The Madness of Testing New Methods

I made my New Year's Resolutions way back in the fall of 2012.  I have made major progress in accomplishing the things on my list. The gist of my theme for the year is to try different methods of working, rather than just my own methods. The first one, that I am showing you here, today, has to do with quilting. I set one of my goals to be going back to basics. I am taking a Quilting 101 class. I drive an hour and a half for 3 lessons over a period of three months. How hard could it be?

How hard could it be???

Let me tell you, this quilting thing is about to break me.

The class uses a good book ... I am more than a little embarrassed to admit that when they sent us our class supply list, I went on Amazon to get the book and realized "Oops!" I already have that book in my stash.

The class is doing a quilt called Small Plates. Why it is called small plates - I have no idea. There is not a plate in sight! Maybe "plate" refers to temPLATES. ??? I don't know. The point is, when I finally cracked the book open, I was more than a bit miffed and unmoved by the quilt in the photo. If it wasn't on my New Year's Resolution list, and I hadn't already passed my credit card # and pressed send, I swear, I probably would have bagged the whole concept. I took one look at the photo and yawned. But it is about going back to basics and learning someone else's method, so I persevered.

I made a quick sketch with two colors of fabric from my stash, and figured the rest of the blocks would have to come from digging even deeper into my stash. Buying more fabric, at this moment was out of the question.

I gathered my fabrics. I have a lot of batiks from all the lampshade stuff I do, so that is what I am using.

I went off to my class, whipping along, headed south, my back right tire, almost free wheeling in the air as I swurved and hugged the cliff edges. I was on a mission. And then ... and then, ladies, I HIT THE WALL. What was I thinking? Quilting is for perfectionists! Quilting is for people with some semblance of math skills! Holy Toledo, Batman... I was out of my league.

They sent me home with my newly aquired ruler skills to cut and put together EIGHTY blocks. I almost choked at the number.

I, obviously, am not that skilled, so the name of the game has been "Trim, Trim, Trim".

And now my blocks are put together and square, all be it - a tad smaller than they are supposed to be. What a relief it was to get to this point.

I needed to put my blocks out and see what I had. Unfortunately my studio is EXPLODING with other projects at the moment, I have several canvases in various stages of, well, "yuck" at the moment, a few panels with charcoal drawings, a special project I don't want to tell you about yet, and Maggie is donning on more than one outfit that I am working on. The studio is a mess. I couldn't squeeze in a quilt even if I wanted to. So I have spilled out into the family room. The one bare wall has now been claimed as an official extension of my studio. (yay!)

I leaned two panels of 4'x8' insulation that I got at Home Depot against that nice, bare, clean, white wall. I covered both panels in white felt,which I pinned to the back by using my plain sewing pins. The fabric blocks stick quite nicely to the felt without pins, making it easier for me to put blocks in place and then rearrange them at will. I also like the fact that I could pin my sketch right to the board for reference.

I put them up, then, one by one ... a ridiculously long process, I stitched them all together. I had a trying time being that precise for such a long time. I am happy with the quilt top, though.

I must add, here, that picking out the colors was super fun and felt really creative. After that it was ALL WORK. You quilters out there should have warned me. The next two classes don't have me jumping for joy either - I make a "quilt sandwich" ... yoohoo! and then, AND THEN, I still have to quilt it. I don't know ladies. I don't think quilting is for me.

I did like picking out the colors, though. A part of me is thinking about playing hookie and skipping the rest of the classes... maybe I could just glue this quilt top onto a canvas and go from there.

From great madness, comes great possibilities.

Carolina

 

 

Comments

[Elizabeth Mackey]

And that is why I don't quilt. It is way too precise for me and I'm sure I would have gone mad just measuring the blocks.
My aunt is an amazing quilter, and even teaches quilting. What I want to do is get all the fabrics for a quilt, and send it to her so she can make it for me :)

I admire and respect quilters for sure, but I have had a few very uncomfortable experiences in quilt shops. I use to go in them to choose fabric to make the girls clothing way back when, and when I asked for two yards of something, I would get an eye roll, or looking up over glasses, asking me what I was making. When I said a garment, they would almost always go "OHHHHH" in condescending way. I though it was a one off, but it happened pretty much every time I went into a quilt shop, just to get a bit of cotton fabric.
So, combined with the fact that I am not mathematical in the slightest and my bad taste of quilt shops, that is one art, I stay away from sadly.

I hope you get though the course, because what you have so far is quite beautiful!

[Melissa P]

Carolina! It's a gorgeous wall of color. Your design wall is off to a great start with this project! You are quite brave starting out with a project that requires so much repetitive process. I cringe at the thought of 80 blocks too--so don't feel bad. It's not a requirement that you enjoy every bit of the process. I'm sure you can see why I don't do much of this sort of quilt designing. My attention span is way too short. :)

I can totally relate to Elizabeth's quilt shop experiences. I don't have good ones in brick & mortar shops either, sad to say. Probably because they can scent a rebel a mile off. It's another reason I'm so grateful for the Internet.

This quilt top would make an excellent summer quilt (no batting, just two layers--quilt top and backing fabric). Of course, that would negate your need to go to the other classes.

I'm glad you're trying new ways of doing things. I wish we could do a session of fabric play in your studio--the Melissa P way. Maybe someday.

[Carole Kokinis]

Caroline, it is beautiful. Do not give up now. When you are snuggled under the finished quilt, it will be worth it. When I started quilting it was hand sewn hexagons over papers and I decided to make it bed size to match my new curtains. Two house moves, two children and nine years later (!) it was finally finished. It was and is hideous. The cat threw up on it the first time it was on the bed. I washed it and the pink ran into the cream. I've been quilting ever since.

[Mari]

Love this post! Reminds me of the quilt I made for my daughter. I tried to do it the way they describe it in the books and it so did not work for me! Now I have my own approche to quilting and I have found a rhythm that works for me. I talk about it a little bit in my latest post.

The quilt is beautiful and just for the sake of the beautiful design wall I would give quilting a second go and this time your way!

Mari

PS. Your style of writing so enjoyable!

[amanda]

Something I don't know about you...are you a perfectionist? I used to be but I learned to let it go. My corners don't quite meet but when my little Jen or I are snuggled under one of my less than perfect quilts all's well with the world. Enjoy xxxxxx

[Carolina Ellis]

I don't even know how to spell "perfectionist" without spellcheck, Amanda. There are plenty of wobbly bits on the back of my quilt top that I just let be because I am not a perfectionist - but I have to say, that it was implied, in class, that being even an eighth of an inch off would derail the entire project. Mari (above) suggested for me to find my own approach and my own rhythm - I think that that is the only way for me to go if I am to continue trying to quilt down the embarrassingly huge fabric stash that I have accumulated.
I really like the image of "you and your little Jen all snuggled up with one of your less than perfect quilts" - it does make for a perfect world doesn't it?
Carole also implied that it took some time before the quilting bug took hold, and that she has had a great run since. I did love the choosing of the fabric - we will see where I go with it.
Carolina

[Eva]

I have that book, too and actually that quilt pattern is on my list of "one day I want to make this". :-D I think your quilt top is beautiful and it would be a shame not to be used as a quilt. But I understand that quilting is not for everyone. Sometimes it really feels like a lot of work, but I enjoy the process, especially when you get into that "flow" stage.