Love Letters Quilt – Used on Day 1
Many thanks to Stash Bee Hive 2 and a few extra friends who shipped me quilt blocks when I was queen bee in June. I was so delighted to finish the quilt and gift it to my husband on Tuesday afternoon. He loves to be the first to pull a quilt out of the dryer and pet its soft (and warm) crinkly, cuddly goodness for the first time. When he called to let me know he was on his way home from work (about a 30 minute commute away), I put the quilt in the dryer, poured a large cup of orange juice (his favorite beverage), and set the juice and a love letter I made for him tucked inside a handmade envelope made out of a coloring page we colored together on top of the dryer. Trust me, he knew immediately what was happening when he walked in the door.
The genesis of idea for this quilt was based on the envelopes my husband always makes to tuck love letters, notes, and birthday cards into for me. He typically uses old maps or found / recycled paper and a small selection of the envelopes I have saved from him over the years are shown below.
Love Letter Envelopes
I had hoped that the Love Letters Block tutorial I put together was going to create a beautiful and meaningful quilt to gift to my husband, and my bee mates and friends did not disappoint. The quilt is awesome, and my husband told me that he thinks it is really awesome that so many people contributed to make this quilt a reality. He asked me to pass on his thanks to you. 🙂
Love Letters Quilt
The back of the quilt is just as fantastic as the top. I had made 8 blocks myself, but I only needed to use 5 of my blocks to piece the top, which finished at 64.5-inches wide by 80.5-inches long. With 3 left over blocks, the grouping of 4 smaller blocks sent by Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe, and a handful of extra HSTs and triangles also sent along by my bee mates, it was quick and fun to put together a pieced backing.
Love Letters Quilt – Backing
Per my husband’s request, I quilted with a dense back and forth line, inserting love notes into each envelope (well, he did not request the love notes be quilted in).
Love Letters Quilt – Quilting Detail (My Husband is Amazing)
I know first hand how wonderful it can feel when someone you love, trust, or respect tells you kind and true things about yourself. I am so glad I quilted in some long lasting thoughts and loving energy into the quilt for my husband, and I hope he feels these loving thoughts when he uses the quilt.
Love Letters Quilt – Quilting Details
I used 50wt Aurifil 2620 (stainless steel) to quilt and bind the quilt. We auditioned several thread choices and colors, and my husband liked the stainless steel the best. It doesn’t hurt that he spends his days at work designing parts out of stainless steel for prototype aircraft…
Love Letters Quilt – Quilting Detail
Quilt Statistics
- Finished Flimsy: 64.5-inches wide by 80.5-inches long
- After Quilting / Binding: 64-inches wide by 78-inches long (3% shrinkage)
- After First Wash: 60-inches wide by 74-inches long (8% shrinkage)
Love Letters Quilt
Including myself, 14 people contributed to the creation of this quilt. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed; I am so glad to have made a quilt with so much meaning for my husband.
Such a lovely touch adding words into the quilting as well … what a treasure he has received 🙂 It’s a clever block too … I love it 🙂
Wow it is awesome, love how you added the words in the quilting.
A beautiful family heirloom with such an amazing story – priceless!
The back is just as awesome as the front! And the texture the quilting added!!! And your added love notes in the quilting – swoon!!! Beautifully done. Love that your husband gets a thrill out of being the one to pull the quilt out of the dryer 🙂
A wonderful show of love. Love the love notes in the quilting.
How wonderful…and for years to come as well!! I can just imagine all of us out here getting lovey, quilty ideas in our heads now…. 🙂 this pattern, the colors, the quilting(!). the group effort, all the way down to your love note and envelope, they just paint the nicest of pictures!! Happy for everyone involved, especially you and your husband!
What an awesome gift for your husband! I love the little touches of the notes stitched in the envelopes.
What a really lovely idea and a fab quilt. :0) xx
Yvonne: This is such a touching story to go along with this quilt. You and your husband have a special relationship and it’s wonderful how you captured such a loving expression by him in this quilt. Very nicely quilted as well.
