One of the most rewarding interactions a person can experience is to share a passion with someone else and for them to become excited about it! It happened twice this week.
My eight year old great niece has been very observant when visiting and often asks if I made the quilt or wall hanging or table runner. Her mother has always given me the credit for the little bag I made her or the baby quilt for baby sister. She decided she wanted to learn to sew so we made a date for this summer when she wasn’t in camp. I sort of panicked…where to begin with an eight year old? What could she accomplish in three hours? I was an old hand teaching 15 years olds how to sew but I had a nine weeks to do that! Do I introduce a rotary cutter…I had nightmares of high school freshman and bloody fingers! Luckily I remembered I can control the speed of my Bernina and that I had a pack of Halloween theme pre-cut 5 inch squares –no cutting fabric this time! And what child isn’t already thinking about Halloween?
She practiced on two sheets of paper following lines and circles and did great. So after a brief lesson in top thread and bottom thread she was off. Pressure foot no.57 is a great help insuring a 1/4 inch seam allowance –to beginners and pros!
Nesting seam allowance made sense to her as well as pressing as you go.
Pining the top of the “quilt” to the batting may be a step my quilting friends are not used to doing–but it worked for us. Note: This project started out to be a “blanket” but the discovery that it could be a pillow changed the plans. Changing directions in the middle of a quilt project is very “quilter-like”.
We had to sacrifice an old throw pillow to have enough stuffing!
She did this in three hours and the only time I set at the machine was to sew the opening closed. A couple more lessons and we might have a new member for Quilters at First!
( I have given you a peek into my sewing room. Please don’t be too judgmental–it is my happy place!)
This Wednesday, Chelsea finished her first ever quilt!
Chelsea joined us last spring after she left her previous employment and had a bit of free time. She knew the basics of sewing and after being introduced to an unfamiliar sewing machine and some of the unique quilting tools, she chose her pattern and fabric from our supplies and made a quilt! She is a busy wife, mother, and starting her own business so she doesn’t have much time to devote to a new hobby. But I was super impressed with her points and color choices. She machine quilted her throw and hand stitched the binding. She immediately started on a full size Christmas theme quilt. Starting slow–and hey, if not this holiday maybe 2027!
These two new quilters don’t have as much time as most of the Quilters at First do now–but they know the basics and they had fun. Who knows what they will do in the coming years!
We are counting the weeks until our annual quilt sale in October and everyone is bringing new projects to fill our cabinets in preparation. We have a variety of projects to offer.
This table topper would add a splash of holiday color to your room. Three different poinsettia prints were used; each side is show-worthy. 19″ x 19″. It is machine quilted in a cross hatch pattern. The binding is hand sewn.
Peggy made this set from a very unique print—with song birds and flora. The table runner and placemats may be purchased separately but wouldn’t they set your dining table apart with both!
The table runner is $50 and the four placemats are $40. They are backed with an abstract blue and green print. Machine quilted in a cross hatch design and the binding is hand sewn.
Have a little spot in your home that needs a bit of homemade cheer. These wall hangings fit the bill. The sunflower hanging is 12″x 22″ and the duckies are 12″ x 19″. Each is $40.
Elaine made another “snap” bag. Easy to open and the close tight immediately–no pushing snaps. Fully lined. $25
We used to call these books made from fabric “quiet books”. Taking a toddler to Church or on an airplane ride and they can drop the book multiple times without creating a disturbance. But they are great anywhere–chewing the corners won’t matter. $25
Sewing and quilting isn’t a dying art. Just log on to Instagram and see all the young people sewing. My favorite line in the RIDE OR DIE series on Prime was when a “bad man” was questioned about his skill when stitching up an assassins stab wound. He assured them he had done it many times and “I am a quilter!” A skill is never wasted.
Hope the Quilt Etc. Sale is on your calendar. October 15-17 at United Methodist Church, Wichita, KS. Can’t wait!
Quilts, Etc. 
What a post, a blessing, talent, gift, and an awesome finished product. Chelsea, you did great, congrats, and continue with sewing 🧵, it’s a new beginning, but you’re going to finish strong each time you start a new project. Be blessed and a blessing, Mtetar at basicissimple ( Formerly projectsbymtetar on WordPress).
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