Posts tagged: quilting

What’s Your Quilting Story?

I’m always interested in hearing how people got into quilting. Did you come from the garment sewing world, or was quilting your first step into the sewing world? There are some interesting stories to be told. I hope you’ll share yours with us by leaving a comment. Since I brought the subject up, it’s only fair that I go first. Right?

When I was in third grade, I took a sewing class taught by my mother. She did a lot of sewing including making dresses for my two sisters and me. I think the love of sewing is in my DNA. My Grandma was a dressmaker for her entire life, as was her Mother before her. Once I learned to create clothes, I was hooked. I sewed whatever I could get my hands on.

This is my Grandma. And me, as a baby. :)

One time I noticed the rags my Mother used for cleaning were fraying on the edges and I asked if I could hem them. Oh yes! I was desperate to sew anything!

I did sew clothes for my children, but when they were older, they didn’t want my homemade clothes anymore (and looking back, I can understand why). They wanted clothes from the mall. So, I turned to quilting. I am a self-taught quilter. Imagine my surprise when I tried to sew my quilt blocks with a 5/8” seam allowance! Learning to sew with a 1/4” seam allowance was a unique experience! Wow!

I threw myself into quilt sewing for years and had a wonderful time. Then, I began to look longingly at a well made dress and made my way back into garment sewing. I even signed up to take an online class on Couture Sewing, which I love. Now that I have a few granddaughters, doll clothes have been the big thing

I even knit the socks!

 

around my sewing room! Even though I am totally into garment sewing, the quilt world is pulling me back and I’m letting it. A girl can do two things at once!

We’d love to hear your story! Please share it with us!

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categories Karen, Personal | | datetime June 7, 2012 6:14 am | comments Comments (1)

The Fantasy of Quilting

We all have them – we just don’t talk about them. I’ll share mine! In my fantasy, I’m sitting in a lovely upholstered rocking chair, and I mean the MOST comfortable rocking chair ever invented, so that when one part of my back starts hurting, it automatically turns on the massage unit sensing where to use it. Then, when my shoulder is starting to ache a little, the massage and heat unit comes on in the shoulder area. This is my ideal chair for quilting. It’s sitting in a corner, with my small table nearby where I can have a yummy cup of tea, thread, scissors etc – you know all the stuff (a few cookies). In this particular fantasy I’m doing some needleturn applique, which I dearly love to do, but often get frustrated with how long it takes. So, (since this is my fantasy) the clock has also been turned off. Nothing is waiting for me, there is no laundry to be done, no meal to be prepared, no one at school waiting to be picked up – nope, it’s just me and my needleturn.

There is a beautiful stone fireplace in the other corner, and the fire is blazing comfortably.  The window is between my chair and the fireplace, and I can watch the snowflakes fall lazily down to earth as I stitch away. There is a cat curled up, in a box (clearly too small for her, but you know how cats are!) in front of the fireplace, and every once in a while, she stretches and curls up again, to sleep and dream of little mice.

 

I’m working on a large top, with lots of scrolly bits and curves, which will one day end up on my bed. My favorite jewel tones are used in each piece, making it look very rich and full of depth. Each pin I pull out is another inch toward completion.

When I tire of watching the snow fall, I turn on the TV and watch my favorite old movies or TV shows. I Love Lucy, The Long, Long Trailor, Holiday Inn, Gone With the Wind, I Was A War Bride, with Cary Grant, My Three Sons…. oh what fun!

Then my dinner tray is magically delivered, so I do set aside my needleturn for a few minutes, let’s see what they brought for dinner! Oh my favorite! Chocolate ice cream, mint chocolate chip, vanilla with chocolate sauce, and just to keep my blood sugar even, a nice piece of tenderloin steak, wrapped with crispy bacon.

My tummy full, the kitchen is clean (the elves did it) and I go back to my needleturn. I sure would like to have this finished before bedtime!

Oh the fantasy is just that – a fantasy. But as we spend time doing handwork on our quilts, our minds do tend to wander. Where has your mind wandered lately, and what were you working on? Do you have a quilting fantasy? We’d love to hear it!

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categories Karen | | datetime March 16, 2012 3:49 pm | comments Comments (4)

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