Sewing Fun!

Many years ago I met this guy in college who had a handmade quilt that I fell in love with. Yes the guy and the quilt! Mike's mom had made the quilt I do not know how long ago but it was well loved by the time that I saw it. It was a patch work quilt made with 1x1 or maybe 2x2 squares of fabric. It had a light blue back and batting filled. The batting had seen better days and there were clumps in the corners, even so it was Mike's favorite quilt. While he no longer has access to it his mom still does. I think he mourns that quilt to this day.

I decided when I went home for holiday and summer breaks that I would make a similar quilt. I started with cutting up my favorite shirts that I knew I never would wear again, I took a ruler and measured 3x3 inches and cut them out with the kitchen scissors. I then moved along to other fabric that I found in the house that was not being used! That first holiday of collecting and cutting was fun and I ended up with a good stack of fabric. The next trip home while I was working at Dippin' Donuts a customer sitting at the food bar asked what I did for hobbies so I told her about the quilt I was making. The next day she brought in tons of scraps for me. So I continued to add 3x3 squares until I had enough to sew together.

I grabbed pieces and started sewing them together and went on my merry way until I had a bunch of long strips. My mom taught my how to re spool a bobbin and back to work I went. We had plenty of thread and the quilt is made with many a different color. When one spool ran out I would just grab another. Most of the time the bobbin color and the thread color did not even match. Anyone who is a quilter is probably cringing right now.

When I finished with my strips, probably 2 years after I started, I realized they were all different lengths and widths. The widths I could not do anything about but I stitched removed the ones that were and sewed them on somewhere else.

When I was done I went to Zayre's and bought a cheap top twin sized sheet and batting for the quilt. I laid them all out and realized that my quilt was twice as long as a twin and much too narrow. So I removed some of the squares and made new rows and then added them to the width. When done it was still not right but perfection is not my strong suit. Ok, you can stop laughing now! So I merrily sewed all 3 layers together and left 6 inches to pull the fabric back through and hand sewed the hole.

Tada! Here I am in 1990 as pleased as punch about my twin sized quilt that is more of a couch throw. Sorry picture is blurry it is a real picture that I took a picture of (pre-ownership of a digital camera).

So I told everyone about my quilt and they asked if I used the strip quilting technique, fabric shears, a rotary cutter, a self-healing cutting mat, acrylic quilting ruler and on and on. I had no idea what they were talking about. I simply cut, stitched and accepted however it turned out.

Mike and I got married in 1993 and for Christmas he bought me some sewing and quilting gear. I still used some of my mom and grandmother's stuff though. I learned about all the things people had mentioned and more. I learned that you could buy pre-cut squares and fat quarters of fabric.

I also got a sewing machine but I do not remember when!

I made several other quilts and started many a project that I still have not finished.

I took a class from Adult Ed when I was working in Westbrook, Maine and made a log cabin quilt that I am also very proud of. I learned a great many tricks and tips from Cindy who taught the class.

This is the log cabin that I made for our queen size bed.

I learned to sew using squares and then piecing the squares together.

I also learned how to finish and edge.

I started back to work on Monday and I decided that I was going to make myself a mask on Wednesday. I researched a bunch of YouTube videos and read some directions online.

I found The Fabric Patch website a great source of info and she also mentioned Jesse Killion who made patterns for different sized faces!

So I measured my face, printed the pattern, cut it out and then went searching for the supplies I needed.

While we moved in to the house in October my sewing and crafting stuff was not a priority. So I dug out my sewing machine, fabrics and tools and got to work.

Fortunately the room stays bright well into evening.

I wanted my mask to be reversible so I picked out two patterns that I thought would work. I also wanted it to be used by Mike but was not so sure it would fit him since I measured my face and used the appropriate size for me. I picked a blue and a pink and began my project.

I did not have elastic so I made strings to tie around the head. That was the longest part of the creation but I am happy with the end product!

I wish I actually followed the directions and I wish that they offered HomeEc when I was in school!

Many a thanks to all those people making masks for front-line workers.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/808916311/thank-you-frontline-heroes-sign-h-stake?ref=related-4&pro=1