How many quilters among us?

[JaneE]

So as not to hijack Chicago's thread showing her beautiful quilt, figured I'd ask the question: how many among us are also quilters (and for how long?)? Have any pictures to share?

I've been quilting since 1977. Yeah. A long time. ;)

How about you? :)

[Blueberry]

Not a quilter, but a knitter and crocheter. But - wanted to say that your quilts are beautiful!

(slight hijack - anyone else on ravelry?)

[chicago]

oh my gosh... those are beautiful!! You must have done alot of sewing since 1977!!!, good job!!

Here's my 2nd quilt... squares. It was easy and fun... something I threw together on a boring Friday night, LOL:D.... and as you can see... my cat likes it too:D

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l143/pigfinn/IMG_0425-1.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l143/pigfinn/IMG_0427-1.jpg

I don't have a pic of my first quilt... I'm still looking:rolleyes:

[Irulan]

Me three.
I am an anomaly in the world of quilting, I only do one project at a time...

feathered star sampler:
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/images/feathstar.jpg



http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/images/superstar.jpg

there's kind of a story behind this one, I did four of the blocks and that is Alex Anderson with me:

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/images/IMG_2655sm.jpg

[Irulan]

oh, for how long? MIL who was a master, taught me about 22 years ago. I'm not terribly prolific. Jane, do you hand quilt yours?

[gingerale]

I've been quilting since 1999. Here's some of what I've done:

Quilt Diva:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/cawife/MyQuiltDiva.jpg
Niece's bday quilt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/cawife/Katies4thbdayquilt001.jpg
Son's birthday party quilt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/cawife/Gavins8thbdaypartyquilt.jpg
Quilts of Valor quilt I donated:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/cawife/IMG_1662.jpg
My favorites:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/cawife/Myquilts.jpg

[salsabike]

Oh, I love this! Please keep posting. I am a weaver, knitter and crocheter, but can't sew for beans. But I love quilts and even joined the Contemporary Quilt Association here, because they have such great programs and do such beautiful work.

The stuff you've all posted so far is spectacular.

[JaneE]

oh, for how long? MIL who was a master, taught me about 22 years ago. I'm not terribly prolific. Jane, do you hand quilt yours?

Wow! Some beautiful quilts pictured here!

Chicago, LOVE your rag quilt (that's what it's called, right, with the "fluffy" edges?)! :)

Irulan, your work is lovely! My closest encounter with Alex Anderson was seeing her a few years ago in Houston at their big show in November. She was shopping the vendors just like a tourist. ;) I'll be attending an Alex Anderson/Ricky Tims seminar next month, which I'm very excited about! :D

Yes, I mainly hand-quilt, though if I don't start learning to machine quilt at least a little (I've taken a few classes) I'll never in my natural life finish the un-quilted tops I've accumulated! lol!

This is the closest I've come to a Baltimore Album quilt:

[gingerale]

Ya'll have some absolutely stunning quilts!

[JaneE]

Beautiful work, gingerale! :)

I'm always fascinated by the fact that two people, using the same quilt block patterns and sometimes the same fabrics (but their own imaginations) can come up with such wildly differing finished quilts. That's what really keeps me interested, for sure. :)

[GeoCam]

Wow, so gorgeous!!!

When I first saw this thread, I though it said "How many QUITTERS among us?"

[gingerale]

Thank you, Jane. But I'm such an amateur compared to you all. I've decided recently that my quilting goals are not as high as they once were. I think I'm happy with the easy to medium quilts. lol

[Irulan]

Irulan, your work is lovely! My closest encounter with Alex Anderson was seeing her a few years ago in Houston at their big show in November. She was shopping the vendors just like a tourist. I'll be attending an Alex Anderson/Ricky Tims seminar next month, which I'm very excited about!


OK, here's the story. Get out your kleenex. Like I said, MIL was a master quilter, very well known in SF area. We moved back to CA when I was pregnant with #1. Hubby was unemployed and since I couldn't afford her class, she gave me one on one lessons every week, complete with taking me to her favorite quilt stores and footing the bill. Now, her quilt group was a whos-who of quilting famous people: Alex Anderson, Diana McClun and Laura Nownes, Beatrice Stone and a few others. I actually met Alex when she was a new mom and a beginning quilter. They all knew me as the daughter in law with the first grandkid.

