Thanks for stopping by for the weekly Quirky Question—where questions are just for fun, your answers are always welcome, and you could win an eBook for free!
(Left: “Tree Quilt” by Jolene Klassen)
The modern-quilt movement has shaken up the quilting world. And around the office, a book released yesterday—Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe—is causing quite a stir. Whether our first quilt crushes align with antique, traditional, folk-art, or other quilt styles, when it comes to these new designers we all agree: the creative ways in which they’ve stepped out of the box is an inspiration to us all!
One rule of modern quiltmaking reigns: there are no rules. These up-and-comers have taken risks on their creative journeys, and we applaud their courage. Which leads us to this week’s question:
What’s one step on your creative journey that you’re really glad you took?
Post your answer in the comments before noon (PST) on Monday, December 10, for your chance to win. The winning comment will be posted on Wednesday, December 12, along with the next question.
Last week’s question was, “When you hear the phrase ‘holiday decorations,’ what’s the first picture that pops into your head?” Here’s the winning response:
“Several years ago, I ‘adopted’ a soldier stationed in Iraq. We emailed frequently and I sent a care package to him at least once a month. As Christmas approached, I made a little Christmas tree banner and sent it to him. In return, he sent me a photograph of him with his chaplain and a fellow solider…and the banner. I printed the photo on fabric and stuffed it. Now it hangs front and center on my Christmas tree each year. But, along with that very, very special Christmas decoration, late Christmas Eve evening, the doorbell rang. My sons and their families were with me, so I couldn’t figure out who could be as I opened the door where a florist delivery presented me with a beautiful miniature yellow rose bush (I’m originally from Texas which is where my soldier’s home base was and is). Accompanying the rose was a card from him wishing me a Merry Christmas. The little yellow rose thrives in the flower bed next to my front door. It too is a very, very special ‘decoration’ year round!”
Last week’s winning comment was written by Iris. Congratulations, Iris—look for an email about how to get your free eBook.
P.S. Don’t miss our official launch of Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe in January, where designers will each host their own blog tour. Sign up for emails so you don’t miss the fun next month—meet these fascinating quilt bloggers, get lots of behind-the-scenes book chat, and enter their eBook giveaways!
Scraps – too much of a good thing. I had made 50 choir collars. The colors were white for Easter and Red for Christmas reversible colors. I had so many pieces and not knowing what to do and thinking is so painful. I decided to make them into crazy patch pieces. Now what to do. Well I haven’t finished them yet but by next Christmas will have, I hope. Getting my quilt guild envolved taking them and making Christmas stockings to donate to and fill with goodies for our church childen familes that have fallen on hard times.
—Emily J on December 5, 2012I’m glad I went to my first quilt show in 1992, the Mid-Atlantic. I was very pregnant at the time but it opened my eyes to so many possibilities.
—Mary Ann Harpe on December 5, 2012Buying PURPLE was a creative step for me. I wanted to make a quilt for my little granddaughter. When I asked my son her favorite color, he said Purple. I looked at the fabrics I had on hand and found NONE. I had avoided buying any purple at all. I had so much fun making her Purple quilt that now I have a varied collection of shades and patterns and use it somewhere in every quilt I make. It works great as a neutral.
—Nancy on December 5, 2012Trying new techniques, even if they were disasters, or it took several tries to get the response I wanted. I used to be so afraid to ruin fabric and be wasteful, but some fabric is just made for experiments and doing something new is so joyful!
—Therese on December 5, 2012I had spent much of my sewing life on ready-to-wear and home decorating
—Karen on December 5, 2012when I just happened to read about a "Beginner" quilting class in my hometown adult education brochure. "Me, a quilter?", I thought. But the quilts we would learn to make would be delivered to sick children in an area hospital, so I thought it was a good time to give quilting a try.
I have been quilting ever since! I hardly sew a hem or make a placemat anymore (unless it’s pieced!)
I’ve found a creative pasttime that gives me more joy than I could have imagined!
So glad I decided to use 3-D elements in a child’s quilt. The fascination of peeking behind bias folded corners always brings
—Becky on December 5, 2012a smile.
The moment I finished my very first quilt. It was then I became a quilter. I’ve always had the desire for the decorative arts. I love fabrics, colors, textures, etc. As a former interior design school dropout, I yearned for a way to express this love. The moment I finished that very first quilt, I knew it. I was a quilter!
—Jean on December 5, 2012I had been sewing clothing (really fancy little girls dresses were my favorite) for many years. However, I was afraid of making a quilt. My good friend told me to come to her house for the weekend and she would show me, so I packed my bag and drove for 4 hrs. My first quilt was a Double Irish Chain. The top was finished in 5 days and I was hooked.
—Marsha Nelson on December 5, 2012I had a friend who was a master quilter. Several times she encouraged me to start quilting. I always gave excuses. Then one day I said I was scared to mess it up. My friend said, "Just get started!" I followed her advice, and I’m so glad I did. My first square turned out to be a trapezoid, and one of the other quilters rejected my contribution to a group project, but I’ve kept at it. Along the way, I’ve begun to see colors differently. My friend always made excellent use of color in her quilts, and maybe I absorbed a little bit of her skill. I am so thankful for my friend, the late Mary Ellen Rees.
—Susan Mullen on December 5, 2012I think that one of the important steps I took was joining a guild. I have learned so much, been inspired by so many, and have met some great people that are willing to help me along my creative path. What I learn at meetings is supplemented by the great retreat the guild sponsors each year. And it’s always on my birthday weekend!
—Sharon Theriault on December 5, 2012The life-changing "leap" I took that was a case of making the most of an unhappy circumstance. I had left my dream job in beautiful northern California to with my husband to his dream job in the soybean fields of a centrally located, very flat, isolated college town. I saw my first quilts at an Apple Festival (exciting, I know!) and thought "I might as well get something thing out of this move. I’ll learn how to make one of these."
