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
When my grandson was graduating from High School I decided to attempt making him a memory quilt from his tshirts, athletic jackets and fabrics from clothes I had made for him when he was little, he moved 17hrs away so this was a part of me to be with him, I watched Jenny Doans MSQC videos to help me and looked at all her quilts and how easy she made it look.., I was hooked
I was intrigued by my mom making her first quilt, so she sent me to a local 3 day quilt camp class to make a quilt. I have never stopped. 32 years later under 40 years old and I am currently renovating a tiny cabin for a studio space. I crave texture and love raw edge applique. Reading quilt technique books like they are novels or photo books like a playboy magazine is to a man. I am currently experimenting with different techniques and wondering about finding a mentor of sorts to help guide me to the next level. I have enjoyed your blog, emails and pure kindness. It would be amazing if you could find the quilt your talking about.
My sister-in-law signed me for a sampler quilt class. I had to ask my mom the night before to show me how to use her sewing machine. I went to class with no expectations and was the only beginner. By the time the 6 weeks were finished, I had sewn and quilted 2 twin size samplers for my baby boy’s room. That was 25 yrs ago and havent stopped! It is my stress relief and gives me great pleasure to give away my pieces of art!❤️
Our daughter was packing for college and had bags and bags of t shirts. I had heard about tshirt quilts and looked on YouTube and taught myself how to make one. I used 16 of her shirts and she loved it! I have made at least a dozen more since then…most for high school graduates, some for birthdays and other occasions. I use embroidery thread to tie the layers together. I have not done machine quilting as i dont have the correct foot for my sewing machine but would like to learn. It has been a great way to recycle tshirts and everyone has loved the finished product.
About 10 or 11 years ago I had some fabric with alphabet letters printed on it. I thought it would make a cute quilt, but had no idea how to go about it. A co-worker from across the aisle was an accomplished quilter. She said it would be so easy to make that into a quilt, I’ll help you with that. She was right. The first hit for any addiction is always easy. She is now a quilting friend and she quilts all my quilt tops. I’ve never looked back.