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
My first quilted project was over 45 years ago. I wanted to make a quilted cottage pillow for a friend’s wedding shower, so I thought I would practice the shape of the house with a schoolhouse block and then adapt. That to a cozy cottage with embroidered rose garden. Well I am dyslexic and several tries and countless cuts later, I just couldn’t figure out the roof piece. Back then you used cardboard templates. I did not have a class or teacher and was winging it from a picture in a magazine.
My husband came home from his work shift to find me in tears. I explained what I was trying to make. He simply turned the template over to get my angles correct. I was grateful and embarrassed all at once. That block turned out perfect and I was hooked. My pillow gift was beautiful and passed around at the shower. Quilting has helped my dyslexia tremendously.
I was fortunate to own a quilt shop for 10 years and made so many friends. Now color fascinated me. I call my fabric collection my coloring box of crayons.
My first quilted project was over 45 years ago. I wanted to make a quilted cottage pillow for a friend’s wedding shower, so I thought I would practice the shape of the house with a schoolhouse block and then adapt. That to a cozy cottage with embroidered rose garden. Well I am dyslexic and several tries and countless cuts later, I just couldn’t figure out the roof piece. Back then you used cardboard templates. I did not have a class or teacher and was winging it from a picture in a magazine.
My husband came home from his work shift to find me in tears. I explained what I was trying to make. He simply turned the template over to get my angles correct. I was grateful and embarrassed all at once. That block turned out perfect and I was hooked. My pillow gift was beautiful and passed around at the shower. Quilting has helped my dyslexia tremendously.
I was fortunate to own a quilt shop for 10 years and made so many friends. Now color fascinated me. I call my fabric collection my coloring box of crayons.
I interested in quilting back in 1996. I went with a friend to a demo at Hancocks located in a rough part of town. When I saw her demonstrating chain piecing ( wow not hand sewing like my grandmother) I can do that. My friend said she would help me as soon as I got back from vacation. When I got back she had signed us up in an adult education quilt class. Then she got a new job and I was left to go to class alone. I made new friends and learning many do’s and don’ts. I have made many quilts and given them away and done charity quilting learning new ways to make them. Then I found a love for applique and continuum patterns. I can no longer make the large quilts as they are too heavy and my hands cannot hold them as well. Now I am making fun small things . I also like to play around with patterns and make mine a little different. Love the challenge. In other words some of their Idea put with mine and I have something new. My friend says I am always making changes in patterns the same way I make changes when cooking. I have also taught Jr High and High girls quilting, enjoying watching them develop their skills.
I’m a retired teacher and finally had the time to take a class. I started quilting a year and a half ago and it has been a wonderful creative experience. I love learning new techniques and joining the Meander guild has been a wonderful experience especially since the pandemic has made my life so isolating.
When my first Grandchild was expected my daughter asked me to help decorate the nursery by making a quilt and other accessories. That started a family tradition so I have made 8 grandchildren quite and have now made 2 quilts for great-grandchildren. At age 81 I hope to keep going for a while longer.
Jacquelin Somers September 9, 2020