(Cross-Post)
In case there was any doubt - toddlers and quilting don't mix.
This doesn't mean I'm giving up already, it just means that I'm already anticipating the problems and finding solutions (like the Super-Mommy I am ;) Well, thinking of finding solutions - none found as of yet.
Sitting down at the sewing machine last night, I had a flood of memories. A FLOOD as in "I actually wound up in tears."
Back when I was taking all of these classes and quilting so much, I wasn't a Mom. In fact, it hadn't been all that long since we'd found out about our whole "No Babies" status. It was the time somewhere after the debilitating depression days and just at the beginning of the hobby-and-travel escapism days.
I had an office just off the living room, with my computer and my sewing desk. I didn't have to pick things up at night, or after nap time, because there were no little hands to drop the magnetic pin cushion or figure out how to slide the rotary cutter open on his first try. It was my command center, and it was all MY space. I could sit there for hours at the sewing machine and lose myself in the order and the symmetry, the math and the rules. I think I liked it so much because it was something I could control. Cutting, stitching, pressing - creating something beautiful out of these little pieces of fabric was actually something I could *DO* - and a substitute, for a little while, of what I couldn't. And it was fun, too.
These days - instead of an office, I have a den/playroom that is N's space. Sometimes, I get to watch tv in there, but mostly it's just Sesame Street. I don't get to sew in there. Instead, I'm at the dining room table. I most definitely have to pick up the needles and scissors and rotary cutters when I am done. And I don't have the luxury of sitting there for hours at the sewing machine and getting lost - my time is limited.
I bet you think I'm going to launch into a trite-but-sweet sentence or two about preferring things this way. Well, yes, of course I do - but what I've really been thinking about last night and this morning is that I have to remember that it's okay to pursue these other things I love, too. I've missed quilting. Somehow, for some reason, it's the art form that speaks to me and satisfies a part of my soul. I'm thankful I found it when I did, that it helped me pass the time until I was meant to become a Mom. In the grand scheme of things, I think N will be better served by a Mommy who has her soul fed by her passions occasionally than by a Mommy who forgets about all of the things that make her, well, her.
Now - off to design a toddler-proof sewing basket.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A Quilting Glossary
I found this great glossary of quilting terms, apparently out of Australia. There are a lot of glossary listings out there - but this one seemed the easiest to navigate. If you're ever not sure of a term, this is a great site to bookmark and use as a reference.
Australian Craft Wiki Quilting Glossary
I particularly like their definition of UFOs (which is how I started this whole blog):
"UFO Shorthand for UnFinished Object. A project you started but have not finished yet. Doesn’t count if it’s just an idea on your mind or a pattern on paper. Some people tend to attract UFOs, and some repel. Most quilters have at least a couple. UFOs are a NON-GUILT-ITEM. You are obviously letting them age (like fine wine) while your creative mind is developing other projects."
Australian Craft Wiki Quilting Glossary
I particularly like their definition of UFOs (which is how I started this whole blog):
"UFO Shorthand for UnFinished Object. A project you started but have not finished yet. Doesn’t count if it’s just an idea on your mind or a pattern on paper. Some people tend to attract UFOs, and some repel. Most quilters have at least a couple. UFOs are a NON-GUILT-ITEM. You are obviously letting them age (like fine wine) while your creative mind is developing other projects."
Monday, January 18, 2010
Strip Sets and the Shape Cut Ruler
The pattern I chose for the Christmas quilt utilizes "strip sets" in the construction of the blocks. It's a great pattern for not-so-experienced quilters - you simply cut your fabric into strips, sew the long strips together, cut those strips into pieces (sets) and then sew those together. Without the need for any complicated techniques, you have several completed blocks. If you can manage to sew two strips of fabric together, you can make this quilt.
These directions for making the Nine Patch Block shows you what I'm talking about. A typical beginning quilt is the Rail Fence quilt, which is an exclusively strip set-constructed (or strip pieced) quilt.
The pattern I used - Harvest Patch - is constructed of strip sets that are off-set (at an angle) and then paired with triangles in the corners to create a square.
First, here is a sample of a strip set - and the piece cut from the strip:
Here you can see how each of the pieces cut from the strip had a cream triangle added to each end. At an angle, they create the block:
The two red fabrics were one strip set, the triple-green in the first photo was another, and the third strip set was the cream fabric with the green on either side.