Fifteen years later I took a second leap, when I was drafted to "fill-in" until a "real" quilting teaching could be found. I did that for 14 years.
—Norah McMeeking on December 5, 2012Returning to knitting AND learning Combination Knitting.
I learned to knit at age 9 and was clunky for decades to follow. Knitting was once in a blue moon, because it took WAY too long to knit anything. Then I learned Combination Knitting and tripled my knitting speed. Projects still take time, but not as much.
Before I took a socks class in 2005, I knew only one kind of decrease and was freaked by increasing. Now I know maybe 4 or 5 of both, and sock knitting helped me move to sweaters and CONSTRUCTION. I >love< shaping now, because I can use my needles all sorts of ways to get the look I want. Losing fear of needles and stitches allows me to design my own sweaters (I have designed quite a few in the last three years) and play with design elements. It's impossible to knit once in a blue moon to come up with new ideas, and now I can almost not get off the needles.
—Lucille Reilly on December 5, 2012I think everytime I make a quilt I learn something new so my Grandmother would be proud of me. They might not be perfect but I love each and every one of them.
—Chris on December 5, 2012Going to a quilt store with my sister where she bought me my first quilt kit for my birthday. I finished that one and was hooked.
—Rachel Johnson on December 5, 2012Taking classes that are challenging would be one step I’ve taken…
—sue on December 5, 2012The one step I am glad I took was learning to quilt. I wanted my Mother to quilt a top that I had embroidered, she refused unless I would learn to quilt on a white whole cloth quilt she was working on. My stitches were very bad but she did not take them out and of course you can’t find them on the quilt now. My Brother ended up with the quilt when we lost our Mother and I kept on quilting. I have always said that I only piece so that I have something to quilt. I also prefer to quilt whole cloth baby quilts and lap quilts.
—Bonnie on December 5, 2012I have always liked scrappy quilts because that it what I grew up with and what my grandmother and great-grandmother always made. My youngest daughter told me if I didn’t take an art class that she would not ever help me pick colors for quilts ever again! I didn’t think this was such a big deal, but it also involved never helping me help my friends who wanted color-coordinated quilts! I took the art class and it opened me to possibilities that I was not even aware existed, and it was fun to boot. While I will never be an artist with paints or drawing, and I had a teacher that let me use quilting as a form of art, I learned an amazing amount about color and shading and other things that have to do with art that have made a difference in my ability to produce a quilt that is art and also appeals to my heritage of "scrappy." So thanks to a stubborn daughter, I took a step in my creative journey that I really appreciate.
—Robin on December 5, 20122 Years ago I started quilting and I’m hooked, I also still do lots of Crossstitch, knitting, crochet, beading, but quilting is taking over my hobby room.
It’s not good to walk in a quilt shop because I will spent at least £100.00
So I have to keep working.
—Marijke Madder on December 5, 2012By far the best step I ever took in my creative journey was to submit my idea for Sculpted Threads to Martingale. The process of organizing my ideas, answering their "can you do this?" questions and the exercise of creating projects and writing the instructions was a real "growing" experience. It led me to people, places and levels of creativity I would never have gotten to experience. Thank you Martingale and the wonderful staff for giving me that step on my journey that continues to evolve today.
Jan
—Janet Shipley Hawks on December 5, 2012I’m really glad that I signed up for that very first machine piecing/quilting class that I took. Before that, I had only taken one quilting class that taught hand applique and hand piecing. The machine class opened a new world for me. That was over 20 years ago, so I’ve been rolling along at full speed with my rotary cutters, rulers, mats and machines!
—Anita Daggett on December 5, 2012a few years ago I had a birthday present from my husband: a lesson quilting with Kaffe Fassett at the Hasselt fashion-museum (Belgium)
—anne on December 5, 2012a very colourfull world opened that day, colours oozed out of every pore of that man…and by the time I gathered all my belongings I knew I turned a new exciting page in my patchwork history-book.
ever since colours in my quilts are not only suttle as they used to be, they may also be striking and hot ,I am not afraid of colours anymore, thanks toan amazing man who opened MY eyes to colour!
I started quilting many years ago, going through many different techniques. The most recent lightbulb moment came when I first began making improvisational blocks! Since then the modern quilt movement has been inspiring me to sew daily and for fun, fun, fun! I love the tree quilt in the blog post. Off to the sewing machine…….!
—Jean Blythe on December 5, 2012Buying a mid-arm quilting machine and frame! They were both used, but it was still alot of money to spend on a hobby. Quilting was my least favorite part of making a quilt, but I love the quilting process now. I started with pantographs and just learned how to do feathers and free-hand quilting. I’ve only had this set-up for about 1 1/2 years, but I am seriously considering trading up to a bigger machine already.
—Tammy from quilt-pictures.com on December 5, 2012I decided not to be a perfectionist. I got rid of the Quilt Police who want all the points to be perfect, every fabric to coordinate, etc. If I want to mix traditional with art quilting, I do. Plaids and polka dots? no problem. As long as I am happy with the results, I don’t care what other people think.
—Marcia Gilbreath on December 5, 2012The one step I took that was important to me was my first venture into designing my own quilt. We went to Greece on vacation and took a day tour to the ruins of Corinth. In the museum there were fragments of ancient mosaics on the wall. I took a picture of them and then recreated sections of them into a wall hanging. The colors in the mosaics were vibrant and made the wall hanging a vibrant remembrance of a very special trip. That gave me courage to design more.
—Dianna on December 5, 2012-the first one! I always admired quilters’ work but thought it could not possibly for me. I am not a gifted seamstress, not a perfectionist either, how could I ever do such precision work. Nothing I have made is perfect and likely nothing I ever make will be but I love the process, I love gifting my work. I love the friendships I have made through quilting. What more could I ask for?
