Why I quilt
Aug 31, 2005 Quilting
To every adventure there is a beginning. My adventure with quilting began shortly after high school graduation. My mom took me to a beginning quilt class taught by Charlotte War Anderson. I started to hand piece a twin sized quilt. I think I made 2-3 blocks. To my dismay my blocks weren’t the same size. I was in over my head. I abandoned the pieced quilt idea. Instead, I made a denim quilt with a flannel back. I tied it. The quilt served me well though college. I had no desire to make another pieced quilt.
Shortly before Ross and I married, I told him that I loved to sew. Ross was told me he was okay with this. Quilting came up in the conversation. I clarified my sewing intentions. I intended to sew clothes and home décor. The task of cutting up fabric into tiny geometrical shapes only to reassemble them into a large piece of fabric was beyond me.
After declaring my intention to never make another quilt, I made a Puff Quilt for Ross as a wedding present. The Puff Quilt met some of my basic requirements: all the pieces were square; no hand piecing was required; and it wouldn’t need to be quilted.
The Puff Quilt led to flannel baby blankets with crochet edges. From here, I started visiting quilt stores with my mom. Before I knew it I was buying flannel to make an apple core quilt. Not only did I finish the quilt, I hand quilted it.
Why did I stick with quilting? I discovered that combining colors, shapes, and textures is a form of self expression. I associate color with mood. Bright colored quilts, like the Apple Core quilt, express my happiness. Bright colors make me feel alive. Specific colors can be connected to different eras. In my puzzle quilt I’ve included reproductions fabrics from the 30’s.
Geometrical shapes engage the mind. By simply dividing a triangle or a square, I can create a multitude of other shapes. I’ve learned to combine the shapes with different color values to create depth, increasing the illusion of the shape. Thanks to technology, I can quickly draw different designs on my computer.
Texture is in the printed design, the physical texture of the fabric, and the quilting. Fluffy flannels beg to be made into quilts which provide warmth and comfort. The printed design can be soft, smooth, rough, romantic, historical, etc. Each texture has its own connotative meaning. The quilting stitches affirm the message expressed by the colors and shapes.
For me, quilting has evolved from simple home décor to self expressing art.
I love the library
Aug 18, 2005 Quilting
My friend Megan and I are making a baby quilt for a mutual friend. It is the Pineapple Tidbits quilt from Buggy Barn. Our version is done with bright greens and oranges/yellows. We each made 12 blocks. Megan is in the process of putting those blocks together. I get to machine quilt it.
While I enjoy machine quilting, selecting a quilt motif sends me into a frenzy. I like to think that I just need more experience to build my confidence. Until I get confidence, I need ideas. Yesterday, I read the Going to Pieces blog. Diane’s blog led me to Kathy Sandbach’s website. Kathy has written a couple of books on machine quilting with a “home” machine.
Show me how to Machine Quilt
Show me how to Create Quilting Designs
On a whim I decided to see if the Salt Lake City Library had the books. Believe it or not, they had both of them. I put them on hold. I’ll pick them up on Saturday. If I really like them I’ll buy them.
A finished project
Aug 14, 2005 Quilting
I love the feeling from finishing a project. I spent the week watching Alias — Season One while I hand sewed the binding down. I’m done.
I tossed it into the washer. Most of the paper flakes disappeared. The quilt is drying. I placed it a sheet so the cats won’t lie on the wet quilt.
While the quilt dried, I made a label. This afternoon, I finally attached the label.
I hung the quilt for the official picture. Isn’t it lovely?
Now we wait for the month of December to bring it out again.
I’m actually Machine quilting
Aug 12, 2005 Quilting
Finally it is time to start quilting. I’m excited and apprehensive all at the same time. I’m excited to do something new. Yet I want to do a good job.
I started with the middle row. I pinned the paper to the fabric, then went for it. The paper cinched up a little. By the time I reached the end the design didn’t end at its designated place. When I started with the second row, I used more pins. The paper still cinched up, but not as much.
I think I did a better job than I expected. I get my best results when I go fast. Eventually, I found the courage to press the pedal all the may down and just quilt. My stitches aren’t exactly even. I think with a little more practice, my stitches will even out.
I didn’t solve the problem with the tracing paper cinching up. Next time I quilt in rows, I’ll cut up the paper. I’m sure it will still cinch up. But I’ll be able to spread out the effect over the whole quilt.
When I finally finished quilting, it was time to remove the tracing paper. This was a pain. I suggest watching mindless TV while doing this chore. It will ease the pain. I couldn’t get all the paper removed. I’m sure they’ll come off when I wash it.
The work area
Aug 11, 2005 Quilting
I’m quite proud of my sewing/quilting area. Not because it is a thing of beauty. I like it because I’ve made the best use of what I had. I live in smallish condo. There is a second bedroom. However, it is setup as an office. For various reasons the office and sewing area can’t co-exist.
The dining area in the kitchen has been transformed into the sewing area. I purchased a table for about $80 at Fred Meyers. Then with my dad’s assistance, I cut a hole in the top.
The size of the hole was determined by the sewing cabinet insert that I bought from Quilt Dream. It fits perfectly around my machine.
Then we built a shelf for the machine to sit in. I love the set up. I have room to sew, cut fabric, and lay out blocks. When it is time to machine quilt, I set everything aside. The table supports the weight of the quilt. I still need to work out a side table for big quilts.
Transfering the Quilt Design
Aug 11, 2005 Quilting
Transferring the quilt design to the quilt top is my least favorite quilting activity. I’ve tried several types of fabric markers. If I missed one, my mom has tried it. There is no such thing as the ideal fabric pen. White markers work well with dark fabrics. Dark markers work well with light fabrics. However, nothing works well with medium fabrics.
So I decided to try another method. Once again I’m following in my mom’s footsteps. I traced my design on to tracing paper.
There isn’t anything special about this paper. I picked it up at the local art store, Reuels. It is so easy to write on. I used a fine point Sharpie pen.
Then I pinned the tracing paper to the quilt sandwich. I pinned one row. Quilted it. Then added the next row. I would stick to this method. Despite my best efforts the paper shifted a little bit.