One of my absolutely favorite tools is a cutting ruler called the Shape Cut Ruler by June Tailor. There are lots of other things you can do with these rulers, but if the only thing it ever did was make strip piecing so easy, it would still be worth it. Basically, it's a ruler that is a mat with slots at 1/2" or 1/4" intervals. When you lay it over your fabric, you slide your rotary cutter into each slot, cutting your fabric into strips.
What this really means is this: you have a long piece of fabric, and you need to cut it into six 3 1/2" pieces. You can lay the Shape Cut ruler over your fabric and cut all five of the pieces at once. (It's only an 18 inch ruler, so the sixth is done on its own.) You start with your rotary blade at "0" - then cut at the 3 1/2" mark, the 7" mark, 10 1/2" and 14" and 17 1/2" - and you have five of the six pieces you need. (Tip: until you get used to doing the math quickly, it's very helpful to write down the points where you'll need to cut.) In a very, very short amount of time, you've got all of your pieces - and you haven't had to move your fabric, so your edges should still be squared.
Here's what it did for cutting my border strips:
Just like that - five of the six border strips I needed from this fabric!
These directions for making the Nine Patch Block shows you what I'm talking about. A typical beginning quilt is the Rail Fence quilt, which is an exclusively strip set-constructed (or strip pieced) quilt.
The pattern I used - Harvest Patch - is constructed of strip sets that are off-set (at an angle) and then paired with triangles in the corners to create a square.
First, here is a sample of a strip set - and the piece cut from the strip:
Here you can see how each of the pieces cut from the strip had a cream triangle added to each end. At an angle, they create the block:
The two red fabrics were one strip set, the triple-green in the first photo was another, and the third strip set was the cream fabric with the green on either side.One of my absolutely favorite tools is a cutting ruler called the Shape Cut Ruler by June Tailor. There are lots of other things you can do with these rulers, but if the only thing it ever did was make strip piecing so easy, it would still be worth it. Basically, it's a ruler that is a mat with slots at 1/2" or 1/4" intervals. When you lay it over your fabric, you slide your rotary cutter into each slot, cutting your fabric into strips.
What this really means is this: you have a long piece of fabric, and you need to cut it into six 3 1/2" pieces. You can lay the Shape Cut ruler over your fabric and cut all five of the pieces at once. (It's only an 18 inch ruler, so the sixth is done on its own.) You start with your rotary blade at "0" - then cut at the 3 1/2" mark, the 7" mark, 10 1/2" and 14" and 17 1/2" - and you have five of the six pieces you need. (Tip: until you get used to doing the math quickly, it's very helpful to write down the points where you'll need to cut.) In a very, very short amount of time, you've got all of your pieces - and you haven't had to move your fabric, so your edges should still be squared.
Here's what it did for cutting my border strips:
Just like that - five of the six border strips I needed from this fabric!
Monday, January 11, 2010
January's Project - The Christmas Quilt
This was the last project I worked on before we moved from New York, and I stopped quilting. It's also notable as one of the projects that I worked on solo - not as part of a quilting class.
It started with the fabric. I fell in love with this collection of fabric, and purchased some of just about the whole line in 2003 and 2004. It's called "Holidays in Paris" by Dena & Friends for In the Beginning Fabrics. I had traveled to Paris in 2002, and was still sporting my in-love-with-Paris glow. I had been searching for some Christmas fabrics, because I wanted to make a specifically Christmas quilt to replace the one that normally hung in my dining room, just for the holidays. (I'm one of those people who takes down the year-round wall decorations to hang up Christmas decorations.) The plan was to make the quilt - and perhaps a table runner and other accessories, and this would be the Christmas theme for my dining room. Seven years later - I no longer have the quilt in my dining room, it's in my foyer - so this will eventually be the "theme" for my foyer.
The fabrics themselves are just beautiful. I love the shade of green and red - they are decidedly, un-apologetically Christmas Red and Christmas Green. Running throughout each different design is a somewhat muted metallic gold. And - just to make my heart happy - there is an Eiffel Tower themed fabric, too. Here is the complete selection of what I have:
My first task was finding a pattern that would work well. I started with Thimbleberries - and that's exactly where I found it - in a book called Collection of Classic Quilts by Lynette Jensen.
The "Harvest Patch" quilt's description says "For stunning results, small touches of repeated color provide greater impact for a a collection of multi-colored prints that combine simple shapes into one unified block." It was exactly what I was trying to accomplish: highlight the fabric collection, while keeping a unified look.
I started by editing out some of the fabrics, creating a "story board" and matching up my fabrics to the fabrics listed in the pattern (I usually number them, then write the number in the pattern next to the fabric I'm replacing with my own.)