This is such a beautiful project, in all aspects, from the thought, to the execution, all the way to the presentation. What a fun surprise to arrive home to! As one who often sneaks fmq words into quilts, I really love the added touch of the love notes. I know your husband is going to love snuggling under this quilt with you!!
A beautiful quilt – encapsulating the love you share – and made with the love of so many. The quilting is perfect, Yvonne. Those little tributes make this quilt so much more special!
Wow, Renee. This is just a beautiful quilt and post. I love that you quilted words into the letters! I’m sure he’ll be using it forever.
What a beautiful, beautiful quilt Yvonne! The personal touches are just brilliant! It’s a love story from beginning to back….and to no end!! Well done!
This is beautiful and your little touches, like the quilted words in the envelopes, are so special. It’s nice to know your husband appreciates how special this is.
Beautiful Yvonne~what a wonderful way to share your love!
Great idea resulting in a lovely quilt. I’m surprised by the amount of shrinkage after quilting and washing though. Did you anticipate that?
This is really lovely and the sweetest, purest quilt story I’ve heard in a long time. This is really really special!
Thanks for sharing the story behind this quilt, including the inspiration of the handmade envelopes. You two are adorable
A fun project from start to finish. Another example of a quilt looking small until seen in context.
I felt the warmth when I read what you wrote, and admired the lovely quilt.
What a wonderful and loving quilt. A treasure for sure.
Such a sweet story–every part. My favorite image, though, is the thought of the two of you coloring together on vacation. I think that captures the essence of what this quilt is all about.
Awesome quilt, Yvonne. I love the texture, love the messages you “tucked” inside each envelope–that is SUCH a cool personal and meaningful touch. Love that envelope you two coloured together, and whoa, my heart went “oomph” when I read about and saw the pictures of the envelopes he has given you over the years. You need to repost this around Valentine’s Day methinks!
Yvonne, what a special quilt to share with us! Splendid use of the quilted words; this is a spectacular inspirational quilt made from love and friendship. Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful creative day!
This is such an amazing quilt!!! So great to see it all finished and in use. The quilting is wonderful and the use of little words as love letters in the envelopes inspired!
So sweet! I love everything about that quilt. It’s amazing how many personalized features you were able to use to make this such a special gift. My husband loves to color so now I am inspired to set up a little adult kit for us to share. Thanks!
Such a sweet sweet quilt, Y!
So many great touches to this quilt, but I think my favourite is the words quilted into the envelopes! That’s such a sweet way to let him know how you see him. I know he’ll treasure it for a long, long time.
This is pretty cool, Yvonne 🙂 Such a meaningful gift with so many layers.
So nice seeing such a thoughtful quilt being used. It looks amazing with that dense quilting. I particularly like the quilted words in the envelopes.
Gosh this is so wonderful! I especially love the words quilted into each envelope – what a special touch xx
Everything about this quilt is amazing.
I love it. All of it. And the stainless steel thread love notes in each envelope just finishes it off perfectly! I made my husband a quilt last year ~ he says its what he’d grab if the house was on fire 🙂 I imagine your man will feel the same.
What a glorious quilt, Yvonne! You two are very blessed to be with one another 🙂
I just love how this quilt turned out. And the fact that it has such a loving story behind it, makes it even better. Your husband is a lucky, lucky man! So glad he’s enjoying it.
Sweet and thoughtful post and work! What a kind person you are, Yvonne.
Pretty finish and what a great texture you have created! Well done!
The subtle notes in the quilting is just genius. I love when quilts have little surprises and that one is perfect. Congrats on finishing this up so quick. I am ashamed mine is still in blocks!
AWWWW!!! I just love it all- the romantic story , the quilt, the endearing words quilted in- it’s all just wonderful!!
AWWW!!! I just love it all… The romantic story, the quilt, the quilting with endearing sweet words! Just wonderful!!
It came together so nicely! I love the little quilted words, what a thoughtful addition!
He is welcome.
I love how you two obviously have such a strong relationship.
Aaahhh, such a beautiful quilt, and you just won the prize for the most beautiful way to gift a quilt. Such a lovely memory for both of you now. The words you quilted in make it so special too, you are obviously a completely, lovely couple.
What a great quilt story! Love how you brought it all together