Waste Not, Want Not

Wow, I sent my first blog post into cyberspace and someone answered back! Dawn at Quilts and Pieces asked for more details about the Amish style four-patch I posted there.

It's a modest little scrap quilt (11 1/2" x 14") that packs a big punch, thanks to Milly Churbuck's Country House Cottons! Her hand-dyed fabrics are known for their depth of color and soft, sueded finish. The four-patch blocks measure 1 3/4" because I was literally working from scraps.

I used to buy "swatch packs"  She used to sell patterns, kits, bundles and yardage at quilt shows. I especially liked herwhich 

In fact, I made the four-patches (above) with scraps left over from another project (below). Waste not, want not!

Not all my quilts are hand quilted, but I do love it on the smaller ones. The Baptist fan design is a favorite, and I used brown thread in keeping with the Amish theme.

Hope this answers your questions, Dawn. I welcome any input that helps improve my blogging skills!

Gotta Start Somewhere

My family didn’t have quilts when we were growing up, so I’m not sure when my fascination with them began. I was probably in high school before I saw a quilt first hand and got to examine it closely. Once it captured my imagination, I couldn't wait to make one myself.

Keep in mind, this was the early 1970’s, before the Bicentennial created a resurgence of interest in the craft. Quilting was still the realm of folklore, an art passed down from one generation to the next. There were few books or other resources available on how to make a quilt.

I decided to figure things out for myself. How hard could it be? After all, I had sewing skills from 8th grade home economics class!

I chose a simple Four Patch block as my pattern, although at the time, I didn't even know it had a name. Fabrics were scavenged from the oddest of sources, because traditionally, quilts were made from "scraps" and I thought it was cheating to buy anything new. I painstakingly marked each square with a pencil and flimsy cardboard template, then cut them out individually with scissors. My seam allowances measured 5/8” and all seams were pressed open, just like I'd been taught in 8th grade home ec.

I felt such pride when my quilt top was finished, but had no idea what to do next. I knew nothing about batting or the running stitch that held the three layers of a quilt together. A friend's mother and grandmother finished it for me, charging only $20 for their hand quilting!

This poor quilt is in tatters now, but imagine it back in 1974, fresh and new. Making it started my love for quilting, so it will always be special to me.

Perfect From The Start

Remember the awkwardness of learning a new skill as a child, like struggling with clumsy fingers to tie a shoelace, or write in flowing cursive, or use both hands to play a simple tune on the piano? For years, I was convinced I had a klutz gene, when what I really lacked was the patience to practice. Why couldn't I just be perfect from the start?

As a novice quilter, I often felt “all thumbs.” In fact, the first time I tried a thimble, it refused to stay on my finger, let alone push the needle through all three layers of quilt. And what about those impossibly tiny, even stitches I’d read about—twelve to the inch! REALLY? Perhaps this wasn't the hobby for me, because I still wanted to be perfect from the start. 

Now, I'm a seasoned quilt maker and my thimble feels like a second skin. I've made many quilts over the years, all with small, even stitches. The handcraft has brought me nothing but joy. Unfortunately, Multiple Sclerosis has sapped the energy, strength and dexterity I need to continue quilting.

My advice to anyone coping with an impairment like MS is to continue doing what you’re passionate about in any way you can. Stay creative! Since I can’t sew with needle and thread any more, I’m going to try stitching words and pictures together, to chronicle the quilts I've made and collected through the years.

While I’m at it, I might as well give blogging a try. It feels a bit awkward, writing for an audience that may not even exist. So, if you stumble across Persnickety Quilts, why not leave a comment and let me know you're out there? I'd love to hear from you. Together, we can make this perfect from the start!