Quilting in the Family

As I alluded in my last blog post, today I'm happily handing over my blog to someone who's very special in my life. She came into our family in 2005 when she married our only son, Brent. If you've been reading my blog for a while, then you've already "met" Lyn. I shared her first sewing experience here, right after I'd given her a new-to-her Bernina Artista sewing machine. My investment has proved fruitful as she's already made several items.

Do you remember the fun of learning to sewing? Well, Lyn's enthusiasm is infectious, so be prepared to give in to the urge to head to your sewing machine right after reading this! Linda

I wasn’t quite sure how to start this blog post.  Then I thought, “I’ll just start typing what I am thinking and see what happens!” So there you go. I am Lyn Hungerford (not to be confused with Linda Hungerford, my quilting benefactor, mentor, friend, Mom2, and pretty much the best mother-in-law I could ever ask for in my life) and I am new to all of this. This is my first blog post, my first quilt block, and nearly my first sewing experience. Just this May, after 10 years of being daughter-in-law to the best quilter I know, I sat in front of a sewing machine for the first time ever. I was quite nervous pressing that pedal, but wow, I am addicted. If I only I could find more time to sew (not something that having a five year-old, a highly opinionated two year-old, and an old diabetic dog always allows).  

I agreed to be a guest blogger and create a quilt block for the first time ever, but I was a bit nervous that it would take me weeks to get done! Just goes to show my inexperience, because from the time I chose a block from You Can Quilt! (a gift included in my sewing set up from my mother-in-law), it took me only one two year-old’s afternoon nap time to complete! This post is part of a week-long blog hop hosted by Leila Gardunier and Marlene Oddie the authors of You Can Quilt!

My post is the last in series so feel free to read up on the others if you haven’t already!

Nov. 16th - Lee (freshlypieced.com)

Nov. 17th - AnneMarie (genxquilters.com)

Nov. 18th - Leanne  (shecanquilt.ca)

Nov. 19th - Julie  (thatssojulie.blogspot.com)

Nov. 20th - Lyn (guest blogger at flourishingpalms.blogspot.com) You are here!

As a newbie to the world of quilting, I highly recommend this book for other beginning sewists. The instructions and tutorials on the basics of quilting/sewing were really helpful. I found myself thinking of a question and then looking for the answer in the book – sure enough, my question was answered every time. I now think I can quilt. I really can do this! I’m not trying to be cheeky by saying that, as I was really concerned I wouldn’t be able to pick this skill up very well (really wanting to not disappoint my mother in law ☺).

Once I chose the Wonky Nine Patch block, I then went to my fabric stash. While still small, my stash is mighty and I was overwhelmed with options. After much deliberation, I finally settled on my four fabrics. I need a wall hanging for my guest bathroom so the colors are meant to complement my motif in there. I narrowed it down to these. In the end, I left out the yellow even though I love it.  

Time to start cutting! I get lots of anxiety at the cutting phase because that is the one thing I’ve learned that cannot be reversed. I learned it the hard way on a previous placemat project. Now I have one placemat not like the others. That’s normal for us beginners, right? I always take my time with cutting now and am sure to get all of the creases out of the fabric first.

I kept my instructions handy the whole time, reading and re-reading them to ensure I wouldn’t miss a step. They were so easy to follow that it really took me no time at all to get in a groove. After cutting out my four blocks, I went on with more cutting. Yikes! But it really was very easy and with wonky blocks, I felt so much less pressure to be perfect. Love that! I think “wonky” is my favorite!!

Now the fun part for me – sewing!! I have been so lucky to have the best machine for being such a beginner. And I have a foot designed to keep me at ¼” seams (Bernina #57), precisely what the instructions called for in the book. I will say I still need some practice in pressing my seams. The book has a great tutorial on that as well and I really understand how very important it is when putting all of these small pieces together.

Another thing I’ve gotten very good at it seam ripping. Unfortunately, that is something I wish I wasn’t good at, but you can see in the picture above the pile of evidence of stitches gone wrong. Usually I’m not paying enough attention and sew a square on the wrong way. Oops. And ugh! I hate, hate, hate wasting good thread, and fabric too for that matter. It's one of the things that really gets my goat as a beginner and I really wish I could save myself from myself sometimes! 

In the end, I finished quickly. Following the directions – sew, press, sew, press. And I am quite pleased with the outcome! After talking with my quilting mentor about binding, I’m thinking a hot pink to finish this off would be awesome! Something I had never considered, but I am so very excited about now!!

(I insisted Lyn include a photo of herself in this post. I promised to post it small.  :-) Linda)

And since I finished so quickly, I decided to just keep trying other blocks from You Can Quilt! I will soon have all quilt tops and no finished quilts. But that’s pretty normal too, right?!

I decided to get a jump on some Christmas decorations and followed the Wonky Log Cabin tutorial to make some really fun 12-1/2" X 12-1/2" (unfinished) blocks with leftover Christmas fabric. 

Before I discovered this block, I was so sad when I had only scraps left of my favorite fabrics. Now – I have a true calling. I love this scrappy, wonky block and had a wonderfully therapeutic time making it. No more remorse from only having scraps!  I just kept sewing and cutting and then sewing and pressing. So much fun!!

The giveaway associated this this post is closed.  Happy sewing! That's what I plan to do more of! Lyn