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 did my first baby quilt by hand as a project for a textile class. My great aunt and great grandmother quilted, so they were the inspiration. Later, my mother and sisters took up quilting and told me I have to do it. I tole them when I find the quilt pattern I want to make, I will. I found one with appliqué hearts and fell in love. It took a while to complete the quilt, and I was hooked. I retired a year ago and have enjoyed quilting since I have more time.
Always wanted to be an artist, but had no talent for drawing. Learned how to sew and then a friend encouraged me to take up quilting. Took quilting 101, and never looked back. Best thing I learned in that class was how to dissect a block, figure out how it’s made. Scrappy makes me happy!
I have seen seen I was a teen, mainly making clothing for family, children and myself. When my children decided they didn’t want “home made” clothing and I had more scrub tops for every season and holiday, I decided I needed to learn something else. Quilting allows me to be creative, learn new techniques and brings color into my life!
I had always wanted to quilt. I had been a garment sewer my entire life. My son and wife were going to have our first grandchild, so what better time to learn to quilt. I found a pattern for an applique quilt of the circus, and the bug bit. I wanted to leave my grandchildren something to remember me by. I have since made ove 100 tops, and longarmed more than 500 for charity. Working on a quilt of valor now.
I was a young mom of 3 boys. Moved to a new city and needed something to keep me busy. Walked into a quilt store not having a clue asked for help. The owner showed me a book for table runners and placemats, and my love grew. Stayed with small projects ,every family member for a table runner plaacemats and pot holders. Then fiNally my first quilt. From there they just got bigger. Now I quilt for clients and a cancer foundation and lover every minute of it. Couldn’t imagine life without it. I had a friend design a tattoo with my quilting scissors and quilt designs in the shape of a cat on my arm that represents my love of quilting.