—Janine on December 5, 2012When I first started quilting it was all miniature quilts and hand quilted. A family member started quilting shortly thereafter and got into doing mass production and the only criteria was that they go together fast. I caught the bug for awhile but then realized I had stepped away from who I am. I now work with wall hangings and full size quilts but it’s not about speed. I now take my time and enjoy the process and am game to try just about anything. I am dabbling in art quilts and I believe I am finding my game! For anyone who is thinking about trying something, go ahead with it. Not every thing will work for you but you will be so much richer in techniques after you have stepped out of your comfort zone!
—Kathy Thomas on December 5, 2012The one step on my creative journey that I was glad I took was mixing mediums together, painting, beading, embroidery and quilting. I’m always thinking "what if" and it’s amazaing where it can take you.
Sincerely,
Susan
—Susan on December 5, 2012The one step that I am glad I took was going on a local Quilt Shop Hop and finding Minky!! Love that stuff and am having a blast playing with, gluing, sewing, and feeling it. I learned alot of other things on the shop hop and found some local shops I didn’t know about.
—Kathy Gates on December 5, 2012I am really glad that I took the big step and invested in a really nice sewing machine. I know that doesn’t seem like a step, but for me to spend that much money on myself was a big step. I have only been sewing for about 6 years and quilting for about 5 years. I had an okay sewing machine. There was nothing wrong with it, but it just didn’t do everything that I wanted. I looked around for awhile and finally settled on a nice name brand sewing machine that was designed for quilters in mind. Now I am able to do all of my own quilting (unless I wanted some big overall design) as well as piecing. I use a lot of the fancy stitches and I just love sewing on it.
—laura on December 5, 2012The best decision I’ve ever made during my 16yrs of quilting is learning as many different techniques as I could because now going into my 17th yr of quilting my local quilt shop now wants me to start teaching classes after the 1st of the year. I was so shocked and thankful I followed my love of quilting and now I can share my love with others!
—Maria Carroll on December 5, 2012One thing I have learned…is …not be too accurate… You just have to let go sometimes…
—Stina Lomgren on December 5, 2012You must have FUN when sewing… Let all those MUST words go…
Sew and have fun…:0)))))
The one step I took that was important to me was not to listen to the other members in my classes and be an individual. The hand sewn hexagon quilt fabric was selected to showcase the Celtic designs embroidered on the solid pieces. The majority of the class did similar colored quilts. Along came Phyllis with her orange, yellow, tan, green tie dyed fabric. The quilt is so pretty.
—Phyllis on December 5, 2012I was glad to have enough time to make all of the quilts I wanted to make for my family. Now, I am glad to share my work with Cancer patients in my town who don’t have alot of time. A person can just have too many quilts. I formed a small bee and we make quilts for Hospice and Breast Cancer patients. We have about 6 women that are in the same boat I am with too many quilts. Since November, we have furnished 15 quilts and 5 quilts of valor to Hospice patients and one raffle quilt to Breast Cancer fundraiser. It gives us great joy to know that these patients feel the love we have sewn in each and every quilt and we know when they are gone their love ones will treasure it. I am so glad we started this bee where we can enjoy making patterns that we want to make and don’t have them stacking up at home. We know our quilts are loved and treasured.
—Dianne on December 5, 2012It was 2005. I had just retired. One of my bucketlist items was "learn to quilt." That winter I hadn’t yet sewn a stitch, but fell in love with a complex, embellished quilt I saw at a quilt/sewing/craft show in CA. I took my husband and sister back to see it (indvidually…that’s how much I loved it). On the way back home to NH, we stopped to visit our daughter in NJ. My husband told me, "For your retirement gift I’m going to buy you a new sewing machine for quilting." We went to a dealer that day (I had been researching machines on my own without really saying anything) and purchased a Janome 6600. While in the store, an employee was giving a demonstration on a Janome embroidery machine. My husband said, "That would be great for making embellishments for your quilt! Let’s get that, too.!" And for one of the few times in my life, I said, "Yes, let’s splurge!" That embroidery machine totally changed the way I looked at myself; I’d always felt I had no creativity and was just good at following directions. I was able to purchase and stitch out many beautiful designs that added beauty and "Ahhhhhhs" to my quilt. Since that time, I have NEVER made a quilt exactly as the pattern/directions says to. I have learned to trust my creative instincts, and I’ve been happily quilting and sewing away for 7 years.
—Bev on December 5, 2012I’ve been quilting for years. Lately I’ve been teaching new quilters at a modern fabric store. Watching them and seeing their color combinations has inspired me to step out of the rut I’d dug for myself. I’m experimenting with new designs, new fabrics, new colors and with solid fabrics and and new free-motion quilting designs. With renewed energy I’ve been completing more quilts than ever and loving every minute of it.
—Susan K on December 5, 2012The best step I ever took was a beginner’s class at a local quilt shop. When I got there I was told I had to buy a rotary cutter (a WHAT?) and a cutting mat (CUTTING MAT?) because they were necessary for the class. I paid my money for these strange things that looked as if they belonged in an Industrial Arts class. Who ever heard of a SQUARE RULER? Rulers were supposed to be narrow and a foot long. The best was yet to come…I learned how to cut fabric with my new tools, and then we launched into the mysteries of a Rail Fence baby quilt. I thought I would never get it right. What a struggle! In the end it all worked out and I was so pleased with myself, and amazed that it was a real quilt. That was many years ago and I am still hooked on quilting and just as happy with the results.
—Judy on December 5, 2012My first quilting project was a memory quilt for my granddaughter and the memories that it brought to me & her will last forever.
—Barbara Dorin on December 5, 2012Many years ago I got Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day Log Cabin Pattern. No rotary cutters or templates. No quilt shops. In fact finding fabric from local fabric shops was one of my biggest challenges. But I made my first quilt and so began my transition from clothing to quilting. Things have changed a lot since then. I no longer tear strips or tie my quilts. But I still adore Eleanor!
