Learn something new with every... quilt?

For a while now I`ve been working on improving my quilting skills.
I`ve made (almost) 4 quilts, and seem to learn something new each time I make one.
The first one I made was for Colin`s brother and his wife for their wedding. It was fun because I was just learning how to quilt and had a couple of fun ideas, (and a new sewing machine) but thankfully had someone to help with the color selection as I`m not that well coordinated.
(I can`t seem to find a picture of it right now!)
With this quilt, I learned HOW to quilt. How to cut strips, squares, how to line everything up perfectly and basically everything there is to know about quilting. (well, besides triangles!!) I think this quilt turned out really nice, and was a huge project for a first-timer, but Barry and his wife enjoy it!

Second quilt I made was technically for Colin`s cousin`s wife. She was due with a baby and we were both pretty sure it was a girl. So, being `pretty sure` I started making this pink quilt. Well, low and behold she had a boy! So here I was with this cute pink quilt...



Thankfully a friend of ours had a baby girl. I was going to make her a rag quilt but this couldn`t have been more perfect!
With this quilt I learned that it`s not a great idea...
1. to start a big project like this without being 100% sure the sex of the baby you are making it for
2. never to pin a quilt on carpet... no matter how low the carpet! This quilt had a few spots where things didn`t line up and it puckered a bit, but it was still cute!



Third quilt I made was for Colin and I. I figured I had made 2 for other people and I wanted one for myself. I love this pattern and will most likely make another quilt with it. It was really easy but I spent a lot of time cutting out all the different sizes of pieces.

With this quilt I learned that I should never go to Fabricland expecting to get all the fabric for one quilt in a day. While I love the pattern of this quilt and some of the patterns of the fabrics, some just don`t go together. Oh... and never let the husband pick out fabrics either.

Oh... and NEVER under any circumstance take an overtired hungry baby to a fabric store...

This fourth quilt isn`t quite done yet. I am making it for my Aunt who just had a baby back in April. I had picked up these fabric patterns a while back and have been looking for the perfect project to use them on.

(Sorry, had to post the picture of the cute boy in it!!)
While I love the pattern of the quilt (easiest one out there!!) and love the fabrics, I wish I had been a little more creative with the piecing. As you notice a predictable pattern happening. I wish I had been a little more spontaneous with the placing of some squares.

Also... no matter how good you think you are... always pin borders... (not shown)

Overall though, this quilt will be cute no matter what. Now I just know better for next time!

I have only learned a few things, but still continue to make the same silly mistakes! So I figured it I took the time to write it all down I wouldn't be so absent minded and I would remember NOT to make these mistakes!