A New Foray Into Handstitching

This past summer the doctor finally confirmed something I’ve suspected for years. I have arthritis. It isn’t shocking, it runs in my family and I am 50 now. It’s my feet that plague me, but one look at my mother’s hands and I see what my future looks like. That may be the reason I am so obsessed with all the handwork these days. Getting my kicks in while I can!

It was also the move to the studio in the fall of 2024. Without a machine or place to put one at home anymore I found myself turning to handwork for both Morning Make and to fill time in the evenings. The kids are older, the girls are driving, and so my evenings are slowly coming back to me. I read a lot (more on that soon) but I’ve also really embraced handwork.

In my 27 years as a quilter, though, I’ve not done much hand piecing. There is that epic English Paper Piecing project which is ready for basting, finally. I can’t discount that. And once, many years ago, I pieced together a pile of scraps with no rhyme, reason, or technique. Of course, we know how much I love needle turn applique. So when, as we headed into some days off over the holidays I decided to bring home a stack of fabrics and my big book of blocks. Over a cup of tea I picked a block that looked interesting, without being a bit too much, and watched some You Tube tutorials so I was doing it right.

In 10 days of Morning Make, plus some hours here an there, I made 3 blocks. They are a completely odd size because my math skills were seriously lacking. I thought I was cutting those squares in the corner so the whole thing would finish at 15.5” x 15.5”. Not quite. They are actually 16 5/8” x 16 5/8”. As long as I am consistent, right?! I’ve decided I will make 16 in total. At least 16. I’m digging in to the stash for now. And supplies are minimal. I’ve already got pins and needles and had some lovely Aurifil 80W on hand that the dog hadn’t managed to eat yet.

They are very peaceful to make. And they come together much faster than you think they will. Not as fast as by machine, of course, but still fairly quick. It’s the cutting and marking of the fabrics that feels like a slog. So I just do it one block at a time and embrace the process. One stitch at a time, right?

Kai - The Quilters' Playcation Adventure Sewalong 2024 Quilt

Kai

70” x 70”

Kai is full of adventure. They live life in a just jump in and see what happens kind of way. If someone asks them to try a new food, they don’t even ask questions, they just open wide. If someone wants to climb a mountain Kai packs the snacks. When the airlines offer a deal and there is money in the bank, Kai hops on a plane. They want to see all the things, meet all the people, try everything. And the one thing that brings them the most joy? Rainbows. Rainbows are experienced the world over and never fail to make you smile.

The 2024 Iteration of the Quilters’ Playcation Adventure Sewalong is now a finished quilt. Well, one of the versions I made. (The other one remains an unquilted quilt top.) For 49 weeks in 2024 I hosted a live session on Instagram where we made an improv block. My theme for the year was Rainbows so each block contained the 6 colours of a rainbow (or any gradient chosen), and half the blocks included an additional background fabric.

Want to catch the replays and make your own? All the tutorials are saved on You Tube.

Unlike previous years, I decided on a size for the blocks at the beginning of the year and planned out this 7 x 7 layout. That way I was alternating the background/no background blocks for a somewhat checkerboard effect. It came out well.

The rainbow on this quilt was made from a selection of pastel colours of Moda Grunge. This textured, not quite solid colour at all made for a lovely rainbow. I liked that it read as rainbow without being overly cliche.

When I started the quilt I bought a meter or so (I can’t remember exactly) of each colour. At the end of the day, I had a lot of the fabric left so I used the remainders to piece the quilt back in a rainbow stripe. Look at me being all coordinated! And while the quilting on the front amounts to great texture, the pattern itself is very visible on the back. I combined spirals and lines in a free motion pattern that I did on a rented long arm. Full credit to Angela Walters and one of her books for the idea. It is pretty densely quilted and feels a bit stiff now but as soon as I wash it the cuddles will come out.

The background fabric I chose is this terrazzo inspired fabric with a creamy base. It had all the rainbow colours in it so it was perfect. Midway through the year I did have to go buy more, thankfully my local quilt shop still had it in stock! Of course, I bought more than I needed that time so it was ready for me to round out the rainbow stripe backing AND use it for the binding. We know how I love a contrast binding, but this quilt asked for something more subtle. Sometimes it is good not to introduce something new when the original is already working.