—Diane on December 5, 2012I joined a guild and that was my inspiration, before I would make very simple patterns because I had never had a class and didn’t understand the terminology to some of the patterns. Now, I enjoy the full process and am the quilt top queen, trying new techniques are my favorite. You never know if you like it if you don’t try it, now I just have to force myself to actually quilt the tops.
—Connie on December 5, 2012I am glad I found the new precut lines that are available and rotary cutters. I started out a long time ago cutting each piece the old fashioned way. I got some creative results but it took a long time.
—diane on December 5, 2012My step I was glad (very glad) I took was into scrap quilts. I am a traditional and primitive quilter but had such an ordered brain I couldn’t make myself put scraps together. I would just look at the pieces and not no what to do. A friend in a class where we were making a very scrappy quilt just started picking up pieces, putting them together and handing them to me and saying "sew these" so I did and that’s how I was finally able to begin scrappy quilting and it’s been a wonderful journey ever since.
—Helen Cheney on December 5, 2012The one step I took on my journey of quilting, after quilting by myself for 30 plus years and mostly self taught, was the day I joined a charity group called Victoria’s Quilts. We make quilts, free of charge, for cancer patients in our own province. The things I have learned re: quilting and the joy and great feeling of helping less fortunate people is too great to explain in words. This is a path I have taken that I will never regret and recommend it to everyone.
—Janet Crossman on December 5, 2012Taking a FMQ class from Cindy Needham. She gave me the confidence and skills to be able to quilt my own quilts! It’s given me the opportunity to grow creatively, as I now can plan the quilting and quilt design as parts of a whole. It’s opened a whole new world of quilting for me!
—Elizabeth Smith on December 5, 2012Becoming confident enough to add a block or two to adjust the quilt size; to leave off boarders altogether and to make up my own block designs was very freeing and I think that’s when I became a Quilter, not just someone who made quilts.
—Kayt on December 5, 2012In one of my earliest quilting classes, I had an instructor inform me that my colors "wouldn’t work." I could have changed my colors but instead I took the step of trusting my own instincts and ended up producing one of my favorite quilts. 30 years later I’m still using the colors that ‘sing’ to me and picking fabrics is my favorite part of the process!
—Beth Strand on December 5, 2012getting started! that’s the most important step in the quilting journey. When I moved to rural Virginia, what is intended to be my retirement home, I decided to find a quilting bee to grow old with. What I found was neighbors who wanted to learn to quilt along with me, a charity quilting bee, and a quilting guild, which all led to some new close friends to share my quilting passions with, and to help me along in the rest of my life. Make the move, and just get started!
—Madeline on December 5, 2012I took a class from Sharyn Craig and she was always asking what if??? So I started asking that question as my projects progressed and wow, how has my "box" changed!!! When there is no limit, when nothing is really wrong, quilting is much more fun! Plus, I like the results much better!!
—Terry K on December 5, 2012The step on my creative journey that I am really glad that I took, was when my mother encouraged me to take a night school cake decorating class right after I graduated from High School. I did not want to go back to school after I graduated, but I did so to please my mother. That was 45 years ago! As a result, I tapped into a reservoir of creativity that I never knew existed within myself. My cake decorations were all outside the box and I still can create nearly anything in buttercream icing. As the years progressed, that first step of creativity blossomed into a love for sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, decorating and so very much more….. my creative mind never rests…its always creating something new.
—sarah schweitzer on December 5, 2012I invested in a quilting library, and it is still growing. Books have always been an inspiration–and here we have grown-up books with pictures. What could be better?!!!!
—Patricia Hersl on December 5, 2012I started quilting in 1994 and love it! Over the years, I would see or hear about quilts made with paper piecing. I just ignored it but it kept coming up over and over…I even tried to read about how to do it and it just wouldn’t click with me, it seemed too hard. Finally 2010 comes around and my oldest son gets married, naturally I want to make them a quilt. Because of his love for the Civil War era, I decided to ‘conquer’ my doubts and fears
….and am in the process of making the ‘The Civil War Love Letter Quilt.’ That’s right, paper piecing to the max! I only have 40 out of 121 blocks to make. Do I know how to paper piece now??? YEP! Do I love it? A bigger YEP!!! I am so happy to have learned this technique of quilting…what a road I am on!!!
—Rebecca on December 5, 2012I have to say that I’m happiest that I decided I could make and donate my quilts for comfort quilts even tho I have only been quilting a couple of years and my skill levels were not that high.
—Linda White on December 5, 2012This has brought more joy, satisfaction and feelings of being productive and a contributing member of society again than I have felt since becoming disabled in 2003.
Again I have purpose in my life and a reason to look past the chronic pain every day because I know that I bring joy and comfort to others who are ill or injured.
To find a way to make a star without all the fuss
—shirley tener on December 5, 2012The quilting step I am most glad I took was stepping over to my small town library and checking out and reading my very first "Benni Harper Mysteries" novel. The particular first one I read was published in 1989 and called Fool’s Puzzle, which I learned is also the name of a quilting pattern. In this series of books, the author, Earlene Fowler, incorporates quilting into the plots, and all the books’ titles are names of quilts. I’ll have to admit I thought it was rather weird to title books after quilts, but that was before my re-birth as a quilt nut. After reading all thirteen books and being exposed to quilting through the stories, I found myself absolutely in love with fabric and the idea of quilting! I went online and started buying fabric and printing out free quilt patterns. A simple trip to the fabric/craft store is now like going to Disneyland! Coming home from work and finding orders of fabric waiting for me in my mailbox or on my porch sends me into short-breathed ecstacy. I rush inside the house, cut open the packaging, spread the fabric out on my table, and run my hands through it as all my senses take in the beautiful colors and designs.
