Quilting is a process

"Periwinkle Blue," named for a song by Doris Day and my favorite crayon color, is finally done; well almost. It still needs the final binding on the edges. Then I will be able to throw it into the washer and dryer and see if it comes out looking like a quilt, all scrunchy, warm, and inviting, with its stitches still intact.

What a joy it has been to make this quilt.

I will never tire of the process of turning a pile fabric into a completed quilt. This was more than a year in the making, and I loved every minute of it.

Not only has this been enjoyable, but I learned so much. 

I started making quilts about 15 years ago, on a whim. I have been on a steep learning curve ever since. From those early days of writing about quilt shows for the local newspaper, to watching Alex Anderson on 'Simply Quilts' every day, to the present, I have been somewhat surprised at how much there is to learn about this art form. 

To me, making a quilt is so much more than simply creating a cover for the bed. In actuality, the utilitarian aspect of a quilt is far less important to me than the process of actually creating it. That doesn't mean I don't like to snuggle up with it once it is done. I treasure that part. But even more so, I am drawn to the creative process. Each of the now nine quilts I have made has been a learning experience.

For me, quilting is also a therapeutic activity. It is that quiet time that we all cherish. Admittedly, I have no problem leaving dirty dishes in the sink if I feel like quilting. 

Making Periwinkle Blue

This quilt started out as a block of the month project through a free on-line class on Craftsy, taught by Amy Gibson, in January 2012. A new block, actually two, were chosen by Amy for each month, unbeknown to class participants. 

I cannot express how much fun I had doing this class. I looked forward to the first of the month every single month, always anxious to see what the next blocks would look like. Amy Gibson is a sweet, gentle woman who reminds me of a kindergarten teacher--my kindergarten teacher. Taking her class conjured up memories of Miss Carr, back about 55 years ago. I don't remember what Miss Carr looked like, but now, in my mind she looks like Amy. Amy is also an accomplished and prolific quilter.

Early on I decided this quilt would be in shades of purple, what has long been a real favorite of mine. I am really fond of monochromatic quilts. That is my comfort zone. While creating the blocks, exactly as directed, I started thinking about different ways they could be changed, altered, or what they might look like with an entire quilt made from them. I do have some favorites as well as some I wasn't crazy about. I didn't let my taste dictate anything. I just went with it. 

When this project was completed, I had stacks of blocks that I wasn't really sure what to do with until I heard about another Craftsy class, taught by Leah Day--Free motion quilting a sampler. I debated about paying for this class. Money is really too tight for such things. When it was offered at a special discounted price, I signed up. I'm so glad I did. Leah's class was specifically related to showing how to free-motion quilt the sampler quilt I had just completed. My question of just what I wanted to do with all these purple blocks was answered.

I was already familiar with Leah's work, which is the most exquisite I've ever seen. In my view, watching her was almost akin to Michelangelo taking his brush to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This woman is an amazing artist. She makes it look so effortless. I assure you--it is not! But, it was fun! I made my little ole sewing machine do things I never even knew it could. 

The thing about quilting is, I love every part of the process. And there are so many parts. Each one requires some skill. From the fabric choices to the precision cutting, exact 1/4" seams, to the assembling, to the actual quilting, this is a fun and worthwhile activity, every step of the way. I never knew piecing a quilt top was so involved. I never knew that quilting was so involved either. I will always love hand quilting, but I admit really being intrigued by free-motion quilting. I will do it again, particularly on small projects. I can also see projects with a combination of both hand and machine quilting in the future.

It was very easy to maneuver the quilt block in the sewing machine. There is a lot of twisting and turning with free-motion quilting. I'm not certain if I am ready or even able to tackle quilting an entire quilt in that little tiny space of my machine. Just maneuvering the quilt to add the binding strips was a chore. I can only imagine what trying to maneuver a whole quilt would be like. 

This particular project was also new to me, in that it was done as a 'quilt-as-you-go' project. That method requires that all the blocks are quilted first and then assembled by sewing together with binding strips. Traditional quilts are constructed just the opposite--with the quilt top layered with batting and backing fabric and then quilted.

I almost forgot--the very best part is the result after the quilt is washed and dried. I just did this and could barely believe my eyes. I was worried about the imperfections in my sewing. It doesn't matter, because the texture created by the stitches is extraordinary. I absolutely love how this quilt turned out.

