One summer after my freshman year of highschool my mom suggested an activity she knew I might like.
I learned to quilt in a high school homemaking class
In the community paper she noticed a summer phase homemaking course at my high school open to the public.
Any students who take the course earn a 1/2 credit for their transcript for the three week class that met for about 3 hours in the mornings during the work week.
One of the homemaking teachers taught the class, which was well attended by several moms and a few of my classmates.
Mrs. P. was a cheerful delight for the class!
Mrs. P enthusiastically told us we’d learn crochet, needlepoint, and quilting.
My grandma taught me to crochet when I was little, but I had only learned the chain stitch and how to make basic blankets, periodically skipping one chain to create a pattern.
Learning all types of new crochet stitches, I created about 10 projects ranging from hair ribbons to a bowl with lid.
Through craft kits gifted me at Christmas, I taught myself needlepoint, a simple stitch with yarn that slants. Learning intricate steps stitched onto a plastic grid to create a decorative series of coasters for glasses.
Quilting was a completely new activity for me. I couldn’t wait!
We completely handstitched our quilt projects
Mrs. P, a quilting purist, required hand stitching only. We didn’t even rotary cut.
We created two different 12-inch square projects: a pillow and a wall hanging.
While the pillow employed patchwork, the wall hanging utilized applique.
Long dreaming of quiltng more projects, I stuck more closely to sewing clothes and creating crewel and cross point pictures.
Inspired to sew a quilt for my daughter
Inspired by PBS quilting shows, I determined to sew a baby quilt.
Alas the morning sickness and fatigue overwhelmed me. However cross-stitching was a much more familiar activity that I could easily dig out in small moments of activity.
Thus I created several cute teddy bear cross stitch art on an array of pink and blue backgrounds.
Later while pregnant with my son, I again planned to sew a baby quilt. Again, morning sickness, fatigue, and complicated pregnancy overwhelmed me.
Returning to the familiar needlework of cross stitch, I created a soft blue blanket covered with lambs.
Meanwhile, I kept planning that one day…
Watching Fons and Porter quilt shows on PBS while my toddlers napped on Saturday afternoons motivated me to sew twin-sized quilts!
Liking their approach, I bought their encyclopedic book, Quilter’s Complete Guide, which today is falling apart from much reference.
Fence Rail Blocks are the easiest
I chose the Rail Fence block so I would not have to match seams within the block.
Finding pretty floral fabrics my daughter liked, I rotary cut the fabric into strips.
After sewing the strips together, they were cut into blocks.
Ambitiously arranging the blocks in diagonal rows, I machine stitched those together.
From a yard sale purchase I had yards of cute eyelet lace that I sewed to the edge of the quilt.
Then I simply string-tied the layers of fabric and batting together.
My wheels started to turn regarding sewing another twin size quilt for my son, same block but different styling. Stay tuned!
