I have been quilting, or at least trying to, for several years now.?
Dennis would tell you that I collect fabric (and books) more than quilt and that’s probably true.? When we moved into the house three years ago, I claimed the smallest bedroom as the sewing room.? The fact that it didn’t have heat meant there wasn’t much of a fight about it.
The closet, though small, was converted to fabric storage, and gets rearranged often.? I’m always looking for ways to cram more fat quarters and supplies in there.
As far as the actual quilting goes, well, I start things, and then things always seem to happen.? I have numerous unfinished projects stashed here and there.? It’s not that I become disinterested, it’s that something else comes up that I have to attend to and things get put aside.? When time frees up, I usually have forgotten about the previous project(s), or I remember them but can’t for the life of me remember where I put the darn thing.
I think I know all the quilt shops in my area, and I know waaaay too many quilt shops on the web.? I love looking at the new fabrics and choosing complimentary combinations.? I like reading books on the history of quilts and quilt-making.? I’m especially fascinated with Durham quilting, wholecloth quilting and English/North Country? & Welsh quilting.? I wish I could mark and quilt something like that.? I wish I could afford to buy one of the magnificent examples I’ve seen on eBay.
Generally, Durham/wholecloth quilts were Bride’s quilts.? Typically, they were white, but could have a colored back or a printed border.? Unlike quilts as we think of them, they were made of a solid color and solid piece of fabric.? The design was provided by the intricate pattern marked and quilted on the fabric.
My understanding is that in some communities, a woman (sometimes a man) was a professional quilt marker.? She/he would travel around to mark the quilt top.? She would take a pencil, a needles, chalk, soap, or some other substance and draw with templates or freehand these elaborate designs.? It appears this is especially true in Amish communities.? These women were really artists.?
See some examples here.
I have several books on the subject that not only provide beautiful examples, but an interesting history
A Collection of Durham Quilts by Muriel Martin
Amy Emms’ Story of Durham Quilting by Amy Emms MBE
The Essential Quilter by Barbar Chainey
? Dennis and I went to Lancaster County Pennsylvania a few years ago on vacation.? We went to several (okay, a lot) of quilt shops while we were there.? Several had a quilt frame all set up and inevitably, there would be two or three older Amish ladies sitting around the frame.? I would stand over their shoulder, watching.? Teeny, tiny stitches, perfectly spaced, always uniform.? How was that possible?? At some point, one of the ladies would always look up from the quilt, smile at me and invite me to sit down and quilt some.? I’d shake my head slowly…mournfully, indicating with my movement this statement:
“I can’t do what you’re doing.”
Maybe some day…
Until then, I’ll rearrange my closet and collect more fabric.