I highly recommend quilting as a pleasant and useful activity. Whether you are like me and love the process, it is so rewarding to finish a quilt.

For me, winter storm "Q" stands for quiescent

The most recent winter storm was well warned--or was that hyped? For many parts of the country from the southwest to the southern plains to the east coast, there was a real need for preparedness. For my neck of the woods though--the land of little precipitation--hype more aptly describes the dire warnings that emptied store shelves of bread, milk, and water.

I'm not complaining, mind you. I recall the ice storm a few years ago that caused our power to be out for five days and made my husband John and I return to a kind of pioneer lifestyle. There was fear that this storm could pack a similar punch. Thankfully, it didn't.

What did happen during this storm could be described as some minor inconveniences. We just bought a new stove, since ours was on its last legs after 30 years. It was supposed to be delivered Thursday. Fat chance! We now have to wait an entire week to get it. I hope the factory warranty begins the day we receive it and not the day we bought it. Who know--those few days could make a difference? We will just have to make due with the old one and hope it doesn't set the house on fire.

We also were without television for a short time while the dark clouds that contained thunder sleet parked overhead for a time. That was slightly bothersome, but to be expected.

The one thing about our version of winter storm Q, was that it transformed our normally mundane winter landscape into something spectacular, peaceful, beautiful. While not exactly good for the trees, it provided moisture which they so desperately needed. And, it was beautiful. Waking up this morning, the backyard was especially lovely.

The sun is shining and the ice is visibly and vigorously melting. I can see and hear it as I write this. Soon the trees will stand up straight again. So many of their ice-encrusted buds will grow. Many of the branches on the bushes lining the backyard are redbuds. They will soon fill the above view with pink. Soon the hand on that thermometer will register a more reasonable setting. Spring, which is just 26 days away, is my very favorite time of year. From now until the heat of summer begins, every day seems magical as the landscape reawakens. Its progress is measurable. Life is good!

Guns and craziness

(Photo credit: simonov)

I am amazed that after the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that the reaction has been more guns and not less.

Guns for protection 
I have not heard one argument in the defense of unlimited fire power that makes any sense. The typical response to any criticism is of gun owners is protection. Let's face it; an assault weapon is overkill to protect a family from a would-be criminal.

Guns for hunting 
The argument about hunting isn't heard much these days, since that has pretty much been debunked as simply ridiculous. No one shoots a deer with a multi, rapid-fire clip.

Guns are guaranteed in the Constitution
Then, there is the guaranteed right to bear arms as stated in the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The only problem with this is that the wording of the second amendment is ambiguous and open to interpretation. There are some who believe it is a blanket 'anything goes.' When the second amendment was written, the weapon of the day was a single-shot musket. Those are far different from the killing machines on sale at the local Walmart to anyone who walks in off the street.

Because of the equivocal nature of the second amendment, it is impossible to know the intentions of its authors. Therefore, it shouldn't even be a consideration for guidance today. It is simply being used as an excuse by gun advocates like the National Rifle Association, which is nothing more than a money-making entity representing gun manufacturers. Do we want profit to be a motive in deciding the laws of our land?

My views about the reason people own guns are simple. No one needs that kind of fire power. I'd like to see assault weapons and high-capacity clips banned, but more than that, I'd like to see people reject these murder machines on their own accord for common sense reasons. I want to be safe to be in a theater or a grocery store or at a mall without fear of being gunned down by some crazed lunatic wielding a gun.

There are many very diverse reasons people want access to so many guns.

Simply stated, guns are to little boys what Barbie dolls are to little girls. The difference is that grown women don't play with Barbie anymore.

For some, and I suspect this is the more middle-of-the-road reason for guns, to some they represent family time between a father and his son or grandson, brother, uncle or friend. At one time a hunting trip was no different than throwing a football around or going on a fishing trip. Guns are the necessary tools that represent those family connections carried on through the generations. Even if animals weren't slain in the process, and often times they aren't, a gun is simply a prop to carry along on a pleasant day outdoors in the sunshine, sharing tales and communicating with one another.

A more sinister aspect of the need to carry a weapon is as a symbol of power. Some men like to lord their power over others, particularly a woman. A man with a gun is much more likely to get what he wants when he is feared.