(pasted from my website)

Fast forward 10 years. . My mother in law, mentioned above, took on this project as a Piece de Resistance of her quilting career. The patterns for the blocks, (now out of print) were designed by Adele Ingraham, duplicating a quilt that resides in the Smithsonian. Mary Helen had very particular ideas about the fabrics and design of this quilt, and the idea was that she would do the main blocks and that members of her quilt group would do the others. I took on one simple block as my contribution. Someways into the quilt process, Mary Helen was diagnosed with colon cancer. It ultimately took her life, but she continued to work on her large, intricate blocks day in and day out until the very end.

After her death, her sister Janet, also an accomplished quilter took it over, but Janet had an untimely death from a stoke and the project came to a standstill. The quilt blocks, what were completed, ended up in a box in a California garage for a while. I had my hands full with toddlers, but I couldn't stand the thought of it not being done and went to California to retrieve everything and see what was what.

It took some detective work but I was finally able to track down the last few blocks that had not been completed and get the patterns back. I enlisted some friends of mine who applique to help me complete the last few. I either did three or four of the block. As for the rest done by MH's quilt group, they were beautiful. I was finally able to assemble the top in 2002 or so. Mary Helen had many of her group sign their blocks, and those blocks include Alex Anderson, Adele Ingraham, Bernice Stone, and other well known Bay Area quilters.

Alex Anderson came to Spokane several years ago, and I contacted her about the quilt top, to let her know the story and progress. I had met Alex briefly way back when; she was a young member of Mary Helen's quilt group that I had met in the process of bringing the grandbabies around Mary Helen's home. Anyway, Alex asked me to bring the finished top to her talk, where she and I were able to share the story of Mary Helen Schwyn as a quilt teacher, mentor, and loved one. Here is the quilt top, followed by some of my own quilts which pale in comparison. Right now, it remains a top. Mary Helen did beautiful quilting: tiny, accurate, even. There is no way I would ever attempt to do this top.

[Aggie_Ama]

Wow ladies, gorgeous! I cannot sew but I am slowly putting away pieces of fabric anyway. In my family quilts were not necessarily works of art but for warmth and necessity. My Mammaw is very carfeul to not waste anything, she was raised on a ranch through the depression and even lived in a tent the first year of her marriage, quilting was not for art in her world. Although with crocheting and knitting she is an artist.

I have a lovely quilt my Mammaw (mom's mom) found at her mother's after she has passed. The quilt is a patch work of odd fabric cut to look kind of like a double sided axe head (that is what I see anyway). My mammaw dug out her own scrap fabric and finished the quilt around the summer of 1990, a year after her mother had passed. She gave it to me because the backing was pink and I was the only grand daughter. Some of the scraps there is only one of, some there are many blocks of. I just love the personality of Mammaw and my Great Grandma Ellen coming through in the mismatched blocks. One day I will learn to sew and make a quilt of necessity and scraps. :)

[wildhawk]

Beautiful quilts everyone!! Like Aggie, I keep putting away scraps of fabric and have purchased books on quilting and various supplies. I keep thinking I Will start one someday - you all have me inspired! And they are all works of art too! My sister is the hand-quilter in our family. After my precious grandmother died my sister took three quilt-tops that Granny had started and hand finished one for each of us girls. I have mine hanging in a place of honor in my living room. Growing up in Virginia, quilts were everywhere! They hold so many memories too. Keep up the awesome work ladies!!

[shootingstar]

wow, lovely to see.

I've done simple quilt patched sewing machine pieces, no hand-quilting on top. I did sew complex, tailored clothing..this was what I did for necessity (to save wardrobe dollars) and enjoyment prior to cycling passion, but hand-quilting demands patience!

[pardes]

Wow, I thought you said, "How many quitters among us."

I guess I qualify as a quitter quilter.

I scheme and plan and buy scraps of fabric and squirrel it away and then I dream and scheme and plan and buy more scraps. I believe I am a quilter in my heart but not in reality.

Though I did finish a white eyelet crib quilt for my goddaughter. Hey, that's right! I actually did finish a quilt. Glory Be. Maybe I'll go buy a few more scraps.....

[DebG]

I am also a quilter. I love working with the fabric, and giving the quilts away as gifts. I loved the story of how you became a quilter - what a tribute to your MIL, your work is beautiful. I'm so excited to see everyones pictures. Thanks for sharing

[jillm]

I'm in!
I've only completed 1 full size, and 2 little wall hangings. Just started 2 years ago, using batik scraps I'd been saving for 10 or so years. ( I'm an artist/craftsperson, I batik clothing and material which I then sew into pillows or scarves. So 10 years of scrap batik accumulation!) Here's the 1st one I made, not a great picture, http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2861739301_6af6c460fb.jpg?v=0

And this one is just a little wall hanging
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2862579792_dff6fbb98c.jpg?v=0

I was working on the first one during an art show, and a "real" quilter stopped to check it out. I told her I didn't really know what I was doing and she said, "That's the great thing about art quilts, there are no rules!"

