Quilt Catalog-Advice from a Long Time Quilter

109 responses to “Quilt Catalog-Advice from a Long Time Quilter”

1. I would enjoy quilting along in July. I do love your blog.

2. I’m interested in a quilt-a-long!

3. Any reason is a good excuse to FMQ!

4. Besides quilting, I also do a little scrapbooking, so after I’d made a few quilts, I decided to keep a Journal, scrapbook-style. It’s an 8 x 8 book and I’ve made pages for each quilt I’ve made. I try to write a little story about each quilt so that I know when I made it, who quilted it, and who I gave it to, along with pictures. The best pictures are the ones with the new owner! I just had it out this morning to update one of the pages, so took a trip down memory lane and re-read it. I’ve only been quilting about 5 years so there are only 26 quilts in the book right now, although I have 2 or 3 more quilt tops finished and waiting to be quilted (and added to the book!). I really enjoy reading your blog, and your tutorials have helped me a LOT! Thank you!

   1. That’s a wonderful idea to maintain a quilt scrapbook journal….I think I’ll do this too! Thank you Deb!

5. I use a program called Quilt Album…keeps a record of every quilt I’ve made, if it won an award, if I gave it away or sold it and anything else I want to add into the notes…Also can create a album to print if you like….lots of extras! I love it.

   1. Thank you for the mention of Quilt Album. I’ve just downloaded a copy, and will start moving my quilt info from my Publisher file into Quilt Album. Looks much better.

6. That is a beautiful runner, and I would love to make one too! I have a list of quilts I have made, and I have been trying to round up photos of all of them so I can put them all in one of those self published photo books. I did make one with just random pictures, but am hoping to get all of the quilts catalogued with a short description about them.

7. My wonderful Daughter-in-law gave me Quilter’s Journal for Mother’s Day. It has room for pattern name, start date, end date. Also who worked on it, quilted it , where the fabric was purchased, the story behind it.. and most of all who it was made for. space for pictures and scraps of fabric from that quilt. Great book.

8. Beautiful quilt–would enjoy a quilt-a-long.

9. Hi Lori… Looking forward to another quilt along. I have taken lots of pictures of my quilts over the years, but never kept a log of them. I’m going to have to start doing that.

10. Have taken photos of all that l have made,some l have put scraps of fabric with pictures. But have not written down who l gave them too. Should do that before l forget. Have labeled almost all l have given away. Need to keep better records.
    Would love a quilt along. Have a table runner on my table that l did with you ,l think a couple years ago.

11. I would love to do this as a quilt-a-long. I did use this flower motif on a pillow last month, but the thread was such a perfect match to the fabric print that it’s almost impossible to see the quilting. (though it does look good from the back) and it would be good for me to practice and learn either of the dots and dashes (circles not my strong suit) or the parallel lines as a background filler.
    Thank you for all you offer to build our quilting skill sets.

12. Yes

13. I have photo albums on my computer of Quilts Given Away and Quilts Sold—these save me time not searching for quilts I no longer own.

14. I think do a quilt along would be perfect, it would encourage me to do more practice with FMQ. Thanks for doing this. I would like to know more about the Quilt Album program.

15. Love the July quilt-along idea. I keep photos of my quilts and really need to organize them with information before I forget all of them. My mom had an adorable Christmas quilt on her couch last year. I commented on how cute it was and asked where she got it. She just laughed and said I made it for her and Dad several years ago! My, how we forget!

16. I’d love to make that tablerunner. Thanks.

    1. Yes the tablerunner is a great idea.

17. Is that little vase Roseville Pottery? I have a small bowl that is Roseville. Love the muted finish.

    1. I have a few Roseville pieces and i was wondering the same thing! Love those soft colors..

       1. Very similar. Ephraim Pottery!

       2. Thanks, Lori. Something new to learn about..yes!

18. Yes! To the quilt along.

19. I would enjoy doing a July Quilt Along with you. I have enjoyed your blog for a while and tried dozens of your ideas.

20. I’ve taken photos of most of my quilts but haven’t make a log…yet😊

    Would love to do a July quilt-along! Love your table runner!

21. I WOULD be interested in joining in in a quiltalong!! Probably the August o e, since I dont know if I could be ready to go quickly enough for July? Would a need a pieced top ready to go, to be quilted? Or would this be a whole cloth quilt? I DO want to work on my quilting, which is the reason I chose your books and began following your bog – I want to learn from the best!!! Cant wait to hear more about what you’re planning!! THANK YOU, Lori!!!!

22. Oh, and p.s. I feel like instagram is my catalog of my quilting thus far, but I am a newly begginner quilter 😁👍

23. I would really enjoy the table runner quilt along!

24. I only started quilting in 2014 after I bought my sewing machine (a Bernina by the way), but I had been documenting my garden plantings for about 5 or 6 years before that so I decided to do the same with my creative sewing and needlework projects, knitted pieces, quilted items, and garments. I designed a template in Word including a title, the methods (applique, quilting, paper piecing, embroidery, knitting, etc.), the purpose, the recipient if it is a gift, materials used, instructions or pattern source, photo(s), begin and end dates, small samples of the fabric, yarns, embellishments, etc. (which I tape or staple to the page) and notes about the project (how difficult it was, whether I would make changes the next time I made the item, and any extra changes I made to the pattern.

