

    I do keep a journal of all the quilts that I have made. It started with just a picture but then a teacher gave us a form to fill out. Sometimes I keep track of time and cost of materials. Always take a picture – sometimes it is just a top or even blocks. I have gotten a little lax in the last couple years but do try to fill in esp. when quilt is finished (lots of UFO’s). I also do several bee block exchanges so its a place to record who’s in the group with start and end dates and then completed dated. I do look thru it on occasions. I have not had time to do your qal and don’t know if I do now either but I always follow along on line.

  • Jackie Roisler

    Yes Lori, I would like to be included in your Stitch Along.
    Thank you.

  • Debbie Kanavel

    Yes, I’d like to join a quilt-along. Yes, I started cataloging my quilts a few years ago upon your advice from your blog. I started a notebook of completed quilts, materials used, dates and for whom. I’ve always taken photos of the quilts but hadn’t recorded the full information.

    We’ve moved and the notebook has been put away. Thank you for the reminder. I’ll dig it out and update it. Thanks, Lori, for so much help and inspiration over the years. Congratulations on your 7 years!

  • Yes to the quilt-along. And yes, I keep a quilt “journal.” Mine is online now, but I used to keep it by hand with printed pictures. I prefer the online version. It allows me to print a page for each quilt, and I keep them in a binder. Every quilt is accounted for, but if I want to remember something, my blog is the place I go.

  • Karla Dee

    Since I have worked for a professional photographer for over 30 years, I have mine photographed and archived on my computer, CDs and USB drives. I also quilt for other people, so I create job envelopes where I keep detailed timesheets, notes about thread, batting, machine settings and any other information that might help me in the future. It took a while to develop the discipline, but now it saves me lots of time when I get stuck or need inspiration. I check this blog nearly every day – really enjoy the tips and ideas.

  • Cheri

    Hi Lori
    Yes I do have a quilt journal, thanks to a bestie of mine! I keep photos of the quilts, scrap fabrics and then when I started, finished and if I gifted the quilt. I’ve been doing this since 1991. I now have three bulging books! It is fun to look back and see how far I’ve come in design and color!
    Yes I would love a sew along! Thank you so much for sharing your talents!

    • vivianbring

      One of my besties gave me a quilt journal for xmas. As if I don’t have enough to do or keep up with my other journaling, I embraced the book because it was preprinted sheets with easy to fill out information and one spot to attach the photo. I had to go back in time to the start date of my quilting experience. The very first quilt date is only an estimate, but the others were easy. I had been taking photos in my iphone and posting on my pinterest boards. The book has great sections like fabric, the quilt story and quilt notes. Every one of my quilts has a story and sometimes the fabric is the story. I really enjoy the quilt notes section. I’ve been journalling about the technique or tool or something along the lines of seeing my skill improve. And sometimes, the receiver of the quilt gift sends me a photo of how they are using it or displaying it. That has to go into the book as well. Now I’m even saving the sketches and design notes and yes the receipts from the fabric store because it documents when the quilt really started at least in my mind. Glad I am not alone.

  • I think a quiltalong would be fun!!!

    • Lucy Blum

      I’d love to join a quilt-along!
      I don’t keep a quilt journal but it’s never too late to start!!

  • Kathy

    A QAL would be wonderful! I began documenting my quilts back in 1990. Each quilt has its own page providing details of the quilt name, who it was made for, date quilt was finished. I add the fabric swatched and a picture of finished quilt. I love going back and seeing all the different projects!

  • I LOVE your quiltalongs – some of my favorite projects – I keep them for myself and display them in my sewing room! Keeps me motivated and encouraged that I Can do this thing called free motion quilting! A new QAL would be great!

  • Sandy

    My husband takes pictures of my quilts. We have been married for almost 19 years, so there are no pictures for the first 10 years of quilting! A puppy in the house has really decreased the quilting. He will not always be a puppy, I hope! I am piecing 2 quilts that I hoped would be Christmas presents, but it looks iffy at this point! Would love to see pics of the quilt along, but I am otherwise engaged!

