Lynn - Building a Quilt from Someone Else's Blocks

Lynn

75” x 75”

A gregarious creature. With a smile and a laugh that made everyone feel welcome. Loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend. She gave and gave and gave. She also started and started and started. Never met a craft she didn’t like! Loyal, kind, generous, and funny.

Lynn was a real women, a bright soul in the lives of our extended family. Sadly, she passed away this spring. She was my MIL’s best friend, my husband’s ‘aunt’, our friends’ mom. We all really miss her.

At the funeral in May I met her younger brother for the first time. Another larger than life soul! He messaged me a few weeks after the funeral asking me a huge favour. You see, he had these blocks, quilt blocks, that Lynn had sewn together. Really, it was the start of a quilt intended as a wedding present 25 years ago. She never finished it. Would I finish it for him?

This is what I was sent. That’s some late 90s glory right there! I had a handful of almost finished blocks (missing the corner quarter circle), some sewn elements, some cut pieces, and extra fabric. No pattern, no note, no original plan for the blocks. Lance - Lynn’s brother - gave me free rein. He really just wanted something that he and his wife could snuggle with, made from the blocks Lynn started.

I played with a number of layouts to begin with. I tried to imagine what Lynn might have been planning. I took stock of what I had. It was clear I was going to need more fabric, first off. There was plenty of that dusty rose background, but not enough of the arc fabric to make many more blocks. So I added some colour - more greens, teal, and mustard - to modernize and round out the printed pieces of the arcs. This also enabled me to make more arcs. I was then able to use the cut background pieces and cut even more to play with. And rather than try to match the curve cut in the corners, I used a triangle piece to change up the block a little.

It probably isn’t a thing like Lynn intended, but I do know she would appreciate it. She was always very supportive of me and my quilting. And she did have an appreciation for modern.

One thing Lance did ask for was a heart. The blocks did not really lend themselves to that layout, but I added in this applique heart - in silver for the 25th wedding anniversary - as a special surprise. The machine quilting also included hearts in the loop-de-loops.

Sometimes the shadows just hit right.

After I sent the quilt to Lance and his wife they responded so kindly. They found even more symbolism in the layout I landed on. I had no idea, but it meant something to them and that’s what matters. I feel very lucky to have shared in this experience with Lynn. She truly was a wonderful woman. The people in our lives live on in our stories of them, this time she is also living on in a shared creation.

But before I go, I need to share one more picture. Lynn and her family were farmers. Dairy farmers, until a few years ago. In all the time I’ve known my husband we’ve taken any and all chances to visit them. He grew up going to their farm (albeit in another spot) and we’ve now taken our kids there a handful of times. It is absolutely beautiful country where they live and I like to think this one of the views that she took with her.

Darcy - Playing with Neutral Values in A Quilt

Darcy

55” x 55”

Spunky and full of life. Might come across one way to folks, but she is holding back, that’s all. Knows how to dress the part, code switch, and be what others want her to be. The truth is, she is so much more than anyone thinks or gives her credit for. One day she’ll make a permanent switch, but for now she is going to keep going and stay spunky no matter what.

Recently finished this beauty to gift for a lovely little family baby. The top had been sitting for years, almost as long as her parents have been a couple! The top itself was completed in 2019, from a stack of blocks that were teaching samples for my Values class. But with the right backing she became a sweet gift for a sweet family.

I didn’t get too fancy when quilting her. These strong lines don’t need much more than a highlight to make them sing. You could do an all over design, but I felt like exercising some different muscles.

When you are working with neutrals you can really choose any colour for the quilting. I used a pale pink cotton thread from the stash, maybe a Precensia? I ran out just before I finished and the store was out of that colour so I finished with a Mettler in an almost identical colour. You cannot tell, I promise. Why pink? Well, the backing fabric was a very cute pink fabric with horses and flowers all over it. Now that fabric shines on the back and design is accentuated on the front.

To finish her I added the bright blue (not quite turquoise but not a royal blue) binding. It worked well with the backing fabric and added some fun colour with the front. Perfect for a little one.

And just as I was preparing this post Mama texted me photos of baby girl snuggled asleep with the quilt. Makes a quilter’s heart smile.