[JaneE]

Irulan, that was an amazing story! What a wonderful legacy your m-i-l left for you (and your children). :)

Quilting that exquisite top would certainly be a grand undertaking. As a dedicated hand-quilter my hope is that a machine needle never touches it. Have you ever tried hand-quilting? As with everything in life, no one is born with perfect knowledge/skill and practice makes improvement. :)

Your m-i-l's quilt group (she was a guild member, no doubt?) certainly reads as a quilter's who's who! :)

And yes, you are a little unusual: one project at a time?? I could use a little of that discipline! I always have at least *mumble-mumble* projects in the works at all times...keeps me from getting bored (that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :p ).

jillm, I'd say you were off to a pretty darned good start! I'm in love with batiks! :)

[bmccasland]

Pretty quilts everyone! Here's a photo of a baby quilt I made for a colleague, being held by the Mom-to-be.

7121
IMHO baby quilts should be bright and cheerful, not pastel.

I've been quilting since high school, although didn't finish a bed sized quilt until after college. I had a grandmother that was a quilter, and like her, I prefer doing the tops instead of the quilting. On larger quilts, I tend to commission the quilting part, with mixed results.

Best quilting advice from my grandmother: "When you see fabric you like, buy it. That way, when you go to work on a quilt, you'll have a nice palette to work from." This is from a woman who was a child of the Depression. She also was from the school of "waste not, want not."

She who has the most fabric wins!

[JaneE]

bmccasland: love that quilt! :) I'm in your camp, too, about baby quilts being bright rather than pastel.

[Irulan]

Irulan, that was an amazing story! What a wonderful legacy your m-i-l left for you (and your children). :)

Quilting that exquisite top would certainly be a grand undertaking. As a dedicated hand-quilter my hope is that a machine needle never touches it. Have you ever tried hand-quilting? As with everything in life, no one is born with perfect knowledge/skill and practice makes improvement. :)

Your m-i-l's quilt group (she was a guild member, no doubt?) certainly reads as a quilter's who's who! :)

And yes, you are a little unusual: one project at a time?? I could use a little of that discipline! I always have at least *mumble-mumble* projects in the works at all times...keeps me from getting bored (that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :p ).

jillm, I'd say you were off to a pretty darned good start! I'm in love with batiks! :)

I have hand quilted some small pieces of the portable variety. MIL had a hand stitch that was close to 12 per inch: unbelievably beautiful. I could never hope to duplicate it. Plus, that king size top is dauntingly huge. There's no way I'd put a king frame up in my house, there is just not enough room.

We have some incredibly talented long arm quilters in our area. I have had a few of my tops done by them. But this album quilt has to be done by hand. Or at least that is what I am thinking for now.

[JaneE]

"There's no way I'd put a king frame up in my house, there is just not enough room."

I don't have room for a king-size frame in my house, either. I quilt with a hoop and have quilted king-size quilts with it. I just start in the center and work my way around and out, typically at my kitchen table (though I do have a stand for my hoop(s) to keep the quilt off my legs. I can't stand getting all tangled up in a quilt in progress though others love to be cuddled in their quilts while they work.

Using a hoop keeps the project reasonably portable, too. I'd LOVE to have the room to keep a frame but I don't think that will be the case in my lifetime. ;)

(And 12 stitches to the inch is a reasonable and attainable goal. Just takes a little practice. :) )

[bambu101]

I have quiilted for years, and have officially "retired" from full size hand-quilted bed quilts. The last one, a double wedding ring design, took over 4 years to complete, and about 2.5 years of that was hand-quilting. Quilting is relaxing, frustrating, and creative.

I have boxes of fabric in my quilting stash, and will need to live to 274 to finish all the projects I have either started or want to work on! Last year, I made 9 blocks for a raffle quilt for the Avian Health Network, and here is the link: ( I am Wendy)

http://www.avianhealthnetwork.info/quilt08/2008_quilt_squares.html

[uk elephant]

I wouldn't call myself a quilter, but have made one proper quilt so far and a not properly quilted patchwork blanket. The pictures shows the finished blanket keeping BF warm, and the top for the quilt modelled by the cat. I never did get a picture of the finished quilt it seems. It was a gift for BFs nieces baby last year. I'd love to do more quilts, but never find the time so I stick to knitting for now. Easier to transport...on the train commuting to work, or in the pub in the evening...

