How many of you remember
the days of quilt making before
rotary cutters/rulers/stencil cutting machines
when we cut out a template shape
from
a cracker or cereal box cardboard
trying to draw as accurately as possible
with a ruler and pencil?
Then oh so accurately cutting that
template with scissors.
Finally, with a pencil or ink pen
the template was traced around
on fabric.
Then ever so closely we tried to
cut them out of the fabric
with the best scissors we could find.
I could NEVER get them to go
together accurately.
Who knew how much I added with a pencil line
depending on which side of the line I cut?
I first started out by stitching by hand
because grand mothers and aunts
made me feel like it was sacrilege to
stitch together the pieces by machine.
Took me probably 20 years
to get to the point to do it MY way.
I think I've only completed one quilt totally by hand.
Funny, now today, I'm trying my best,
and really enjoying it,
to put these hexies that Kathy gave me
together by hand.
I've yet to determine if I will hand quilt.
It will depend on the time I have left to
enter into the March quilt show.
I would like to try to hand quilt.
We'll see.
btw, I'll probably remember this quilt as the
"Gunsmoke Quilt"
because I'm stitching on it as I watch the
Gunsmoke episodes on Pluto.
I average adding1 flower every half hour.
A great project when its too hot to be upstairs
in the sewing nest.
I'm enjoying making more memories
stitching these flowers together.
The stitches or seams on each one are not the same
which leads me to think more than one person
made them.
I tend to think a combination of adults and children?
Which brings another memory to mind.
My Dad said his mother had all 7 of him and his
brothers and sisters
piecing together quilts in the winter
to keep them out of trouble.
The pieces were cut from worn out clothes,
table clothes, feed sacks and other used fabrics.
Absolutely no yardage was EVER bought then
My favourite quilts are still the scrappy ones like my grandma's used to make. Each quilt told a story within the fabrics and I think that's what I liked so much.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at my mother's quilts and pointing out dresses I once wore, fabrics I gave her, etc. I used to bring her exposed xray film that she used for templates. 92 and she still quilts by hand, tho she does piece the blocks on her machine.
ReplyDeleteXRay film for templates! How interesting! 92! I truly believe because it gives us purpose, quilting helps us live longer.
DeleteI made my first hexies like that... but didn't know what to do with them once I was done, so I think they ended up at the thrift store, lol!! xx
ReplyDelete