I started quilting 19 months ago. I started learning about quilting from watching Alex Anderson on Simply Quilts via HGTV during my 3rd pregnancy while on bed rest 14 years ago. I was so enthralled with how they took whole pieces of cloth in different patterns and colors, cut them into smaller pieces then reassembled them into beautiful patterns. I didn't follow through and start quilting until I moved this last time (literally)!
I promised myself as soon as I was unpacked I was searching out the local quilt store and would start with a lesson and learn the proper way from the beginning. I have been sewing since age 8, knitting since age 9, needlepoint since age 11, embroidering since age 12. I am a painter, watercolor, oils, acrylics have been my mediums, I now include silk painting and Tsukineko inks on cloth. I am self-taught. I have an extensive personal library of painting,art,drawing, piecing and quilting books. These come in handy @ 3AM when inspiration strikes and information is needed. Friends don't like telephone calls @ that hour, nor do I believe good (or usable)advice can come from sleepy groggy friends (if I wish to remain their friend). I have learned a
great deal in the past 19 months. I have taken technique classes in piecing designs, paper piecing (my new love), beginner machine quilting on domestic machines @ my
local quilt shop. I am in a private quilt group known as "The Wicked Chix". I also joined my local quilt guild Pensacola Quilters Guild recently, I highly advise this to anyone just starting out, as they have a great library of books and DVD's on quilting to check out for free to guild members and the members themselves are a fabulous resource for help and INSPIRATION! I get ideas bouncing in my brain constantly but nothing compared to seeing how someone else interpreted a pattern or color combo I was considering or quilt motif someone "made their own". Keep your eyes open for inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere. I keep a mini sketchbook in my handbag for quick notes, loose sketches, sayings (I may want to do a cross stitch pillow with a saying). On the inside cover I may write thread colors I have or need (want!), needle sizes ...basically a shopping list. I am a single mother of three beautiful daughters, 2 are grown and have families of their own, my youngest is 13 yrs old and is making her first quilt albeit slowly, she gets bored easily. She said " I thought quilting was a lot more fun since you and the other ladies get so excited doing it" LOL. Oh well, hard to explain the thrill a new book or fabric can bring on in a 40 something to a teenager of tender years. She did get excited when I said I was venturing into the world of blogging! "Cool Mom, can I write on it too?" was the response. My response was, "I doubt you would stay interested long enough to get a following". I did invite her to create her own and link it with mine if she so wishes.
Now to the quilting mentioned in the title. I had an "aha" moment while quilting yesterday. I was quilting free motion, trying to follow a needle punched design through golden paper and I couldn't see the dot-punched lines well enough, I stopped and reassessed. I tried again after drawing in the lines on the golden paper with pencil. Better but not much. It is an intricate design, tight lines and close lines, so removing the paper was a bit difficult without pulling up stitches and distorting. I was sitting their thinking and looking @ the quilt, spinning like a 5 year old in my drafting chair (great for height above machine, elbows @ the 90 degree bend for free motion quilting, allows for good control and minimizes sore shoulders) when I noticed my paper piecing paper by Carol Doak . I knew from experience it takes a design from ink jet printer without distortion or smearing of ink, it tears away easily after sewing through it without distorting stitches and I didn't have to needle punch it first! Voila! I could just tape (yes! scotch tape) it in position and quilt my inticate design and I didn't have to trace each on over and over. I just ran off 2 copies per page, cut them apart and taped them on and it was so fast and easy I finished the entire quilt in 2 hours! An intricate design in 2 hours! What a break through. I have never read or heard of anyone using this paper for quilting before. Now I feel the skies the limit. A few things I picked up along the way were to pull the quilt up onto my lap and table to "faux" quilt the design 5 or 6 times before actually quilting the motif. By this I mean put on quilting gloves and actually moving the quilt and design under the needle, following the design, but not using the "gas pedal" or needle to stitch. I just moved to get the feel of the actual design following the lines all the way around and by the 5th or 6th go around I found the drag points and adjusted the quilt and could actually stay precisely on the lines and find the speed of hand movement that worked best for me and the design before I stitched and would have to go back and take out what I did very badly. Ask me how I know that one! This "faux" quilting also allowed me to get past that initial "Oh my gosh" fear, loosen up, relax and most importantly breathe that affects us all when first starting to quilt. This is my first full size quilt that I am quilting by machine. I have smaller pieces that were easily managed due to their smaller size. This one scared me, the design scared me and the size scared me. I hope this helps anyone starting out machine quilting or adds another tid bit of knowledge into the more experienced quilters repertoir of tricks.
I have a wealth of knowledge in art to be applied to quilting and there doesn't seem to be enough time in the week to get all my ideas into works as quickly as I come up with ideas. I will be sharing a lot and gaining a lot from and with my quilter family. Quilters like artists share and give from the heart. It is why I love both so much.
Patsy Thompson, Diane Gaudinsky and Carol Doak are inspirations to me. Visit their websites for instruction and inspiration.
Nikki
Quilter at large