One of the saddest things I've ever heard was from a woman who expressed on a social media website. She supported concealed carry laws because she needed a gun to defend herself from her husband who liked to push her around. How pathetic is it that women feel the need to be protected from their man? I understand how complicated this can be, but isn't there something that can be done about bullies, not just the kids on the playground, but the grownups that like to exert power over others. I sincerely hope this woman is able to seek help in a woman's shelter or some other place that allows her to simply get away from this guy. He needs help as well, so another woman doesn't fall into the same trap.

Everyone has the potential to lose their temper, get angry, have a nervous breakdown. When there is a gun close by, what used to be just an argument can now end in someone's death. This is not acceptable in our society.

In my lifetime, I have never seen so much hatred, fear, anger, and resentment. I am appalled at the things I read, particularly things that involve guns and the madness that surrounds them.

Something has got to be done to secure the safety of law abiding citizens without invoking our bloody history. We are not the Hatfields and McCoys any more when arguments were settled by gunfire in the streets, though that is where we seem to be headed. This is not the Wild West where blood ran whenever people disagreed with one another. We should be smarter than that. We need to solve this thing with intelligence, not raw emotion.

Picture of Laurie Dann (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I will never forget hearing about those poor dead children. Nor will I forget any of the other events that completely horrify me. I remember when Laurie Dann walked into a Winnetka, Illinois school and shot six kids. It was the first school shooting I had ever heard about. It was 1977. I was shocked to my core. The incidents since that time are too numerous to even mention. How many more? It is certainly time we do something. And the answer is most certainly not more guns.

Periwinkle blue; a quilt in the making

Believe it or not, this is an entire quilt. I will call it Periwinkle blue after my favorite crayon color and song by Doris Day on an album my father used to enjoy.

I started this project a year ago and thanks to two Craftsy classes, I'm hoping it turns into more than just a pile of purple.

The first, a block-of-the-month class was taught by Amy Gibson. The quilting will all be done on my little inexpensive Jenome sewing machine, using a skill I haven't yet perfected. I have high hopes however, due to the Craftsy Class on free motion quilting  exquisitely taught, by Leah Day. I just completed it.

I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating that Leah Day is an amazing quilter. She is to machine quilting what Jinny Beyer or Alex Anderson are to hand quilting. All three are absolute heroines as far as I'm concerned. While I'm name-dropping, I cannot say enough about Amy Gibson either. She has to be the sweetest human being on the planet, and she quilts. Beautiful quilting is only one of her many attributes.

This project will be my very first use of the 'quilt as you go' technique, whereby the blocks will each be quilted individually before being sewn together rather than the traditional method of stitching the blocks together  and then quilting the entire piece. This quilt will be a reversible, purple quilt, which I'm planning to fall in love with. Purple with all its values and shades was my favorite color, even before pink.

This above stack contains 20 squares of batting, (the bottom white layer), 20 different background squares, which are all different values and patterns of purple, followed by lavender border strips, which I will sew onto the original blocks. Finally, there are 20 different sampler blocks representing a year in the making. The purple fabric will be the binding, though I haven't cut it yet. That's it! I'm anxious to get started. I plan to practice the pattern for each block before I begin. I haven't decided yet if I am going to buy a shade of purple thread or use the silver/white thread I already have. I am leaning toward the latter. Wish me luck!

This year will be filled with quilting projects

It is only a few weeks into the new year and I already have an abundance of quilting projects in mind:

• As previously posted, I am really looking forward to following Leah Day's instruction to free-motion quilting last year's block of the month (BOM) sampler quilt. I am still in the decision-making phase of this project, but am anxious to get started on it.

• I have a hand-quilting project to work on--a small BOM calender quilt--where each of the 12 blocks in it represents a different month of the year. This was a project through the Quilting Board. I have been enjoying interacting with other quilters there and have met lots of new people. Every day I go to the board to read other quilters' questions as well as to enjoy pictures of projects these talented men and women have created. 

I am already making some progress on this quilt. I recently sewed the calendar blocks together with black sashing to make a completed quilt top. I think I'd like to add another border or two though, just to increase the finishing size of the quilt. That decision is yet to be made though, not to mention deciding on the backing fabric. The border question isn't as easy as it sounds, because all of the blocks are different colors. The blocks are pretty busy too, so I'm completely torn about what color the borders should be.

