My Quilting Style

I started this blog so I would have a place to write about and showcase my quilts. I also wanted to chronicle their development, what I have learned through making them, and how I have developed as a quilter. I also wanted a place to put my quilting pictures where someone would actually see them.

I wouldn't consider myself a modern quilter except that I use a machine for almost everything. I have been to quilt shows, most notably the one held every year in Paducah, KY, and see all the modern styles, trapunto, etc. Those really aren't for me. I would consider myself a traditional quilter, probably because those are the quilts I was exposed to as a child. My grandmother was born in 1907. She married my grandfather in 1922, and they had 14 children during their marriage. Much of her quilting came from her need to have enough covers for her family, and she always did. The quilts of Gee's Bend, AL, remind me of my grandmother's quilts sometimes. They are conglomerations of whatever materials were around the house and were put together in whatever way worked. In the end, they made their own unique works of art.

My favorite quilts to make are traditional block patterns and scrappy quilts. I don't care much about using glittery thread, beads, and the newest designer patterns and fabric. I think a quilt is more about how you put together colors and what it means to you than it is about being trendy. I do enjoy paper piecing though. It's great for making complex patterns. In my family, the Shoofly pattern has a lot of sentimental value. My grandma liked it, and my mom made me a Shoofly quilt when I was little. She sewed it on the machine & quilted it by hand. I used it until it wore out. It was my special quilt, and I loved it. I spent many years sleeping under it, putting it under a tree to lie on while I read during the summers, and looking at how my mom put together the colors.

My family always encouraged me to learn quilting. I played at hand quilting, but I never really had time. I am 43 now and have no children. I have a moderately successful career and have the time and disposable income to quilt now. My best purchase recently was a Singer quilter's machine with all the quilting accessories, pre-programmed stitches, etc. It makes my quilting so much easier than my old machine. I have a bunch of fabric stash in my dining room, and I sit in there and work on my quilts. It's good time to relax and think. I have made a couple of quilt tops, but haven't finished a full quilt yet. I suppose I am a little afraid of messing up during the quilting process. Also, I am too excited about making new tops to finish up what I consider the less exciting part.

I love fabric and putting together colors. I have learned a great deal by being in Victoriana Quilters. It's an online quilting group owned by a Canadian designer, Benita Skinner. I think they do a lot more hand quilting, but I'd never get anything done if I did that. I would like to do some hand appplique if I ever get time.