  • Terry

    I would love a QAL. I spend so much time piecing and doing allover designs for large quilts, but rarely quilt so that the stitches are the focus.

  • Christine Pierson

    I would love to join your quilt along and yes, I have been taking pictures of my quilts, print them out and make some notes on them. I keep them in a binder.

  • Joyce Bonventre

    I use QuiltAlbum to catalog my quilts. It is a FREE software tool that makes it easy to document your quilts with text and photos. I drag & drop photos of my creations including close-ups of quilting designs which I find helpful for future reference.

    • Kristy Cranston

      Going to check it out. I need to start recording my quilts.

    • Debbie Kanavel

      Just what I was hoping was available. Thank you!

  • Caryl

    My Stitching Pals quilt group out of Chippewa Falls, WI, puts finished projects up on flannel boards and takes photo with or without maker included, and photo is then put on our website gallery until we run out of room and have to drop older photos. In the meantime we can copy the photos onto our own computers, and thus we can each keep a record of our works or other favorites. If you tend to make king-sized quilts like I do, how else can you get good photos of them? By the way, our annual Chippewa Valley Quilt Show is coming up first weekend in October.

  • Yes! A summer quilt a long would be great. I did your nautical themed one a few years ago and learned so much. Thank you!

  • Yes please!

  • Nancy T

    yes to any qal you do, Lori!!

  • Louise

    Hi Lori. Yes! I would love to do the quilt along runner

  • Pam Peterson

    I have a friend who keeps journals of her quilts since she started. She’s amazing! I wish I had taken he advice when I started quilting. I suppose I could still start one -it would be lacking my first 18 years of quilts though!

  • Jollyne

    I do take pictures of my projects and the label. But no catalog.
    I would love to join a Quilt a long.
    Thank you for all your great ideas!

  • When I started quilting I was sure I would catalog and photograph all my quilts. Well, it never happened! I’m just too scatterbrained 🙂
    I’d love to be a part of the quiltalong!
    I love your blog, Lori!!! I’m not a huge follower of many, just a very few.

  • Yes! I would love to do this project!

  • Thank you for sharing your table runner!! I had in-visioned the dots to be much bigger. I love the look of the this table runner!

  • Deb Peterson

    I do keep a quilt/project binder where I put pictures of each project and any info I have about the fabric and pattern, who I gave it to and when completed. I also started inserting any thank yous or pics I get back from the recipients. My other catalog is my Facebook “online trunk show”, a photo album of all projects. I also would be interested in a quilt along.

  • Terry Sargent Peart

    I really enjoy your blog – thank you! I’ve had a blog for about 11 years now. Nobody looks at it, but I enjoy keeping a record of what I’ve been up to. I also recently started keeping a record, in a little book, when I bought my longarm. I wanted to justify the money I spent on it. I figure once I get 100 quilts quilted, I’ve paid for my longarm. I record dates, time I spent quilting it, batting and thread types and quilting pattern. I include a picture and closeups. Oh, and I always name my quilts, that way I can search for them on my blog and see the progress pictures.

    • CJ Green

      I love your ideas about recording to ‘justify’ your long arm. I received a sit down Bernina Q20 for Christmas & have already made several quilts, mostly for charity. Guess I’ll have to get organized! Do you time each day’s progress?

  • Sandra

    Yes, woul be greta to have a quilt along, please! thank you

  • Moira

    Sure! I’m in.

  • Caren

    I have been wanting to make a topper for my nightstand. This would be a perfect project to quilt-along. I’m in if you are!

  • mickiepw

    It sounds so fun. My UFO list just keeps growing, but I’m considering it….

  • Colleen

    A quilt along would be fun! Especially because I want to give this design a go! 🙂

  • Yes please to both quilt-a-longs! I’ve done a couple of your quilt-a-longs and have been waiting for another one!!!

  • I could be interested in a quilt along

  • Mary Lou Steinbauer

    Yes on the quilt-a-long! I need a little push to get back at it. This spring and summer have been far too busy.

Comments are closed.

Discover more from Lori Kennedy Quilts

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading