Just since the holidays, I have had three opportunities to help someone learn to quilt or sew. The director of the agency where I volunteer is having a new grand baby and wants to make it a quilt. A young Church member has quit her full time job and has time on Wednesday to join us at quilting. My precocious great niece reminded me that I promised to help her learn to sew last summer so I really must this summer. And after decades of teaching sewing/quilting to high school students you would think this would be a breeze. But I am a bit apprehensive about each situation. Helping a peer is very different than the teacher/student role of a formal classroom. My very smart great niece is still very young and I am not sure she can even reach the pedal on my machine and I certainly will wait a few years before introducing her to the rotary cutter! So how do I start? After many dog walks–I do my best thinking then–I came up with six guidelines.

1. Discover what the person knows and go from there. In the formal classes I taught, we had to all start at the very beginning no matter the experiences or skill level. Twenty four students in a classroom required conformity at first–so I had some bored students and some students struggling to complete the first assignments. Our new quilting member has sewn costumes before so I start with the differences between sewing garments and patchwork, for example, using 1/4 inch seam allowances instead of 5/8″. My niece will start with “safety” first!
2. Provide tools that help make the process go smoothly. Dull scissors–cheap ones or heaven forbid, paper scissors will cause the most motivated person to throw in the towel. I would rather loan my tools than have a want-to-be sewer/quilter purchased new but cheap ones that will ultimately frustrate them. I have hundreds of dollars in rulers, shears, rotary cutter and mats etc, but one really only needs four or five items to start–shears, pins, acrylic ruler, rotary cutter and a mat. One of the advantages of joining an established group is that most established quilters have multiples they are willing to share.
3. Start with a goal–making a quilt or bag–but something real. Again, in public school classes all the students had to make a “learn to sew” bag which was met with huge differences in enthusiasm. Personally, I am willing to re-do and perhaps re-do again on something I will gift or plan to use than on something that is just a practice piece.
4. I am a firm believer in “She believed she could, so she did”. Attitude is everything! I had a student who created the pattern for a Parisian theme quilt as her second or third project. I really had my doubts when it was presented to me as her Senior project, but she was confident she could do it in nine weeks. Granted she was a very talented person with an artistic eye but all these years later, I believe she made the quilt as planned because she had faith in herself.
   

This the quilt at the Prairie Quilt Guild Show in June, 2010. (I really appreciated the Prairie Quilt Guild leadership that year–they recognized and encouraged high school quilters.)…..and as a side note, this young lady has traveled all over the world; to all those places she dreamed about in high school.

For the instructor, it is a balancing act between being realistic and letting the student dream. Dreams shouldn’t be squashed but as the saying goes, “don’t bite off more than you can chew” which can discourage one from ever trying again.

5. Both mentor and mentee should have fun…sewing/quilting allows creativity , creates a sense of pride, a feeling of accomplishment and overall it is a stress reliever. Now, that is not to say, occasionally, sewing can be so frustrating that bags of M&Ms are consumed and naughty words are used. But oh, when you have conquered that curved seam or your points match, what a feeling! Also, sewing/quilting takes your mind off some of those world issues that you have little control over–a mental health breather.

6. Most importantly, your passion may not become their passion. Just because one wants to make a baby quilt for a new family member does not mean that they want a new hobby or interest that consumes their free time! If my niece learns to operate a sewing machine and sew straight seams it might just be one more ability she adds to her arsenal of life skills. At another point in someone’s life, sewing may again become an interest or it may not. Either way, sewing is there for them and you both were successful.

These guidelines could be used for almost any new venture–learning to cook or gardening, using oil paints or photography. It is a new year , a perfect time to learn a new skill or share one of your skills.

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We had a full house at quilting Wednesday but very few finished projects to share.

Embroidered tea towels-$9

This appliquéd kitty masquerading as an Easter Bunny would be a fun addition to your spring decorations. The wall hanging is 16″ x 20″, easy fit in most homes. $40

The backing could serve as a table topper also.

Since we all are busy getting quilts ready for the long arm quilter or sewing on bindings, I thought I would re-introduce you to one of the quilts we have hanging on our walls, ready to go home with someone.

Muted floral and geometric prints from one layer cake (forty 10 inch squares from one fabric line) were used to piece this “plus + square” quilt. It measures 68″ x 68″ and is $160. The soft colors would fit right in many color schemes. The binding is a black and white stripe with the slightest hint of blue, but it too has a muted feel which is perfect for the over all quilt.

Stay warm and enjoy your passions.