There is no doubt that I chose rainbows deliberately for the theme. They really do make me happy and never fail to stop me in my tracks. But this is - for me - also a political quilt. I have queer family members, my kids have queer and trans friends, and I want the entire community to know that you are welcome here, and everywhere. It’s just a quilt, I know, but I can use it to share my support, amplify your voice, and wrap everyone in the love and joy they deserve. I can’t give every single queer and trans youth a hug, but know that that is what this quilt intends.

Fall Frost Obsession

About this time last year I saw a block pop up on Instagram. It was part of a sew along and I was immediately transfixed. Did I want to participate in the sew along? Sorry, no, not for me. But I could not get the block out of my mind. Luckily, the pattern for each block in the sew along was for sale individually.

This is the Fall Frost block designed by Heck Yes Sew.

I made one block - it took me hours - and set it aside, thinking I’d satisfied my craving. But it lurked in the corner of my creativity for months, haunting me. I had enough of the fabric I first used for background to make another block, so I did.

Then I realized that I wanted to make a whole quilt. That began a search for more of the background fabric. Alas, I wasn’t able to find much of it, but I did find similar colours. Being an improv quilter, however, meant that it was easy enough to come up with a new plan. Improv is, after all, about starting without knowing where you are going to end up. So I channelled my inner Tim Gunn to “make it work”. I’m still a bit short of one of the colours, now that I’ve gotten this far, but it is getting sorted.

This whole thing is out of my norm, my comfort zone. All that precision piecing, such a dark background, big expanses of a single colour. Frankly, it’s rather perfect for me right now so I couldn’t be happier.

It is the peak of fall colours here right now, and the weather is making a swift change this week. I don’t know when we’ll see snow, but it would be great to get this done in time to enjoy in the upcoming season.

Ellery - Play with Improv Curves and Hand Dyed Fabric

Ellery

72” x 72”

She’s the kind of girl that smiles with her whole body. Just being around her makes you feel better about your day, your choices, your life. Yet she isn’t a relentless cheerleader or terribly outgoing. She just is the way she is and that way is full of light.

I started this quilt during a very dark time. A few years back I was in the midst of a clinically diagnosed depression. I was put on meds, went through months and months to find the right ones for me. I did some therapy, I went back outside, and I made. Thankfully, making never went away for me when the dark days were strong. But I did need to find a bit of extra joy in the making.

Pink is such a happy colour to me. In a way, I was kind of forcing it, choosing to play with pink. Fake it until you make it! And pink with my ultimate comfort block: the improv curves? I won't lie, it did make me feel better. Not a cure for depression, but a very good step in finding my way again. I am so much better now, but she is still giving me joy.

Hand quilting the entire thing, even when I am not that good at it, was the right call. Sometimes you need to sit with things longer. Sometimes you need to be reminded of what she brings you. Dark beginnings, but a contented outcome. (Even with the wobbly stitches and big accidental deviation from my quilting plan.) I used a collection of pink 8W threads, I think most were Eleganza by Wonderfil. I marked the quilt with my Hera marker only because I never trust marking pens to come out. It was a bit of a challenge when I was quilting in the dark mornings of winter, but nothing is impossible. When I started I was stab stitching, the only way I had hand quilted before. I didn’t like the results, though, so I watched Tara Faughnah’s course on hand quilting and was able to find a rocking motion that helped, even if I could only ever pick up two stitches at a time. My results were more even and that’s what mattered.

Now, I have hand quilted an entire quilt before, but smaller ones. I really liked doing it and can see myself doing it again. Indeed, I am finding that doing my Morning Make at home without a machine available is inspiring some hand work ideas. I see myself adding handwork elements and now entire quilts to the creative routine.

The background I chose was a bold large scale floral from Ruby Star Society. I wanted to pattern match but did not buy enough fabric, so there is one corner that contrasts, with a big yellow curve cut into the floral. Yellow is equally a happy colour so it is a fun addition.

To bind her I returned to the hand dyed fabric stash (all the pinks are hand dyes) and pulled this bold turquoise. Another happy colour! You know I love a contrasting binding and this felt so perfect.

My mental health is a lot better now and while I cannot give full credit to quilt making, I have no doubt that this quilt played a role in my recovery.