[spindizzy]

Wow! Talented, creative, patient quilters among us. I am in awe.

[DebG]

I have machine quilted queen sized quilts with my regular sewing machine, and it's just too hard rolling and keeping them moving so I only do throws or baby quilts. I'm currently hand quilting a king sized quilt by hand, in a hoop, and am very much looking forward to it being done. I decided that it was time to do away with the $35 made in China Filene's quilt, and replace it with something I had done. I love the look of quilts done on a long arm quilter, but I'm never had any done that way.

[vinbek]

I am totally blown away by the talent in the group. I would love to quilt but get arthritis in my wrists when I do work like that. I am saving favorite tshirts of my kids and hope to have a few quilts made from them as memories of their childhood. I have a friend who had a quilt made for each of her children when they graduated from high school. I plan to do the same.
I have a few more years to go, but I hope you are all still around when I need you!!

[Possegal]

Wow you are all so very talented. Just gorgeous!!!

Like Pardes I thought it asked how many quitters and I was ready to humbly raise my hand!

My grandmother left an unfinished quilt to my mother in her will. Now my oldest sister has it and she has advanced cancer. She really wants to get it finished so she can leave it to my other sister and I, who have agreed to share it equally. :)

[IGGY]

I'm in!
I've only completed 1 full size, and 2 little wall hangings. Just started 2 years ago, using batik scraps I'd been saving for 10 or so years. ( I'm an artist/craftsperson, I batik clothing and material which I then sew into pillows or scarves. So 10 years of scrap batik accumulation!) Here's the 1st one I made, not a great picture, http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2861739301_6af6c460fb.jpg?v=0

And this one is just a little wall hanging
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2862579792_dff6fbb98c.jpg?v=0

I was working on the first one during an art show, and a "real" quilter stopped to check it out. I told her I didn't really know what I was doing and she said, "That's the great thing about art quilts, there are no rules!"

WHOA! You've got the gift baby! I love how you are working with large scale batik patterns here. These are incredible. YOU, my quiliting friend, need to continue, and show your work!

I'm a quilter, who is generally more of a dreamer unless the quilt has a deadline and destination (wedding, baby) I joined my local guild, and have fun with the ladies, but often my mouth yakking away gets in the way of my machine. How does that happen???? I currently have six projects going, none anywhere near completion. None of them have an expiration date!
I also dabble in knitting, crochet, and any other type of craft other than sculpting. I just don't have the supplies for that yet!

[jillm]

Iggy, will you be my girlfriend? Geez! Thanks for your words! Thank you! For me, the quilting is definitely about the batik. But that's what I do (www.hooeybatiks.com) I batik for a living. The quilting is a whole new aspect that I'm glad I've discovered.

Here's one I'm working on right now. Bad photo, but you get an idea.http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_srXK2caA8R8/SNJOB2GgS7I/AAAAAAAAAq0/5qbMQ8jfljs/s400/quilt+and+fausto.jpg

[JaneE]

But that's what I do (www.hooeybatiks.com) I batik for a living. The quilting is a whole new aspect that I'm glad I've discovered.

Wow! You make your own batiks?? That is very cool! :)

I'd love to learn a few details about what you do: Where/how did you learn to do this? What kind of work space do you have? What types of dyes do you use?

This is fascinating! :)

[jillm]

Wow! You make your own batiks?? That is very cool! :)

I'd love to learn a few details about what you do: Where/how did you learn to do this? What kind of work space do you have? What types of dyes do you use?

This is fascinating! :)

Yep. It's a LOT of fun.

Where how - In school (u of illinois) I took an art class, "recreational arts and crafts", like camp crafts. It was a sampler of all sorts of crafty little things and there was a two day session of batik and tie dye. And after that, I never stopped batiking! That was almost 20 years ago. I'm able to make a living (poor but happy!) doing art fairs and selling a few things on line (etsy.com).

Space - Basement. Luckily it's got a lot of windows and good light for a basement.

Dye - Fiber reactive Procion dye from Dharma Trading co. Dharma has everything for fiber artists! Clothing, fabric, dye, tjantings, wax.

It's a lot of fun. If you have space to make a mess you should give it a try!