I look forward to January as much as I do to the holidays–just in a different way. January is a time to catch your breath, finish a few tasks and re-group. This past week I have been playing catch up so I can start enjoying these brief weeks of January and February.

I put away –in a mostly organized matter, the Christmas decorations. And we bravely put the wobbly reindeer and faded sled in the trash. I boxed up half a dozen mugs so I no longer play Jenga with them when emptying the dishwasher. They are boxed and ready to go to Re- Store with some other treasures. After receiving more reading glasses for Christmas- my family’s go to gift for me, I took a bag full of glasses with “what was I thinking?” frames to my volunteer site and they were gone in an hour!`And this morning we filled a trash can full of expired over the counter medicines and first aide supplies. This afternoon I catch myself going to the cabinet to admire how organized it looks! Now if I can just keep up this momentum.

I finished a top I had started last fall! It is a lap quilt size top made from a package of strips I bought at a garage sale for $4! Want to keep this trend going also.

I have one more postponed “holiday” gathering to host and then the dining room table is devoted to jig saw puzzles. Can’t wait to get started on this one. This was a gift from a friend who knows me well.

We had our first Wednesday together in the Quilting room. We did get some sewing although it had been almost a month since we had been together and there was a lot of news and photos to share! Best of all, we welcomed a new member!

We always report on any new quilt/fabric shops we have visited–here in Kansas or where ever our travels take us. I shared photos of Quilt Mayhem. My Washington daughter in law had heard of this shop from a patient. For Christmas she gave me bit of cash to spend at the shop (remembering my fabric diet) and the promise to explore it together. She caught the bug we were passing around so my husband and I went to Snohomish, WA one morning and “oh my goodness!” It is biggest quilt shop I have been to excluding Missouri Star Quilt Co. which is an entire town and Hancocks of Paducah, KY.

This entire building is Quilt Mayhem. The fabric store is about a third of the building. There is a huge show room full of long arm quilting machines, embroidery machines, sergers and high end Bernina and Baby Lock machines. Plus there were six or more large retreat rooms, of which most were full of quilters happily sewing. They also had long arm machines to rent. A service center and professional machine quilting services is available They have all the quilting bases covered! The fabric shop was full of customers spending their Christmas gift certificates and retreat members looking for the fabric they forgot to bring with them.

I was going to purchase this apron pattern but discovered it was panel that had been completely sold out. I ask if I could take a photo –usually a big no-no in a fabric shop but the staff person was so gracious and encouraged me to take as many as I wanted.

I did walk out with a small hand full of fabric.

Most of the Quilters at First were busy with holiday events since we last meet or haven’t finished their projects completely in order to show them off. Shirley did have one “show- and- tell” for us.

This 66″ x 66″ quilt is so fun! Pinwheels spinning through space–but should it go this way? Or this way?

I believe I like this way best. The bold machine quilting adds to the feeling of strong movement. We have nothing else like this in our collections. It is for sale for $200.

Shirley also brought this quilt in early December and in the excitement of sharing our monies with the TV Ministry and the Religious Nurture Center, I forgot to show it off.

The quilt is a mix of traditional and modern. The small floral prints are usually used in more traditional quilts. But this pattern took the fabric to a different level–not your grandma’s quilt style, but a very modern look. The machine quilting is geometric which complements the pattern theme. It is 54″ x 68″ and $150.

We also received two pre-owned table runners from a former quilt group member who is down sizing.

This “Route 66″ table runner is 16″ x 48” and is $30. Would look great in an RV or on a deck picnic table.

This one is looong! It is 20″ x 76″! The colors look great against the neutral background. $30

Both table runners are in great shape–made and taken care of by a master quilter.

I really appreciate the opportunities I have to sew and to bring order to a pile of scrap fabrics. When the world out there is crazy, there is something so soothing about creating and sharing the results with you. So thank you, you make the entire process more rewarding.

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The sewing room has been quiet these past few weeks. “There has been parties for hosting and marshmallows for toasting”..and trying to find gifts for teen age boys! But the Quilters at First–Machine group did find time for our annual holiday/end of year wrap up lunch/party.

For years we have had a baked potato bar with all the trimmings plus yummy desserts and great appetizers. The hostess, me, has it extremely easy. Just coat potatoes in olive oil and sea salt and throw them in the oven.

For our entertainment we exchange fat quarters (FQ) for there is nothing a quilter would rather do than exclaim over and pet fabric. Each of us that wants to participate, chooses and posts on the white board a theme, or color scheme of FQs we would like to receive. Some of us have a future project in mind. Some look at their stash and see what color or prints are missing.

I have as much fun shopping for the different fabrics as opening my gifts of FQs. Since I am on my “fabric diet” I don’t go into fabric shops much. The temptation is too great. So to “need” to peruse the entire shop for different fabrics is a treat!

The rule is one fat quarter per person since the prices keeps inching upwards but everyone usually adds another tiny something. Several of us add a few pieces of candy which is added to our “candy stash” in our sewing rooms. It is a proven fact that a piece of Christmas chocolate in March helps calms one after discovering the last seam sewn was without a bobbin thread!

Some add a sewing notion–little fold up shears, a notions bag made from selvages or gifts bags for the FQs. One quilter found quilt block ornaments at a garage sale in the summer and saved them to share with us in December.

Each quilter passes out her gifts, so we all open Peggy’s or Judy’s gifts at the same time. We love seeing all the different fabrics purchased given the requests. The room is filled with “oh, how pretty!” or “where did you find that?” or “this is perfect for the quilt I am making!”

Here are some of the collections. We had two members that couldn’t attend due to health issues.

Elaine wanted brights–plain or print.

Vicki requested pinks for a great granddaughter’s baby quilt. The clippers on the right side of the fabric are a wonderful gift for a quilter. You can never have too many.

Peggy ask for orange prints to fill out her stash. So many different shades and tones of orange.

Judy received bold solids. Nothing is a repeat.

Heather and Shirley wanted black on black prints. The print adds interest vs a solid black. This is Heather’s.

These are Shirley’s. I should have used the lighter background for both.

Diane is our resident creator of ETC’s–gift bags and envelopes, quiet books, small birthday banners, shopping bags. She needs lots of different interfacings and fusibles.

Can’t wait to see what she imagines for this coming year using these supplies!

I chose blue and white –not cream, prints, again this year! I have a star quilt pattern that I was going to make last year but….These are beautiful additions to my collections of prints for the quilt.

This is Janis’ fabrics!! And you may very well ask..What was her theme or request? Hmmm, nothing really goes together, does it? She surprised us with ” I really like this fabric” request. She wanted a FQ of something you liked but had no idea what to do with it. I would like to say each FQ reflected the quilters style, but no. I would never be able to match the quilter with the fabric. I choose the light blue with the butterfly–sorta my vibe.

We won’t gather in our room at Church until January 7 so no new projects until then. But I am positive most of us will sneak in a few hours in our home sewing space, if only for a little “Me Time”.

Again, thank you for all the support you gave the Quilters in 2025. You are appreciated more than I can express. I wish all of you the best Christmas and may your bobbins never run out!

How good are you at waiting? I am better than a two year old toddler but not near as good as my Grandma Ella was. I have been doing a lot of “waiting” the past few days. I waited several hours in an airport for the connecting flight–which I planned so I wouldn’t miss a flight–and I successfully made it to VA but I entertained myself by eating. Saturday I waited for a couple of long hours for my daughter to be finished with her appointment and again, it is on me. I forgot to take a book and the internet connection was so weak I couldn’t read off my phone. I waited this morning, never far from my phone, to hear that a family member’s surgery was a success. At six am this morning in 42 degrees with a strong wind, I was impatiently waiting for my grand-pups to do their business so we could go back home.

Amazon next day delivery has spoiled me; it is very difficult to wait for an order to arrive in regular mail. If I text a friend with a question, I have a tendency to expect an immediate response and quickly assume something is wrong if it takes a while! I have an habit of skipping to the end of a book to see how it ends. When I take a finished pieced top to the long arm quilters to “make it a quilt”, I can’t wait to get it back–even though it might have taken me months to make the top!

Some times my patience or lack of patience comes into play when I am selecting a quilt pattern. I know me well enough to know when to select something quick and easy and when I will enjoy a longer process.

Quilts that can be randomly pieced are quicker than ones that are fiddly.

This is one of my favorites, but the rows of blocks had to line up correctly or I would had weird multi-colored stars. I remember ripping a bit.

Something like this–a simple Irish Chain made from nine patch blocks is easy-peasy…quick and easy..little thought.

The Maggie Pearl pattern was made with me in mind.

I made many sets of placemats for our October Quilt Sale. Did you guess that most of them were “quick and easy”? I chose fabrics to attract your attention rather than complicated patterns. (These two sets are still available)

But sometimes I want time consuming–to help with the “waiting”. Hand appliqué is a slow process. But when I know I need to keep my hands busy for a long time, I will choose a pattern with an easy appliqué. The one on the left was started during the early weeks of COVID lockdown. The yellow and blue one helped keep me sane when my mother was in and out of the hospital towards the end of her life.