Zoe - Park Applique Quilt

Zoe

90” x 90”

Preferring the background to the spotlight, yet refusing to be outshone, Zoe is a strong woman. She will always work hard, with or with out credit, but never dismiss her. She was there at the beginning of the fight and is still there, supporting those with more energy for the battles. Quick to hug you, a twinkle in her eye, and just the right touch when you didn’t even know you needed it. She is the mom who knows you better than you know yourself, even though she never had kids of her own. Not really an option for her, truth be told. Now, though, she is mom to all her girls.

A long time ago Carolyn Friedlander convinced me to try applique. She promised me that I would like it with the right tools, patterns, and techniques. She was not wrong. I know the basics, even took a class or two as a beginner quilter, but it never stuck. What I didn’t like about it was that it was so much prep before I could even get to sewing. At least, the way that I was taught required a lot of prep. But Carolyn’s way is straight from cutting to basting (which is sewing) to stitching. Plus, her patterns are modern and gorgeous. I started with her Alturus pattern and learned a lot.

Over 10 years ago I started using her Park pattern to teach applique here in town. Park is a great pattern for beginners because it has inside and outside corners, curves and straight lines, and looks cool. To make my initial samples and the blocks I used in classes I chose from a stack of fabric I’d sent to Lisa Flower, which she painted. Quite quickly, I decided to keep making blocks. Inspired by my initial pull sent to Lisa I added fabrics as I went.

Somewhere along the way, one of my husband’s cousins moved to the Province. We would visit in Edmonton and they would visit here. Quite quickly, it was clear that her girlfriend was definitely going to be her wife one day. I don’t remember exactly when, but I decided that these Park blocks would be a wedding quilt for them when they did get married.

The top was finished in 2017, more or less. It took me another year or two to trim the fabric from behind the applique so there was no shadowing. It’s always a nervewracking process. Then the quilt sat and sat. I came across the Suzy Quilts wide back at a local sale and matched it to the quilt. All of this before the wedding happened. That came in 2020, a small pandemic wedding.

Yes, I did just finish the quilt.

The fabrics include so many favourites and such a yummy colour combination. I enjoyed pairing fabrics and then figuring out a layout that works. It’s bold, with the odd quiet moment. Some blocks are very high contrast and some are a bit confusing. In pairs, though, the combinations are always interesting.

It’s always a little tough to quilt an applique quilt. Or, at least, to decide how to quilt an applique quilt. Or is that just me? Rather than outline the shapes I went for straight lines in a grid, each line 2” apart. It’s easy and will be more than good for holding everything together and still be cuddly.

I went with a great contrasting binding. The ladies’ house has a lot of green accents so I decided to add that colour to the quilt. Thankfully, it works well with the existing fabrics.

In all honesty, I don’t know why I procrastinated so much with this quilt. It took less time to make the 25 applique blocks than it did to turn the top into a finished quilt! (Aside from the two months I lost quilting when my machine broke and went in for service.) Oh well, it is done now and I am already getting photos of the family (yes, they have a kid now too) snuggled. That’s all that really matters.

And now, I’m already making more blocks! When moving the studio I discovered a couple more blocks. Leftover class samples? Regardless, I realized that with these blocks and a few more additions I could make a small version of the quilt. The little guy of the family only wanted a baby doll for Christmas so I am making him a quilt just like his Mamas’ for his baby.

Summering Part 2

Well, it turns out I was completely burnt out and I didn’t know it. Taking copious amounts of fresh air, friends, and family and the subsequent actual relaxation I felt made me realize that. Huh, who knew? Any quilting I did was because I wanted to or only to play. So before I totally jump back in to the chaos and and schedules now that the kids are back in school let me linger in summer a little bit longer.

Camping on the Sheep River with friends.

Still tried to swim for exercise, back is improving.

Met and visited with Katja Marek at her gorgeous store in Kamloops.

Mount Robson, the start of our road trip.

Ferry rides.

In Cowichan Bay with the bioluminescent plankton after the sunset.

Catching a winter supply of salmon.

Parksville beach. Those tides!

Solitary morning walks.

Trying something new!

My ballet boy at the Aga Khan Gardens.

The two projects I worked on it August.

I realize that sharing these is kind of like watching someone else’s slide show. But maybe I can share a deep breath with you and it can carry us all through the busy month ahead.