I don’t know how it’s possible for a person like me at the age of sixty-two to become overnight practically obsessed with fabric and quilting, but that’s what has happened. I immediately went to some quilt shows in and around my hometown and wanted so badly to be able to just touch the quilts there on display; but, of course, it was "hands off." I was like, "Really??!!" I had an actual hungry need to just reach out and touch those quilts. Of course, after the initial selfish disbelief that I was not going to allowed to satisfy my craving, I was able to understand. After all, can you imagine how dirty they would get if every crazed, starry-eyed quilter like me rubbed her (or his) hands and face all over them? Fortunately, I was able to control myself and just appreciate the beautiful quilts from a slight distance. I would hate to embarrass my daughter and son-in-law who were watching me somewhat askance, as if wondering if they should strong-arm me out of there, or just try to talk to me calmly.
Along with this new-found river of delight runs a thread of fear of making mistakes that is making it hard for me to be the quilter I want to be. I have talked to a few ladies who say it’s natural and that I should just keep trying. I am working on a quilted baby blanket for my newest granddaughter, who is 10 months old. Every night when I get home from work I do my chores, and then I get busy with my new love for quilts and fabric. Who would have known that a step to the library would turn a lightswitch in my 62-year-old brain and reveal this lovely, delicious world of quilting! I hope in the near future I am able to say that the element of fear has subsided and I’ve stepped over into a world of prolific quilting. I would so love to leave behind many of my own examples of this beautiful and glorious artwork.
—Nancy on December 5, 2012taking lessons of all kinds…has taught me alot…thank you to my many teachers
—merry on December 5, 2012Re: creative leaps
—Stephanie on December 5, 2012In doing binding, I like to use whimsical prints that co-ordinate with my top and backing. I also like to sometimes make my binding a different width on the front and back of my quilt. Since the front and the back are two different quilt images, I like to scale the binding accordingly. Some people don’t get it, rigidly believing that binding must only be done one way. I enjoy being a rebel!
I am really glad that I took a quilt class in Tacoma, WA about 1988. It covered everything, from design idea, to drawing the quilt blocks out on quad rule paper, transferring to templates or freezer paper…all the way to binding the hand quilted wall hanging. I use at least one lesson from that class in every quilt I make.
—Margie Campbell on December 5, 2012When you find a great class, and a wonderful teacher, it is more than worth the fee you pay.
Marge
The one step in my creative journey in quilting that I’m really glad I made was to give myself permission to make mistakes. I find that the imperfections in my quilts give them character and make them uniquely mine.
—Robin Maguire on December 5, 2012I’m more of a traditional/primitive quilter. While I don’t always like the more contemporary quilts I can visualize them in my own pallet and utilize the newer techniques. Also, my younger family members desire quilts made by me but in nontraditional fabrics and brighter colors. Sue
—Sue Rynex on December 5, 2012The one step on my creative journey I am glad I took is buying a new sewing/embroidery machine.
—Janice on December 5, 2012My old sewing machine was over 22 years old. I was aware of new ones coming out that were nice, but I had no idea how far the new machines had come. My journey began about 2 years ago, when my daughter left for college. I missed her and had a lot of time on my hands, so I decided to learn how to quilt. I soon found my old machine was not adequate for quilting. I discovered the wonderful world of sewing/embroidery machines. I took the plunge and bought a Brother Duetta. I now sew daily and joke that this was better therapy than any psychologist could offer and a lot cheaper.
A little over 20 years ago my friend Melody asked me to step up and finish out the term of Treasurer for the Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters as the current Treasurer had to step down due to a family members illness. That started me on a journey that resulted in the first Quiltfest in Seattle, WA. Along the way, I learned about organization, fundraising, reputation, and many aspects of quilting I had never explored before. I learned skills that got me raises at work and met many wonderful quilters and quilt admirers (since who would we be without our fans). Since then APNQ has grown and become an annual judged and juried quilt show in Tacoma WA. Several of my friends became quilt book authors and teachers and I learned to set aside some time to to just enjoy and explore in quilting. I found some techniques that doing once was enough for me and others that feed my soul. Quilting for me happens in small windows after work and between caring for others and is my personal, mental health retreat.
—Susan Kelley on December 5, 2012At the beginning of the millenium I decided to start making more scrap block quilts…This year, just 4 days ago, I finished the "Sampler Blocks Quilt No 7….Best scrappy decision I could make…This last quilt is 9 28 1/2 inch blocks with an embroidery stitched center block…No 8 Sampler quilt starts in 2013.
—Darlene Krystal on December 5, 2012My *first* step into quilting was totally accidental….and I’m glad I took it. I had been asked to help a friend with making shirts for her kids to wear to school. They had enrolled them in a new African American school which required that they wear ‘ethnic’ shirts daily. She wasn’t successful in finding anything in a local store for them to wear. I knew I had several AA/ethnic fabrics in my stash, and offered to help her out. There were *several* scraps leftover when I completed the project. I couldn’t *imagine* tossing these beautifully colored fabrics, but, had no clue what to DO with them. I decided to cut as many 3.5″ squares as I could from all of them. I sat and stared at the stacks of squares for nearly a month, before the thought hit me, that they *could* be made into half square triangles. Half square triangles lead to star blocks. I still wasn’t sure what to DO with *those*! When I ran out of scraps, I laid the blocks out on the floor "just to look at them’. I realized at that point, that they *could* become a quilt! I had never done a quilt before, so, I had to do a LOT of reading to see if they really *could* become a quilt. I managed to trip through assembly and then proceeded to take 3 months to carefully hand quilt it in a lap hoop. After that was completed, I felt SO empowered! I began to think of other possibilities that quilting lead me. Retirement has now, given me the TIME to experiment more. I just finished my 3rd quilt…and I’m thankful that my first ‘unplanned’ quilt lead me in this direction!