This is an “Orange Peel” pattern–hand appliquéd peels on 6 inch squares. This is my go to “traveling” project. I have made two Orange Peels quilts and I am working on my third this trip. I don’t care when I get it done–it is perfect for those periods of waiting when visiting family or on baseball tour buses.

But sometimes I choose a pattern that I know will take a longer time than usual because of a special person or special event.

At my final retirement recognition, I was ask what my plans were. I answered that I wanted to win a ribbon in the Prairie Guild Quilt Show. This is it! I was willing to spend hours making tiny saw tooth star blocks for this quilt. And it received a red or second place ribbon! Marked that off my bucket list.

My daughter did not stay away from more complex patterns. But after cutting about half of the pieces 1/2 inch too small, I was the lucky recipient. After pondering for six months or so, I decided to finish it. It is smaller than originally planned but I think my pride forced me to finish it. True Blue is still one of my all time favorite quilts!

Some people are just more patient! Janis spends hours carefully machine appliquéing masterpieces. She says she doesn’t have the patience for hand appliqué. Remember this beauty?

So very glad we all have different strengths and differences! This treasure is still for sale.

This past week we were all ready for quick and easy…small projects that didn’t take much brain power.

Microwave bowl are perfect for soup weather! $8 each

Potholders made with Insulbrite (protects your hands and the table).$8 each

Heavy canvas totes with a bright print–do you know someone who loves to ride? $10 each

This 14″ x 29″ table runner is perfect for this transitional time of the year. Machine quilted and hand bound, it is $30.

This table runner is slightly longer but the best part is that it is reversible! One side is a winter bird print and the other has holiday reindeer.

The scalloped edges is just the right touch. Machine quilted and hand bound. $40

Last week I finished another tea towel–I smiled when I realized I would include it is this post about being impatient.

I have been told all my life “good things come to those who wait”. Ok, –but I say, always have a book or a hand appliqué project in your bag…it helps with the waiting!

It is “officially” Quilt Season. Friday night we handed out candy to approximately two hundred very polite and cute trick or treaters. Yesterday we flipped the calendar over to November–with the cutest photo of a Shibu pup. I found places inside for my house plants that spent the summer on the deck. This morning we set the clocks all back one hour–except my sewing room clock; it is just too difficult to change. Baseball is over for the year after a long seventh game in the World Series. There was “frost on the pumpkin” on our early doggy walk. So, check and check; it is “officially” Quilt Season.

All that is not to say we won’t have very warm days yet. There will be days I start with several layers and by dinner I am down to a short sleeve tee shirt and the windows open. But come evening, when we slow down and watch an episode of something, I will be dragging out a quilt to wrap around my shoulders.

We like to sleep in a cool room so a quilt will be folded at the end of the bed for those early morning hours when it is just a little too cool. Those smaller quilts–large lap or twin quilts work well for the end of the bed. It is probably too early to add a larger quilt to the normal bedding.

Oh by the way, those pumpkins aren’t Halloween pumpkins, they are Thanksgiving pumpkins!

We are still catching out breath after hosting the Quilts Etc. Sale in October, but Tammy B. did make a baby quilt that isn’t as girly as her last two.

The nautical theme quilt is 50″ x 50″–see the anchors, whales and the boat wheels? Flannel makes it extra soft and cozy. It is closely tied, ensuring it can be laundered. The binding continues the red and blue color scheme and is hand sewn. $50.

A friend requested a needle case, so I made several so she could have her pick. The simple quilted case stays closed by either velcro or a button loop. Four pages of felt will hold all your needles and pins that you need when traveling with some hand appliqué or embroidery.

Vicki finished another table runner for the up-coming holidays.

The runner is 14″ x 42″ and is machine quilted. The back is the same deep red as on the front. $40.

This table runner and other holiday items will be for sale at the annual all-church Thanksgiving dinner on November 23 at First United Methodist Church. We will have a couple of tables offering items guests may purchase.

These are photos from last year. Of course we will have different items but these photos give you an idea of what will be offered. A mimi-holiday market!

Friday I leave to help out my Virginia family for a couple of weeks during and after a scheduled surgery. My main role will be caring for my two feisty “grandpups”. So in-between walks, I will have lots of free time. Thus I am packing an optimistic number of tea towels to be embroidered and cut out “orange peels” to hand appliqué for a quilt. I am also loading several novels on my iPad, so check with me later to see what I get done!

This past week I returned home from my morning doggy walk, and saw this by the garage door. Can you guess what they are? My family guessed everything from candle holders to centerpieces, coins to armadillo shields -I think she was trying to be funny or just tired of my games!