My story board:
As of January 2010, here is the status of this project:
Five of Twelve complete blocks.
Seven of Twelve incomplete blocks.
The center of each block is an Eiffel Tower fabric piece. I fussy cut (cut them deliberately to show the piece of fabric I wanted to showcase.) to have six that say "Joyeaux Noel" and the other six are a combination of "Paris," "Bienvenue," "Eiffel Tower," and "Mon Ami."
I chose a lattice fabric that needed an extremely precise cut - it was a plaid that wasn't perfectly straight. This is where it stopped me last time. Several times over the years, I had pulled it out - set it up to cut - rotary cutter in hand - and stopped for fear I would waste the whole amount of fabric.
Border fabrics are chosen, but not cut.
So, basically, a couple of blocks and a big stack of fabric next to it:
My goal for this month is to finish the quilt top. I know, I know - that's not a finished project. Well, I'm splitting this one into two parts.
I have good reasons! The piecing is my favorite part. The rest of it - the quilting, binding, etc. - ehh, not so much. I need to get my feet wet again, remember the part I love and do a little refresher for myself. The way this quilt is constructed (strip sets, which I'll talk more about later) is easy and straightforward, with great results.
And the other good reason is that the project I originally chose as my first has already given me a blister, so I'm going to need to work on it a little slower.
It started with the fabric. I fell in love with this collection of fabric, and purchased some of just about the whole line in 2003 and 2004. It's called "Holidays in Paris" by Dena & Friends for In the Beginning Fabrics. I had traveled to Paris in 2002, and was still sporting my in-love-with-Paris glow. I had been searching for some Christmas fabrics, because I wanted to make a specifically Christmas quilt to replace the one that normally hung in my dining room, just for the holidays. (I'm one of those people who takes down the year-round wall decorations to hang up Christmas decorations.) The plan was to make the quilt - and perhaps a table runner and other accessories, and this would be the Christmas theme for my dining room. Seven years later - I no longer have the quilt in my dining room, it's in my foyer - so this will eventually be the "theme" for my foyer.
The fabrics themselves are just beautiful. I love the shade of green and red - they are decidedly, un-apologetically Christmas Red and Christmas Green. Running throughout each different design is a somewhat muted metallic gold. And - just to make my heart happy - there is an Eiffel Tower themed fabric, too. Here is the complete selection of what I have:
My first task was finding a pattern that would work well. I started with Thimbleberries - and that's exactly where I found it - in a book called Collection of Classic Quilts by Lynette Jensen.
The "Harvest Patch" quilt's description says "For stunning results, small touches of repeated color provide greater impact for a a collection of multi-colored prints that combine simple shapes into one unified block." It was exactly what I was trying to accomplish: highlight the fabric collection, while keeping a unified look.
I started by editing out some of the fabrics, creating a "story board" and matching up my fabrics to the fabrics listed in the pattern (I usually number them, then write the number in the pattern next to the fabric I'm replacing with my own.)
My story board:
As of January 2010, here is the status of this project:
Five of Twelve complete blocks.
Seven of Twelve incomplete blocks.
The center of each block is an Eiffel Tower fabric piece. I fussy cut (cut them deliberately to show the piece of fabric I wanted to showcase.) to have six that say "Joyeaux Noel" and the other six are a combination of "Paris," "Bienvenue," "Eiffel Tower," and "Mon Ami."
I chose a lattice fabric that needed an extremely precise cut - it was a plaid that wasn't perfectly straight. This is where it stopped me last time. Several times over the years, I had pulled it out - set it up to cut - rotary cutter in hand - and stopped for fear I would waste the whole amount of fabric.
Border fabrics are chosen, but not cut.
So, basically, a couple of blocks and a big stack of fabric next to it:
My goal for this month is to finish the quilt top. I know, I know - that's not a finished project. Well, I'm splitting this one into two parts.
I have good reasons! The piecing is my favorite part. The rest of it - the quilting, binding, etc. - ehh, not so much. I need to get my feet wet again, remember the part I love and do a little refresher for myself. The way this quilt is constructed (strip sets, which I'll talk more about later) is easy and straightforward, with great results.
And the other good reason is that the project I originally chose as my first has already given me a blister, so I'm going to need to work on it a little slower.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Putting Myself on a Schedule
Yes - I actually have been quilting.
And thinking about what I want to write about quilting.
So, I've come up with a schedule.
The first week of each month (obviously, have to skip January) will be my "Show and Tell" in which I show off my complete project from the month before.