• Speaking of decisions, I have decided to take on two more BOMs. One is this year's quilting board BOM. I so enjoyed the last one that I wanted to do another. I believe the theme is something like Oh yes you can. Who can resist such a positive-sounding project? 

• I've also signed up for the Skill Builder BOM at Pile O'Fabric with Alyssa Lichner. This project was billed as inspired by Leah Day's FMQ and using her quilt-as-you-go technique, so it had my attention early on. It will begin in a few days--with the lesson beginning on the third Thursday of the month.
  

The first challenge here was to pick out the fabric for both the quilt front and the quilt back, since they will be done at the same time. Alyssa talks greatly about color choices. That intrigued me because my favorite quilts have been monochromatic using the same color family with different values and patterns. I admire other people's quilts that are more colorful, but I have never gone there myself. So, with this project, I am jumping out of my comfort zone right into the color wheel. I have chosen some fabrics from my stash that should suffice. They are basically the colors from a floral fabric that I like. They are pinks and blues, greens, and yellows. I sure hope this works!

Speaking of color, I am enjoying the Special Effects with Color series with Christine Barnes on The Quilt Show. I've also started another free Craftsy BOM. That is a class by Laura Nownes and results in a non-traditional quilt made of irregular sized and shaped blocks. It looks like lots of fun.

• Last but not least, last year I began working on a lavender Dresden Plate quilt. I love doing the hand work, sewing all those plates onto the background fabric. The 12" blocks are an alternating cream with pure white paisley. The purple dresdens are scrappy. It will be a fun quilt to work on, but there is certainly no rush to finish it. I suspect it will take a back seat to some of these other projects, but that's OK. It will be nice to always have a fall-back project, in case I ever get bored.  

Determined to learn free motion quilting

A few months ago, I set out to learn free motion quilting. I am making some headway, thanks to the excellent advice and technique taught by Leah Day, who is probably the best machine quilter I've ever seen.

Her work looks like something done on a long arm quilting machine, but it isn't; it is done on her domestic sewing machine. She really puts her machine through its paces. She claims anyone else can do it too.

I started reading Leah's blog the Free Motion Quilting Project. What Leah has done is truly amazing. Not only is she an accomplished artist, but she is young, pretty, sweet, patient, and a natural teacher who is willing to share her expertise with anyone who is interested. Above all, she is an inspiration.

I took her up on one of her quilt along projects, just to see if it was possible for me to even learn FMQing. The project was a small, whole cloth quilt. She provided the design.

I had only dabbled in FMQing a tiny bit, as seen in a previous blog post Trying new quilting challenges. I was intrigued enough that my insatiable appetite for learning kicked in. I knew I wanted to know more and practice more of the skills that until recently I didn't even know existed. Here is the result:

While there are tons of mistakes and a few total screw-ups, the overall result wasn't half-bad. In fact, I rather like how this piece turned out. It was certainly good enough to make me want to get better. I could see how practice would improve the look and feel of my work.

When I saw that Leah was teaching a class at Craftsy, I was interested. As much as I wanted to take this class, I couldn't afford it. Times are tough and I have been cutting back even on my beloved quilting magazine subscriptions. But when the class went on sale, I signed up.

The class, called Free Motion Quilting a Sampler, is to quilt the Craftsy Block of the Month, which was taught by another of my favorite quilters--Amy Gibson. Amy's class was free. It offered some new piecing techniques that provided a new modern take on traditional blocks. Some of the techniques were not yet in my limited quilting repertoire. I really enjoyed the BOM, looking forward to the first of the month every month for a year.

Leah's class, used that BOM quilt to teach FMQ designs, like a follow along project.

I finished watching the last lesson yesterday. I didn't quilt along, at least not yet. I will watch the lessons again when I'm ready to dive in. I wanted to take the entire class before making any decisions on how to quilt these blocks. After all, the 20 blocks that will make up this quilt span an entire year of work. I had already decided to FMQ this quilt rather than to hand quilt it. I love hand-quilting, but I already know how to do that. I need to know how to quilt on my machine, so that decision was an easy one. Besides, I have other projects that can accompany my mindless television watching at night.

