My great – great grandmother was a master quilter, and that one quilt lives on today with me. I, too, decided to try my hand at quilting, and boy did I learn some hilarious lessons along the way.
I signed up for a quilting class because I loved quilts and had attended some estate auctions in Burlington, Iowa and I couldn’t afford any.(1980’s) I had sewn my own clothes for years and I am pretty good with directions.
Now, I’m not one to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty crafty. I’ve tackled painting, crochet, and embroidery with relative ease. Always purchasing the worse house in the best area.
Quilting, however, was a whole different ballgame. I mean, how hard could it be to sew a bunch of squares together? Very, it turns out. I spent hours measuring, marking(in the days before a cutter and mat), cutting, and sewing, only to discover that my seams were wonky, my corners uneven, and my quilt resembled something a drunk toddler might produce. After multiple seam rips and profanity-laden outbursts, I finally managed to sew together a passable quilt top. Or I thought.
Frist thing learned, choose Your Fabric Carefully. If there’s one thing I learned from my quilt making experiment, it’s that not all fabric is created equal. I have made the mistake of using cheap, flimsy cotton on a quilt, and boy did I regret it. The fabric pulled, puckered, and frayed at the slightest touch. Lesson learned: always invest in high-quality 100% cotton and my rule is purchase at the price you can afford. Your future self will thank you.
I started my quilt with a clear vision of what I wanted it to look like: it was a class we all came with square cut and share. Yes, I took a class with VERY seasoned quilters and they were terrible in their not welcoming someone new. But I had paid the fee, it was a national teacher, I was young and dumb, I had a babysitter for the day and was determined to learn to quilt.
And…it was pretty good, if I do say so. Well…I thought, I am not giving up and attended 3 weeks later a quilt guild meeting. Not knowing that corner should be square, my were curved, I hand quilted with huge stitches and laughed at, because my binding was quilted down. See my Quilt Here I was crushed, but I made a quilt, my quilt may not have been a work of art, but it was cozy and functional, and that was enough. And, I still use it to this day. I think of those days, not with found memories but with look what I do now !
Despite my initial struggles, I found myself drawn to quilting like a moth to a flame. There was something therapeutic about the rhythmic, repetitive motions of cutting, sewing, and pressing. I find myself lost in a sea of colors and patterns, my worries and stress melting away.
Whenever I wrap myself up in one of my handmade quilts, I’m reminded the time, the cutting the sewing the pieces of fabric to create something beautiful
So, if you’re feeling like a quilt, get one of my pattern books, grab some fabric, thread, and a sense of humor, and join me in the wacky, wonderful world of quilting. Who knows what hilarious lessons you’ll learn along the way! I love things with a beginning, middle and end.
Make my two inch by two inch quilt block
quilt block pattern is here for you.
Read about All of Beth Ann’s Books
Beth Ann is a Quilter and an Author
who decided to self-publish her books and quilt pattern books
SEE Beth Ann’s BOOKS on Amazon and
PDF download quilt patterns on Etsy
www.bethanndoing.com
www.thequiltladies.com
I wanted this/my quilt to be both pieced and applique. At the time of making it I needed a hand applique project to take with me. Sewing all the units as in the quilt pattern and taking the leave blocks along in my bag, hand work as always with me. Included in the quilt pattern is hand appliques instructions, I needle turn my applique and how to use fusible web as your way to add leaves.
