Quilting: The Early Days

A long time ago, I worked with a lady who was an avid quilter. Her name was Donna and she had been widowed not long before she came to be my co-worker. I considered her to be fairly old, but at the time I was only in my late 20’s. I’m 52 as I type and I’m thinking she might have been about the age that I am now. ~sigh~

Anyway! She loved to quilt and one day I mentioned to her that I might like to try making a quilt for my little girl’s new bed. Carrie was just outgrowing her crib at the time, and while I had made a few baby quilts, I was ready to take on something larger. She was so excited at the prospect of helping me make a quilt top, and I was a ready and willing student!

 

So one Saturday afternoon I took some fabric and found my way out to her house and her kitchen table. On her table were a cutting mat, a large clear ruler, and a scary looking round-razor-cutter (a rotary blade). She showed me how to use the cutter and every time I went to put it down on the table she’d remind me, “Close your blade. Get in the habit of closing your blade as you lay it down on the table.” Over and over until I got it. I eventually got it.

We cut strips of fabric that would later be sewn on my machine at home. She walked me through the pages of the quilt top instructions, making sure I understood how the whole thing would eventually come together.

 

We drank iced tea and shared cookies, and she showed me around her sewing room. I remember feeling sad for her when it was time to leave. I was anxious to get home and start sewing, but it was clear that Donna had really enjoyed my company.

 

By Monday morning I had a completed quilt top to take to work to show my sweet friend. She was so proud I thought she would cry! The afternoon I spent leaning over Donna’s kitchen table, learning how to use her cutting tools, and coming to understand a quilting pattern would prove to have a lasting impression on me. I really wish I knew Donna’s whereabouts now – I’d write her a note and tell her so.

I’ve had many creative hobbies during my life, and somehow I always come back around to sewing. The quilt square shown in this blog post is one that I made for Alexa as part of Fiona's Friendship Quilt project.

There seems to be a quilting trend going on lately, and I’ve had a couple of requests for some tips on how to get started. Gosh, I really wish I could just invite you over to stand at my kitchen table and use my mat, ruler, and rotary cutter! Instead I'll share a couple of tips and a few links and I hope these prove helpful for those of you who have asked.

♥

Invest in the right tools:

If you're going to be quilting, I highly recommend that you just go ahead and invest in a large clear ruler, a cutting mat, and a rotary cutter. Besides enabling you to cut with precision  - which is very important when piecing a quilt - using a ruler and rotary cutter makes the cutting process go so much quicker! Here's a video that shows how to use them. {And be sure to close the blade of the rotary cutter before you put it down!}

 

Use Google.

I searched "Tips for Beginning Quilters" and found a link to this blog that looks really helpful.

 

Search for free patterns and tutorials.

The quilt that I made with my friend, Donna, was a Double Irish Chain. I searched for a free pattern and found one here.

 

Find quilting blogs and add them to your reader list.

I found Bee in my Bonnet blog through my local scrapbook/quilty friend Jean and I love her colorful projects! If you have any quilting blogs that you enjoy please share them in the comments.

 

Ask for help.

Your local fabric store or quilt shop should have resources available to assist you. Some of our local stores even offer quilting classes which I think is a great idea.

 

Make the commitment and take the plunge.

Making a quilt is a bit of a commitment, but it’s totally doable if you set your mind to it. It also really helps if you have the right tools! 

And as with any other hobby, practice makes perfect.
Practice sewing a straight line - it will come! Practice cutting straight pieces, and pressing your seams. Practice asking for help and putting advice into action. Practice. Practice. Practice.

♥