The biggest decision was whether to quilt the entire quilt or to use the quilt-as-you-go technique. I chose the latter, simply because I really am limited by space, as described in a previous post, Happy New Year Happy Quilting. Besides, I had no idea how to quilt the blocks and then put them together to make a finished quilt. I have wanted to learn that technique for some time. Now is as good a time as any. I was initially concerned that this would require wasting fabric, but I now know there is no such thing. Even the tiniest pieces can be reused in another way. For one thing applique projects are great for this.

I am not sure when I will actually put one of my blocks beneath the needle, but I have been doing a little practicing. I had some old flower sack dish towels that had seen better days. In fact I just replaced them with new ones, so I sewed some batting in-between two of them and have been doing a little practicing.

Leah taught many different designs in her class. Some are easier than others. I won't be happy until I can make pretty free-hand feathers. While I'm still in the process of making the decision about which fabrics to use for sashing and backing, since the quilt will be reversible, I know it won't be long now. I have already purchased the batting, which simply needs to be cut into squares. I'm pretty anxious to get started, and will post my progress.

Happy New Year; happy quilting!

It is only Jan. 8th.

My apologies. for starting my first blog of the new year a full eight days into it.

The truth is I've been busy following my primal instincts to organize. My body clock is somewhat confused. It can't discern whether it wants to warm the nest for a long winter or start cleaning for the coming of spring. Darned climate change has me so confused. I'm working entirely too hard on this nest! Being the consummate optimist though, I see this as a positive. I love being organized, although most people who know me think my chaotic surroundings are simply messy. To me though, my messes are methodical.

Anyway, I've been trying to get my quilting life in order. Order is the key word in our tiny retirement mansion that consists of only two bedrooms. We previously lived in a huge two-story house. There I had a sewing room on the second floor. The problem is, I had just begun sewing. When we left there I was working on only my second quilt. Now that I am really into quilting; I need lots more room and I just plain don't have it. No problem though. A little organization can do wonders. It is something I have been working on over the last couple months as I continue to collect a fabric stash and get more involved in quilting projects.

My quilting areas can be broken down into three main areas. The first is the most important.

It is where I can get creative--where I sew. I just converted what was supposed to be a breakfast nook just off the kitchen into a mini sewing room. It is a perfect out-of-the way place, with natural sunlight streaming through the window and in close proximity to the ever-hungry felines in our house.


The 'bar' is divided into three sections.

The first is a cutting area. This is where I keep all my rulers.

TIP: I keep my rulers handy and accessible by using two plate holders--you know those little plastic hinged pieces that fold up when not in use. They are expandable, so they are perfect for the many different sizes and types of rulers needed. I have one ruler that is about 24" long--way too long for one holder--but not too long for two of them side-by-side.

There isn't much that can be said about the middle space. It is my sewing area and contains my sewing machine. I have a Jenome that I bought at Sears many years ago. It was probably the cheapest machine they made, but it is a little work horse. I keep it on a cutting mat for last minute trimming.

It is very convenient to keep my pressing area close to where I sew. My husband made a little ironing board out of plywood on feet that I covered with fabric and batting. It is perfect for pressing those perfect 1/4" seams.

The other parts of my sewing life would not be complete without storage areas. I keep all my fabric in shallow bins that store under my bed. I sort it all by color. I generally buy 1/2-to 1-yard pieces of many different fabrics rather than large yardage of a few. I love the variety. I love the colors and feel of the fabric. I love just having it; looking at it. I'm the same way about yarn, although that has taken a backseat to quilting of late. I have been crocheting and knitting since I was a youngster, but quilting is still fairly new to me. I have so much to learn.

I also have a bedroom closet converted into a sewing storage space. This is where fabric goes before it gets sorted. I consider sorting fabric into bins rather like filing paperwork. I don't do that often either. I just happened to have taken these pictures after sorting. Otherwise there are stacks and stacks of fabric in there.

This closet has lots of goodies in it--knitting needles, crochet hooks, sewing and embroidery thread, rolls of eyelet lace, ribbon, quilting magazines, batting for the next several quilts, and all kinds of stuff. Those tubs are filled with fabric scraps. The cedar chest on the bottom left, contains my husband's grandmother's tatting shuttle, which I've yet to learn how to use. One of these days, if and when time permits.