Earlier this year, I got a hankering to sew a quilt top by hand. I’ve always pieced by machine and quilted by hand in the past, and I wanted to slow down the top-making process.
This urge coincided with special guest artists at Fiber College : three of the Gee’s Bend Quilters.
I spent a relaxing Saturday afternoon at the world’s prettiest camp ground drawing out fabric from my stash, ripping off strips, stitching them together by hand as I listened to the murmur of sewing machines punctuated by laughter and conversation (Gale posted photos and a short video from the day). “Doing it your way” was the theme–pick the fabrics that speak to you, let them cozy up next to fabrics that you might not normally put together, but that tell you they want to be together.
Anyone expecting to be instructed exactly how to create a Gee’s Bend quilt was probably let down by the afternoon. But anyone who really listened, who bent her will to the fabric, realized she had, in fact, learned how to create a Gee’s Bend quilt: stitch what makes you happy.
Every now and again, I add another strip to the block. I’m not sure if I’m going to make one large lap-quilt-sized block or make several more about this size and stitch them together. I’m using stash fabric, old cotton shirts, sheets, and the cutest contribution from Amy Lou–the denim-patch fabric includes apples and the saying “I like you” on it.
When I open my Sajou sewing box, a beautiful gift from Sara years ago, I see treasures like Cal’s business card, a reminder of watching her sew on a vintage Singer; a thimble from Clementine placed sweetly on my cottage cot pillow; the embroidery knife I purchased in Paris with Sara after we spent hours in the gorgeous Sajou shop pawing over all the pretty things. I love that hand stitching drenches me in sweet thoughts of friends, of places like Maine, Paris, my porch. I love that each fabric reminds me of someone or some moment in time. That’s how stitching this quilt makes me happy.
I’d love to read about a project that’s making you happy–what are you doing your way?
I’m a machine quilter through and through because I think my life is too short to start hand quilting now!
Loved this, you totally captured the feeling of being there. I would never have thought that I would like handstitching, but I am so with you on that.
oh, such a lovely account of our afternoon! i too have re-embraced the hand-stitching lately, even though i was using that adorable machine on that sunny day by the shore. i’m still stitchin’ on my two AC projects (the corset and L/S tee) but they are nearly done (hmmm… i feel a blog post coming?) so i’m relishing the thought of starting a new one, either a skirt or dress!
I do hope you are not using any rotten brass headed needles.