Here is a hint: we were having our roof replaced due to hail damage.

Winter will be here soon, so I am enjoying Fall and its cozy vibe. I hope you have a cuddly quilt in which to wrap up! If not, I know where you can get one!

Most mornings after walking my dog and enjoying my first cup of coffee, I play Wordle and Connections on my iPad on the New York Times Games app. I know many of you also play –you share the results on Facebook. Connections is my favorite and the one I have the lowest success rate.

To play, you have a grid of sixteen words which are to be grouped into four categories. You get four chances and after that, the answers are shown and you cannot play anymore.

This is what a completed puzzle looks like– (this is a different puzzle than above.)

I completed this one today without any goof-ups!! Yeah me.

I must admit I sometimes have to look up a word’s definition and often the slang meaning. When the words go in front of a common word–for example the words in the purple group, I struggle. I wouldn’t have completed them this time if they had not been the last four words–can’t miss on that!

Supposedly the colors indicate the level of difficulty, yellow, green, blue and purple being the most difficult. But depending on your background, it is possible to figure out blue or purple first. I have been tempted to create my own version for family and Church Class gatherings.

So here is my 2025 Quilts Etc. Sale Connections Edition—

First Category–yellow. “Physical Feelings of Quilters”. Exhaustion, 15,000 steps, Hyper, and Pumped

Second Category–green. “To Whom We Owe Thanks”. FUMC Staff, QH’s ( Quilter Husbands), Friends and Family

Third Category–blue. “Changes in 2025”. Meredith Hall, Traffic Patterns, Equipment, Advertising

Fourth Category–purple. “Emotions of Quilters”. Surprised, Grateful, Curious, Anticipation

To say our reflections after the sale are a mixed bag is an understatement, but mostly positive. We were in a new location, Meredith Hall, which presented some new challenges. We didn’t know about space and lighting and displays. But we were told over and over that Meredith looked “cozy”. The round tables in a round room encouraged repeated looking.

The stage allowed better presentations and it was safer to be on the stage for a closer look than the previous stage in the Forum.

Meredith Hall is more difficult to find and access than the location last year, but with the help of QHs at the front door, quilters in the top hall, fall garlands and the elevator and ramp out side Meredith Hall, we did not loose anyone.

We tried new hours—last year Saturday was dead and this year was sort of the last trial for a Saturday sale. Well–what do you know? Friday was really slow and Saturday was great. Can anyone explain this? Very curious!

We had new “racks” to display our smaller items—thanks to George S. who created these “chicken wire” display racks from an idea I “borrowed” from a 4-H fair I attended.

We had the most quilts, table runners, placemats, baby bibs etc than we had ever offered before. Therefore, we had this gut reaction that we did not sell as much as the previous years. Here is a little secret–we sold more! Our sale receipts are higher by a bit than last years.

We were exhausted –but maybe not as much as previous years. We had a lot of help! Members of the Seekers class who were not quilters or husbands of quilters helped set up–resulting in 3 short days. So a big thanks to Marty, Brian, George and Annette. And of course to those wonderful guys who live with quilters year around–Tom, John, Larry, and David who set at the “check out” tables for three long days, who hung Christmas lights and assembled quilt racks–we love you!

The Coffee Shop also relocated but the new location did not faze Delane, Nonie, Kathy, and Sandy. Delicious coffee and home made goodies were still available. Paulette’s new curtains were so popular they will remain in Meredith Hall for the winter.

Good publicity is a key to a successful sale. I will always remember the 3 minute video of “making” a quilt, featuring Rev. Jeff, our associate minister, and Kane, the administrative assistant, which was shown in Church to promote the Sale. Evan did the graphics and put us platforms I was unfamiliar with the “how to”. Rev. Amy promoted us on the TV broadcast. We tried participating in the Wichita First Friday Art Crawl….it wasn’t a roaring success or a dismal failure. Thanks to all those quilters, QHs and Church members who participated and we have some ideas for next year.

We won’t close the 2025 books until the first of December, so I can’t give you a money amount. Watch a blog posted the second week in December. We still have many great items that can be purchased–check out the photo galleries on this blog. We will have tables at the Church wide Thanksgiving Dinner with items for sale. Contact any quilter for information.

We had barely moved the last quilt rack back into storage before we were anticipating the 2026 Quilt Etc. Sale; discussing what we want to make this coming year. But before we start preparing for next year, we do want to express our un-measurable gratitude to our Church staff and members, friends and family for their support. We are delighted to have made new acquaintances who share our love of quilts. And we hope all of you will continue to follow the Quilters at First on their quilting adventures.