—Mary Colgan on December 5, 2012For me, learning to sew was part nature and part nurture. Both my mom and grandmother worked in the profession. Mom was a seamstress, dressmaker, and made beautiful alterations so her clients would appear to be wearing tailored suits and dresses. My grandmother was a tailor for our small town’s men’s clothing store. So I sewed but really started sewing in earnest when I married and moved several states away. I certainly enjoyed sewing more then because I didn’t have to hear my mom reminding me to "baste everything first." I have always been a "make it tonight, wear it tomorrow" kind of girl.
Sewing kept my family well dressed since 1966 when our first child was born. I’ve made suits for my husband and prom dresses for my daughter; now I make clothes for my grandchildren and am encouraged by their gratitude.
About ten years ago I stepped into the world of quilting and found it’s far more creative and easier than making clothes. I don’t have to keep up with waist and length measurements. Fitting a lap or a bed requires no darts. My sewing stash has changed considerably. I love pure cotton yard goods and batiks! Working with cottons is rewarding because I know these quilts will last for another generation or two! I feel I’m finally leaving "my mark on the world." Clothes don’t get passed down the way quilts do. I’m so grateful to the ladies in my quilt guild for inspiring me to leave my comfort zone and play with fabric and color like I’ve never done before!
—VickiGene on December 5, 2012One year at the Alabama Quilt Symposium I took a class with aver well known teacher. A 6 hour class turned into a 7 1/2 hour one . I learned a lot but I was exhausted at the end of the day. The next day I was in a " Cave Man Quilting " class with Ricky Tims . At first it was really scary to cut with a rotary cutter, but no ruler. The class was so relaxing, fun and liberating! From there I gained the desire to try any new technique.
—Jane Wiederecht on December 5, 2012I am so thankful that I took a ‘detour’step into art quilting. The world that has opened up to me is incredible. The skills I have learned, the self confidence that has been built, the friends I have made, new techniques and mediums that can be used, just everything associated with art quilts is incrdible. Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional quilting, but art quilting is a new world to be explored. It’s a journey I don’t plan on quitting any time soon.
—Cindy R. on December 5, 2012A couple of years ago I finally decided not to be afraid for doing the actual quilting. I was a "professional" piecer. Many tops done but not quilted. I vow this year to plow through them
—Marguerite Namdar on December 5, 2012When I asked my coworkers to make a square for a retiring member of of team, I took all these different squares and made a quilt that has lots of memories for the person retiring. Since this I am not afraid to take blocks or colors and put them together, they always come out looking spectacular!
—Gina on December 5, 2012Buying a jam up fancy stitching sewing machine.
—Valerie A. Clark on December 5, 2012Thanks
The one step that I took on my own creative journey that I’m really glad I took, was to learn how to quilt. No one in my family other than my great grandmother although my mother-in-law has quilted for as long as I’ve know here and quilting didn’t really appeal to me till I was in my later 40′s… so I guess I’ve got a lot of years I need to make up for!!
—GwenH on December 5, 2012I visited a new store in town, A Quilt store. They had zip-lock bags of pieces of material and a picture of a place mat, they were on sale so I said why not try something new. I ended up making place mats for everyone for Christmas and have never stopped Quilting.
—ELIZABETH CROSS on December 5, 2012I bought a new sewing machine. I was getting frustrated with quilting on an old cheap machine that would catch fabric in the feed dogs, break thread or come unthreaded, and jam up every few inches. I gave up sewing for awhile and then gave it another chance, with the same results. I finally bit the bullet, did some research online, found a machine for a decent price (nothing fancy), and told my husband I was getting myself a Christmas gift. He was really into an action movie at the time, so just nodded his head without really hearing what I was saying which is fine with me. Last week he walked by the table and there was an old white machine there. This week he walked by the table and there is a new white machine there. He hasn’t noticed anything different except I’m happy to be sewing quilts again!!
—Susan on December 5, 2012One small step for my machine, one giant step for learning to use contrasting colors of fabrics. I had a Singer Kenmore machine, I used for making personal clothing and horse equipment, such as blankets, leg wraps, and neck sweat bands for our Arabian show horses. My machine set near a draft from our doorway and had rusted in the cabinet, so when I took a class, the entire cabinet and connecting machine went with me. I purchased a used New Home 8000 in 1999, which is now in my "Go Bag" and I have a new Janome 6600 for home use.
My first quilt class, I chose two geometric patterns with no contrast to each other. Fortunately, the quilt shop worker steered me in the right direction and my second color was a contrasting blue color.
I was told to get an unsewer. Say what? Finally, when I was shown one, I learned it was nothing more than a seam ripper. Why confuse the "newbie"? I was told to buy 2 spools of Gutterman’s or Mettler thread. I learned Coats and Clark thread worked just as well and was a lot cheaper too. Star thread and Superior small spools have joined my thread collecton.
The small step was me getting started in learning to quilt. The giant step was for me to keep experimenting to learn what I liked best and to ask other quilters why they liked a particular product.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on December 5, 2012Letting go of my personal "quilt police". In other words, it doesn’t always have to be perfect. If someone else can’t spot it without me pointing it out, than it is ok. I don’t have to be perfect. Letting go of the frustration of perfection has helped me enjoy what i do so much more and i love quilting more than ever. I have been quilting for almost 60 years and have always loved quilting and quilts.
—Roberta B on December 6, 2012I like doing things my way even if others tell me I’m off base. The colors, size, design, has to "feel" comfy, has to "feel" right to me. It has to be as if I’m making it for myself. That is when I delight in giving to others.
—Carla on December 6, 2012I’m so glad I gave myself permission to create. I have finally come to realize, that creating for me is as important as breathing.
—danby on December 6, 2012Para mi primera clase de acolchado libre me compré 2 patas de la máquina de coser que no sabía cómo utilizar. Después de un día entero de clase y un año de práctica y tutoriales de grandes quilters americanas he ganado un premio por uno de mis acolchados. ¡Vamos a por más!