The second week is an introduction to the project for the current month. The idea here is that I've already been working on it, so I've got something to say ;)
The third week is where I highlight some of the really cool tools and gadgets that are out there - and that I own. Sounds like a great excuse to buy more stuff eventually, right?
The fourth week will be sort of a miscellaneous "what I'm thinking about in quilting this month." A little history (there's a rich history), links to free patterns, random thoughts. Who knows?
And thinking about what I want to write about quilting.
So, I've come up with a schedule.
The first week of each month (obviously, have to skip January) will be my "Show and Tell" in which I show off my complete project from the month before.
The second week is an introduction to the project for the current month. The idea here is that I've already been working on it, so I've got something to say ;)
The third week is where I highlight some of the really cool tools and gadgets that are out there - and that I own. Sounds like a great excuse to buy more stuff eventually, right?
The fourth week will be sort of a miscellaneous "what I'm thinking about in quilting this month." A little history (there's a rich history), links to free patterns, random thoughts. Who knows?
Saturday, January 9, 2010
It was like the best Christmas EVER!
I just went through all of my quilting supplies for the first time in over four years, and ...
Wow.
I've got some great quilting stuff.
It was like seeing it all for the first time, but knowing how to use it already.
I've gone through everything - organized - gotten the projects lined up - drooled over some of my tools and fabric stashes - and now I'm ready to get to work!
Wow.
I've got some great quilting stuff.
It was like seeing it all for the first time, but knowing how to use it already.
I've gone through everything - organized - gotten the projects lined up - drooled over some of my tools and fabric stashes - and now I'm ready to get to work!
Friday, January 8, 2010
The New Old-Project Project
(Cross Posted)
An off-handed comment from a friend of mine on FB has inspired me this morning. I am declaring the year 2010 (which I love saying, by the way. Try it: Twenty-ten. Twenty-ten. It's good, right?) What was I saying? Oh, right - I'm declaring the year 2010 "The Year Of Finished Projects."
Several years ago, I learned how to quilt. I took to it with a passion and an intensity that only a person with an addictive personality could master. Class after class, technique after technique. Praise from my teachers, "Such a natural!"
Then I moved. And stopped quilting altogether. I'm not even sure why. Oh - wait. Maybe it was the buying-a-house, adopting-a-baby, new-mommy, SAHM-to-a-toddler effect. And what was left - drawers of half-finished, almost finished, barely-started quilting projects. Some of these already have hours and hours of work in them, and there they sit ... in a drawer.
But, 2010 is the year I finish all of these unfinished quilting projects. Why? Because I want the satisfaction. Because I actually would like to be able to hang some of these things up in my home. Because I enjoy quilting. Because I want to be someone who finishes things. And because I spent such a ridiculous amount of money on all of this fabric and those classes and the tools, my much-more-frugal-than-I-used-to-be self can't let this craziness continue.
So, I bring to you, The Year of Finished Projects. Twelve projects. Twelve months. With before and after pictures! And a new blog for a new topic! (Well, at the moment, I have six - but that was just in one drawer, so I'm thinking I've easily got twelve.)
An off-handed comment from a friend of mine on FB has inspired me this morning. I am declaring the year 2010 (which I love saying, by the way. Try it: Twenty-ten. Twenty-ten. It's good, right?) What was I saying? Oh, right - I'm declaring the year 2010 "The Year Of Finished Projects."
Several years ago, I learned how to quilt. I took to it with a passion and an intensity that only a person with an addictive personality could master. Class after class, technique after technique. Praise from my teachers, "Such a natural!"
Then I moved. And stopped quilting altogether. I'm not even sure why. Oh - wait. Maybe it was the buying-a-house, adopting-a-baby, new-mommy, SAHM-to-a-toddler effect. And what was left - drawers of half-finished, almost finished, barely-started quilting projects. Some of these already have hours and hours of work in them, and there they sit ... in a drawer.
But, 2010 is the year I finish all of these unfinished quilting projects. Why? Because I want the satisfaction. Because I actually would like to be able to hang some of these things up in my home. Because I enjoy quilting. Because I want to be someone who finishes things. And because I spent such a ridiculous amount of money on all of this fabric and those classes and the tools, my much-more-frugal-than-I-used-to-be self can't let this craziness continue.
So, I bring to you, The Year of Finished Projects. Twelve projects. Twelve months. With before and after pictures! And a new blog for a new topic! (Well, at the moment, I have six - but that was just in one drawer, so I'm thinking I've easily got twelve.)
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