I remember it very distinctly.
I was wandering the rows at the International Quilt Festival in Houston my junior year in college. I had made my first quilt a few months prior, on a whim, and my mother thought it would be fun to check out this quilt show that was just a short drive from their house.
If you've been to the festival, you know the quilt gallery is huge! Aisles and aisles of masterful quilts, organized, more or less, by styles. I've never been good about sticking to a straight path-- I'd walk up a row, spot something pretty a few isles over, head over to that, turn around, walk up the next aisle. All of a sudden, after about 30 minutes of meandering, I spotted a quilt a couple aisles over that I had to see closer. I bee-lined to it and gasped.
The vibrant color, the texture, the intricacy-- I had never seen anything like it.
It was a garden scene with a bench, a stream cutting around the bench and down the quilt, a tree in the background full of leaves, and a fiery, spiraling sun overhead. I didn't know of the technique at the time, but it was all done in raw-edge appliqué. I could not stop looking at it. I got really close, put my hands behind my back so I wouldn't be tempted to touch -- those women in the white gloves walking up and down the aisles looked ready to scold a handsy college student.
I stood in front of this quilt for at least 20 minutes, trying to figure out how the quilter made this, and marveling at the movement and life she was able to create with fabric!
My mother looked at it for a reasonable amount of time, then moved on to look at others. She came back a while later, insisting we really needed to go, they'd be closing down soon, and she wanted to beat the rush out. She had to practically drag me away.
This was the first time I saw that quilting could be an art form. It could be expressive and evocative. It could be as detailed as a painting, but no painting could ever match a quilt's texture. It went beyond inspiration. My heart was beating quickly, I had a dozen ideas spinning in my head, I could not wait to go buy some more fabric and begin playing.
That quilt changed everything. I had fallen head over heels in love with this craft.
I wish I could find the picture I took of the quilt, or knew the quilter's name, but I am eternally grateful for that piece of art, because it inspired everything I've done since.
What was it for you? What made you start quilting? What made you come to love this craft? Leave a comment below-- I'd love to hear.
P.S. If you think you might know the quilt I'm talking about, I'd love to try to track down the quilt/quilter to thank him or her. It was around 2006.
50 comments
I fell in love again with quilting when I got an embroidery machine. I loved how artistic I could make my quilts with this machine!
The year was 1989 and my wonderful husband was dying of pancreatic cancer. A girl friend got me to sign up for a quilt class. I loved doing the projects, taking grief away from my mind and keeping me busy. That first large quilt I made in blues, a sampler and we were able to sleep together under it before he passed away in 1990. I still use that quilt today in my Retirement Apt, its faded and getting what worn in places but will always hold it dear to my heart.
I had always wanted to learn to quilt. I saw an ad on a community bulletin board offering a class for a sampler quilt I signed up. I bought my fabric, not knowing that a directional pattern might make putting some of the blocks together a real challenge. The class was taught by a Mennonite woman. It turned out to be all HAND PIECING. Each week we showed up and were given a demonstration in how to create that week’s block. When I took a scheduled vacation to Tennessee, I took my block with me so I wouldn’t fall behind. All blocks, borders, and quilting were done by hand. There is not a single machine stitch in the quilt. It is one of my most treasured possessions and is in my will to go to my oldest daughter.
I learned how to quilt a year ago in June. One of my neighbors asked if anyone would like to learn to make quilts for Children’s Hospital. I went crazy and made 7 quilts between June and November to donate. I also made a couple of prayer quilts for friends who were going through a hard time. I just made one for my father in law who is turning 85 this Tuesday. I never thought I would find a new hobby at 54 years old that gives me so much joy!!!!!
I took a quilting class years ago, kids and a new career got in the way of sewing. I made all of my kids clothes when they were little. Three years ago I had my first knee replacement, while I was off work recovering I joined a BOM through National Quilter’s Circle and I was hooked. I’m now retired and I sew daily either in my Quilting barn at my sewing machine or hand quilting in my living room. My mom was a seamstress, she made all of my clothes. She started making quilts with her church group after I left home but she taught me to sew. At 92 she still gives me sewing advice when I need it and occasionally she asks my opinion or advice.