Translation:
For my first class of free-motion quilting I bought 2 legs of sewing machine that didn’t know how to use. After a full day of class and a year of practice and tutorials of great American quilters I have won a prize by one of my quilts. We go for more!
—Jacquelin B. on December 6, 2012I didn’t begin to quilt until I retired and received a book from my older sister called "Beginner’s Luck." But the biggest step I ever took on my quilting journey was moving in next to a dear lady who has been quilting for over 70 years. One of her first questions to me when we arrived was "Are you a quilter?" I explained that I had tried on my own with a retirement gift I received and she told me she was just starting a beginner’s class. It was the last one she ever taught. She has been my inspiration and encouragement for over 6 years now. It just about broke my heart when she and her husband recently moved due to age and health problems. I still get to see her from time to time, but miss having her here so I can pop over and say "See what I did!" or "I’m stuck; what do I do?" Whenever I expressed an interest in a new technique or design, she was always there to say "Sure you can do it!" What a blessing she has been to me. I will always be grateful to her for giving me such a beginning on my quilting journey.
—Carolyn Moore on December 6, 2012I’m glad that I kept pushing myself to learn how to quilt because I love it. Now my daughter is getting interested in learning how to sew a little not sure about quilting yet but teaching her how to use a sewing machine is the first step.
—Debbie on December 6, 2012When my son was 3 years old, I didn’t have a job or any money come Christmas. I was a single mom, and had no way to get him anything. I had tons of scrap material though. So I sewed together a 3D dump truck that had zippers and buttons and shoe strings on it. It was really cute. My son loved it and would play with it for hours on end. He would load other small toys in to it. He would zipper it up, button it up and tie it up. He just had oodles of fun with it. I don’t believe that I could have made anything any better for him. To this day, I don’t know what happened to that truck. I sure wish I could remember how I made it, I would sure love to be able to duplicate it for my grandboys, and maybe for boys in the hospital or something.
—Rose Cannon on December 6, 2012What started me on my creative quilting journey? Almost 5 years ago I walked into a fledgling quilt shop in Tumwater, Washington named Ruby Street Quiltworks. On a whim I asked if the owner of the shop needed an employee. Working at Ruby Street was a brand new experience in how fabric can be combined and how color and placement can change the outcome of any project. Jan has a wonderful sense of fabric style. This pushed me out of my fabric comfort zone. You know the one. Anyone in your guild can pick your quilt out of a pile. Not any longer. Thank you Jan, you have made me a much better creative quilter.
—Brenda Lewis on December 6, 2012Brenda Lewis
The one step on my creative journey that I’m ECSTATIC for taking was connecting with a quilting friend who taught me so much about quilting in general. We became good friends and did so many things together: went fabric shopping together, sewed together at her house, read quilting magazines together, joined quilt guilds together, went to the International Quilt Festival in Houston together, and even went on a "quilting cruise" in the Caribbean together. I made my very first large quilt at her house, from beginning to end. I credit her for teaching me everything concerning fabric selection and color choices, pressing fabric, piecing, and machine embroidery. Thanks so much, Beth!
—Patricia Wall on December 6, 2012I have built miniatures and done alot of embroidery for years and when I finished 5 tractor blocks I had embroidered I asked my mother (who makes quilts) to put them in a quilt for me. She told me she did not have the time to and that I should try it myself. I got mad and that was all it took! The I will show her, LOL! So I went to the fabric store and picked up some fabric, ruler, rotary cutter, thread, batting and needles and came home and tried to figure out what to do. My great grandmother and grandmother also quilted and I remember when I watched my great grandma sew by hand and it all came back to me. Being in a wheelchair and not able to work because of meds I sat there looking at the fabric and just began cutting and piecing the top together. I then put the back together because I decided I wanted it to be used either way and then began quilting it all by hand! I loved the calming effect and the creative outlet I just started and after the first lap quilt took me 6 months I was hooked on doing my next and the next and, etc.! I have made 7 lap quilts in the last two and a half years and I will probably never use a sewing machine but I definitely love the outcome of the completely hand sewn quilts!
—Jody on December 6, 2012Still thanking my daughters best friend for leaving a craft magazine here that was in 1980. I looked at the fan block and said well I can sew I should be able to do that. Sense that time I have tried every
—Darlene Joyner on December 6, 2012thing related to quilting. some did not turn out so great but were used as window coverings in the granddaughters play house or table clothes for tea parties with her little friends.Now I do a lot of
charty work for seniors and The American Hero Quilt project. Along the way classes from those in the know helped and I am still learning.
Merry Christmas
I’m happy that I agreed to try a quilt at my mother’s suggestion. This was a first step to becoming an avid quilter. Thanks Mom!
—MarciaW on December 6, 2012The one step of my creative journey that I am glad I took, was asking my grandmother to teach me to knit. I spent a summer with my grandmother when I was 10 and I was intrigued with the speed and ease that she displayed while knitting, of course the fact that she made some beautiful items while doing it as well aided in my intrigue. She was more than happy to show me how to cast on, knit and purl and bind off. Years later when I was in my early 20′s I saw a Shawl/wrap in a magazine that I wanted to make for my mother, and using those basic stitches that my grandmother taught me, and a knitting book for the rest, I was able to create a very lovely Christmas gift for my mother. I am in my 40′s now, and just recently my mother asked me if I still had the pattern for that particular wrap as she has treasured it so much, that wear and tear have set in and she really would like another one so her current one can be retired. Unfortunately I have searched but have been unable to find that pattern; I still revel in the fact that my mom truly loved a gift I "made" for her.
