Quilting

My darling Mom is a talented seamstress and I remember many evenings she would sit in the living room by lamplight, mending or hemming someone else's pants.  Or she'd be sitting at the sewing machine, easing in a new seam.  Although I didn't take a great interest in her work at the time, I instinctively knew she was very good at it and didn't charge nearly enough!

Both of my grandmothers sewed clothing and made quilts.  My maternal grandmother's quilts were more of the utility style, but she did have eleven children and the quilts have endured the years of use.  I actually have two of them that my Mom handed down to me - both are randomly pieced and still being used.  One is heavy with a top of wools and a blanket batting, tied with yarn.  The other is light and quilted in straight lines.  I use it frequently on the couch for cool evenings.

My paternal grandmother was also a thrifty homemaker and I am so very fortunate to have her treadle sewing machine in my home.  She had four children and thirteen grandchildren and as I understand it, she made a quilt for each of her grandchildren.  Being the baby of the baby, I don't recall seeing her work at the treadle much, but I certainly remember her quick smile and wonderful laugh.

When I was in high school, I decided that I wanted to make a quilt for my parents for their anniversary. Our neighbor, Donna, offered to teach me and help me keep it a surprise.  She took me to the local Walmart and we chose a multi-color print and matching solids.  The pattern was Trip Around the World and we followed Eleanor Burns' book, laying out little snippets of each fabric in order on paper, which, by the way, I still have.  I remember being amazed at the long chains of fabric that I could "unsew" at specific points and then sew to each other, watching as the pattern emerged with each long seam.  Donna was an excellent teacher and made sure that I learned how to manage a consistent seam and if it wasn't right, I took it back out!  

Her sewing room was a small square, crammed with machines and file cabinets full of patterns and designs.   We laughed together and listened to old radio shows and she set me off properly on this quilting journey.

Along the way, I have met some terrific people and been blessed with wonderful friendships.  I've participated in swaps and exchanges, taken classes and attended lectures, sewed alongside familiar and new faces alike.  And while some memories are not as sweet as others, the good far outnumbers the bad.  

I am who I am now because of where I've been.  So, thank you to all those quilters who have crossed my path and taught me more about myself.  Not just how to properly sew a 1/4" seam or the importance of pressing, but those who have shown me what true friendship can be.  

Quilting Friends - November 2017