Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Quilting Class

Two of my sewing goals for 2009 were to make a quilt and to take a class. I can check these items off my list because I'm taking a quilting class at Cloth & Bobbin, a local quilting shop. We're making the wall quilt shown in the picture. It's a sampler quilt made up of rail fence, 9-patch, log cabin, flying geese and friendship star blocks.

The hardest thing for me was selecting the fabrics. I'm a "matchy-matchy" type person and it was hard for me to put together three different print fabrics. The only guideline we were given was to select a light, a medium and a dark fabric. I could have cheated and selected three prints from a coordinated collection like Amy Butler or Kaffe Fassett, but where is the challenge in that? The fabrics I eventually selected serendipitously matched the color scheme in my sewing room, so if my quilt isn't too horrible looking, I can actually display it!

Sewing can be a solitary pastime. The best part of the class is the camaraderie that is developing from sewing with other people in the room. Right now, most of the conversation is panicked cries for the instructor, but as we get more comfortable with the process the conversation will become more friendly. We're very supportive of each other. Whenever someone finished a block, we all cheered and applauded! I got a big hand for my first 9 patch block. So far, we've done a rail fence and a 9-patch block. My blocks have turned out well, but I'm a little nervous about my flying geese. I've heard and read that blocks with triangles can be tricky because some of the edges are on the bias.

The class includes sewers with many different levels of experience. One person admits to making a quilt last year with her daughter. Another person keeps trying to make 5/8 inch seams - a big quilting no-no. My quilting experience is limited to watching Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts" and Fons and Porter's "Love of Quilting". I started a quilt several months ago, but I all but gave up on it almost immediately. It's much more fun learning with other people. By the end of the class, I'll have a finished wall quilt; batted, backed, quilted and ready to hang!

18 comments:

  1. That sounds like a fun class. I'd love to see some detailed progress on your blog; maybe you'll teach me something for my first quilt! (Sometime in the future...)

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  2. Good for you, accomplishing your goals! I still want to make a patchwork quilt one of these days, but I might start with a pillow for my niece. I'm curious to see if quilting has staying power for you.

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  3. Yeah, Elaray. I do remember you telling me a couple of months back that you had signed up for a quilt class. So did Sewnista in the Making. She just started quilting and posted some of her "homework" on her blog.

    You two are tempting me to sign up for a class NOW! But I must be patient. The teen on my blog is a quilter, too. She did a quilt for a celebrity (I won't say which one), but she must be good if they liked it. :-) Cant't wait to see more. PS: Is that you or your co-worker?

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  4. PS: So, did you learn from Alex Anderson's DVD/video (not sure what format you watched). I saw her books on amazon and most are highly rated). I picked up a few beginnning quilting books about 2 weeks ago from the library. Was told it's much better to take a class first. I'm finding that out. At least (for now), I can skim thruogh the books and familarize myself with some of the quilting terminology. I also joined a quilting forum recently and these ladies say (for them) quilting is/as much easier than sewing, and others said if you have some sewing experience, then quilting won't be hard to pick up.

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  5. I agree-taking a class is a a nice social outing. You can make new friends that you have something in common with. I love taking classes, and loved teaching as well. Good luck with you quilt.

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  6. Watch out. Quilting can become addicting. I can't seem to do quilting and garment sewing. They both can take over your life, in a good way of course.

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  7. Your class sounds fun. I am going to take a few machine embroidery and sewing classes this summer, too.

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  8. quilting is a lot of fun. I'm self taught and I love it. It can also be a great way of using up scraps from sewing project esp. cotton and silk fabrics.

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  9. I like taking classes too, they are fun. Your color choices look great!

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  10. Sounds like you're having fun. I think you're very brave taking on a quilt. I worry that my accuracy would let me down. Maybe one day I'll try. Looking forward to seeing your quilt!

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  11. Good for you! It is much more fun to sew with a group and to grow together.

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  12. I'm so glad you're taking a class! I took a quilting class last summer and loved it. I'm hoping to finish a quilt I've cut out for my daughter this summer.

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  13. You have been given the "One Lovely Blog" award by--me! Stop by my blog, copy/paste the blog picture to your own blog. Enjoy!

    Regards,

    Trudy
    www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com

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  14. I just recently found your blog! You have been given the “One Lovely Blog” award by–me! Stop by my blog, copy/paste the blog picture to your own blog. Enjoy!

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  15. hmmmm. You're scaring me with all this postive talk of quilting. Actually, I have my very first quilt in progress now. I can sense the addictive qualities. Ack! I don't need one more thing calling to me and trying to soak up my sewing time!!!

    Looks cute!

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  16. Well, it appears that a number of us have discovered your blog lately. I gave you the "One Lovely Blog" award also. Aren't classes fun? I'd love to take another quilt class, but have too many quilts to finish from past projects. I'm learning garment sewing and don't seem to have enough hours in the day to do quilting and garment sewing. Good luck on your quilt!

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  17. Great progress on meeting your goals. Looks like you have a wonderful quilting project started. Keep us posted on the progress. My mom quilts, and would you believe it, I want to take it up too. lol

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