—Marie Tipton on December 6, 201230 years ago I was a 28 year old stay at home Mom with 2 little ones who wanted some big quilt square covers on floor pillows….I knew nothing and money was tight. I went to Ben Franklin and bought what I thought I needed. They turned out great! No pattern, no quilt police and no experience, just a vision. I now know that I made Ohio stars, instinctively bought cotton(although there was very little to be had, only calicoes) and drew what I wanted on graph paper. It was wonderful and I wish sometimes I could get the part of me that was so naive back. The journey has never stopped and today enjoy all the aspects of quiltmaking, including hoarding of fabric!
—Deb Praus on December 6, 2012I am glad I finally started to let my artistic talents come out. I quit worrying about what others feal is "in".
—teresa on December 6, 2012The most important decision I made in my artistic journey was to just do it. Let go of all the rules and explore what I could do and play. It’s an easy step……when you are ready. And it opens up vistas of creative inspiration, so much so that my ideas books are full of so much stuff to do, I will have to live to 100 to do them all.
—Vicki Miller on December 7, 2012The artistic decision I’ve consistently made is to use all products and ideas that will speed up the quilting making process. I often create my own patterns which speeds up everything when I’m not tied to figuring out quilt pattern instructions. I do lots of applique which is quicker than piecing. And my best tool, is double sided fusible web.
—Debbie Wolgemuth on December 7, 2012When I started quilting I hardly knew what the techniques were about. I
—Diane Wright on December 7, 2012really thought it was just a bunch of patches sewn together in a pleasing pattern. And then, I found applique. I love it. I mostly use it to
finish up a border on a scrappy quilt or a medallion for a sampler quilt.
Thanks for the opportunity to win one of your wonderful books.
I treated myself to a long arm quilting machine and frame, when we retired and moved to a new home several years ago. I’ve always enjoyed piecing and making quilt tops and was frustrated at the limits imposed by machine quilting on my sewing machine. Now, I have the opportunity to bring a whole new dimension to my finished quilts – well beyond my usual meandering across the quilt top. It’s also helped me connect creatively with a daughter who pieces modern quilt tops and now sends them to me to quilt – negative space is a challenge but one I now feel up to tackling. There is much for me to learn yet but that’s part of the journey.
—Colleen on December 7, 2012Having sewn for as long as I can remember, about 5 years after I started quilting, I decided there were NO RULES as long I used sound stitching so that the quilt would stay together. So, I started changing what I didn’t like about a pattern & "flew by the seat of my pants". Making color changes on the fly, not having all the fabric when I started so that I would have to use my stash, quilting as I appliqued, and so on. There have been times when after auditioning fabrics, I would do a little dance around the table when I found the right one! So much joy!
—Sharon on December 7, 2012I was attending an art fair with my two young sons (4 and 6) many years ago. We stopped at a tent were a weaver was demonstrating her craft. I explained the process to my boys.
The weaver asked me if I was a weaver and I said no. I only had a little experience with sewing. She then invited me to visit her weaving class. I did and signed up for the class.
Weaving lead me to spinning, raising fiber animals, and knitting. Recently I retired the farm and picked up sewing again. I met some really nice quilters who invited me to learn to quilt.
And the journey continues……
—Janet on December 7, 2012When I could no longer do any sewing by hand (I’d done embroidery, crewel, knitting, needlepoint, counted Xstitch for years) and was having withdrawal symtoms, my daughter suggested I try quilting. After all, I could still use a sewing machine. I was instantly addicted!
Since then, most of my family and friends have received quilts or small projects I’ve made. I also make quilts for Project Linus.
She has been a huge help to me over the years, explaining how to do something, doing math for me when I want to design my own, listening to me whine when I get frustrated–all-in-all she’s been a wonderful support system for me. Thank you Tammy.
—Joanne Scott on December 7, 2012I guess I could say that the real journey started after inheriting quilts that my grandmother had made. They are gorgeous (all done in the ’30′s materials) but were in need of repair in many areas. As I began to repair and replace several 2″ squares in the one, I realized what a work of art this quilt was as well as being used for a very practical purpose, plainly for warmth. Each square told it’s own story, I’m sure, of where it came from and what it had been used for. Several were put together with 2 materials and yet ended up that 2″ square. Frugal? No. Out of need! They had so little when my mother, and her 2 siblings, were small children. I’ve loved quilts and quilting ever since. I just completed a crazy quilt using material scraps that I’ve accumulated over many years of sewing. It was the first quilt made for my husband and myself. Now, like my grandmother, I can look at each square and remember. I love quilting.
—Susan Berberich on December 8, 2012just getting started & realizing there’s no right or wrong but some ways are better than others
—linda on December 8, 2012My mother asked me to join her at her quilting class after I had torn my ACL. I agreed to go thinking she would then get off my a– . Little did I know what an addiction quilting would become for me and I get to hang out with my best friend, my mom. Thanks, mom, for starting me on this journey.
—Beth H on December 8, 2012The best step I took was to sign up for a block of the month club that used fabric I didn’t think I’d like: batiks. I was a new quilter and I was drawn to the traditional fabrics in soft shades and patterns. Batiks seemed too garish to me. But I wanted more chances to practice my piecing technique, and monthly block programs were very good at forcing regular practice. Well, I finished the blocks and it was one of the first quilts I finished. It is beautiful and now I love batiks.
—Kerrie on December 8, 2012The most liberating thing was my design wall. I live where it was a struggle to put one together but a good friend made the wooden slats that run through the channel at the top and the bottom of a fabric similar to polar fleece, used here for blankets and it hangs against the wall on two very strong hooks and measures 7 feet across by 6 feet down.
—Juliet Wood on December 9, 2012I have trouble "seeing" what would look good and where to place colours but now it is so much easier and so much fun. I thought because my quilting is a hobby I didn’t need what seemed to me like a very professional serious tool, that it was "over the top"! For the first time without asking for any help I made a wall quilt using charm squares and I really enjoyed it instead of agonizing over how to arrange blocks/colour etc. I am more confident, have a lot more fun and get better results. I have bought many bits of kit but this has turned out to be my best tool!