    I am a retired librarian/archivist so this type of documentation comes naturally to me. It did not occur to me to look for software or a ready-made catalogue. After about 4 1/2 years my binder of projects was getting too full so I separated out the garments and knitted items into additional albums. It’s great to remind myself of the many gifts I have given away and there are a few things I have made over and over again because they were fun, useful and appreciated as gifts. The project album allows me to improve on a particular creation each time I repeat it.

25. I would love a quilt-a-long! There is no bad time for quilting- even in the heat!

26. July is going to be a busy month for me with birthdays and reunions, but I’d like to try to do a quilt-along.
    I do keep a quilt journal with pictures and why it was made, etc. I love looking back at the quilts I’ve made and see how far I’ve come. 😊

27. I would love a quilt along with you! That is a great design. I’ve been wanting to do a catalog. I’ve only been quilting since the fall of ’16 so everything is still in my head…but that can’t last long!!! Hahahaha!!!! So thanks for the remind to get it done or lose the info!!!

28. I would love to join the quilt along in July. I will need to watch my time carefully though as the July calendar is already filling with company and summer activities. Today it rained all day, so I got some blocks completed for a guild project!

29. I do keep a record of the quilts I have made a couple photos and into a scrapbook with minimal information on the quilt I do try to record who has the quilt and when and why. New baby wedding etc. I also keep a recipe book of quilts what size the pieces are and which tools I used to cut. sometimes its just quicker to have that info in one spot if I make a repeat of a quilt. I also print my blog every 6 months and keep a hard copy for posterity. Your quilt designs are amazing but sometimes I have a hard time visualizing them on prints and piecework.
    Ann

30. Yes, I’m interested in a quilt a long – especially if it includes this beautiful quilting!!

31. I would love a quilt along of this table runner. I did your triangle table runner a year or so ago and enjoyed it immensely.

32. I mainly have photos of what’s been given away on my Facebook, but I saw one of my presents of quilted cushions yesterday in the flesh and noticed a few stains and general grubbiness ☹️I’m glad it’s being used and not hidden (or thrown) away but it leads me to think it’s probably a good idea to include laundering instructions with gifts in future.

    1. I wash and dry all my fabrics before sewing.. My fellow quilters don’t. However, I don’t want my quilt recipients to have any unpleasant surprises down the road. Rather find it out myself first. Included with the quilt is a note of instructions on care.

33. Thank you for all the ideas and motivation that you provide to those of us who follow you. I keep your posts in a special file in my email so I can peruse as needed for inspiration when needed.
    I would love to join you in a quilt along in July. 🙂

34. I love your blog and yes to the quilt along.

35. A quilt along sounds like great fun.
    And as to the quilt catalog, no I never started one. Wish I had. But I too thought I would remember my quilts. How wrong I was. ☹️

36. Bonjour Lori 🙂

    Je lis tous vos articles depuis des années et je les adore tous !!
    Mon anglais n’est pas très correct et souvent je n’ose pas écrire de commentaire car j’ai peur de faire beaucoup de fautes.
    Le chemin de table jaune me plait beaucoup, Je suis une débutante mais j’aimerai beaucoup essayer ce projet grâce à vos conseils.
    Merci beaucoup de partager avec nous votre passion.

    Je vous souhaite une belle journée,

    Bénédicte

37. YES to a quilt~along!

38. Yes to a quilt along

39. My July is already pretty full but I would love a quilt along! We keep photos, but you are correct – “wonder who we gave that quilt to? and – Has anybody seen the pattern? Or – Was that one of Mom’s original patterns?”

40. Your little quilt is simply lovely! I have been quilting now for about eleven years, and with my first quilt I started a book about My Quilts. I photocopy a template page I made with sub titles and blank spaces that I fill in about each quilt. I start with the title I’ve given each quilt, and its number ( i am up to Number 55 now). I also include the quilt’s number and year on each quilt label. Sub titles I use are: Made by, Quilted by, Date completed, Fabric, Batting, Size, and Comments (where I write about why I made the quilt, who it will be given to, and any other special information about that particular quilt). I keep each page in a clear cover, and put a photo of the quilt on the opposite page, all kept in a three ring binder. I enjoy looking back at the quilts I’ve made, and sometimes friends ask to look through it too.

41. My experience of quilting for 9 years now has resulted in 3 notebooks.. I start one, can’t find it, start another one, and then same thing again. I am trying to remember now to put it with my purse when I find one. Hopefully all 3 will be together some day and I can consolidate.them. So, far, I have never misplaced my purse LOL. The past 2 years I have begun the practice of writing up a provenance page for each quilt I give away or sell. It states that this is the first page of the quilt’s provenance. Many details, statistics, story, and dates, etc. are included. Printing them on certificate paper gives a nice formal quality. I overheard my adult granddaughter tell someone that a provenance is so essential to keeping the history of a quilt and important to the family who will inherit it.. Yes! loved hearing that. At the bottom of the provenance page I have a statement saying Future owners may add pages to keep the history and line of ownership document up to date.

    1. Love that Marta!! Great idea!!!

       1. Oh, thank you !

42. I have a pinterest page for my quilts. Along with the picture, the only thing I say about it is who it was given to. Maybe I should be saying more!
    I haven’t ever done one of your quilt alongs. I’m going to go for it! Or maybe I’ve already missed part of it since I am behind on your blogs. If so, I’ll catch up!

    1. Looks like lots of folks are on board for a QAL. How can we participate?