Quite A Quilt Maker!
- posted by: Rebecca
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: October 31, 2008
When I saw these quilts in the gallery, I knew I had to feature them on the blog. They are amazing! Our very own Kathleen, Fiskateer # 324, is quite a quilt maker!
I began sewing my own clothes when I was in Junior High and High School. I made everything from regular dresses, pants, tops, jumpers to Prom dresses and one year even a long coat to wear over the long Prom Dress.
When I married is when I started quilting. I went to a local Quilt shop and marveled at all the quilts there and decided I wanted to learn this. So I took the Sampler Quilt class. Each week we learned a new block design and by the end of the class we had enough blocks to put together a small quilt. I loved learning the different techniques and how after cutting up your fabric into all those pieces and then sewing them all together again and you end up with a beautiful quilt. It was like magic!! This got me excited to make another quilt. So that is how the Strawberry Garden Quilt was born.
I went to my daughter and gave her 2 books full of quilt patterns and asked her to pick out one she liked and I would make it for her. Well although the one she chose was beautiful upon reading the pattern over I discovered it had over 4000 pieces!!! It was a good thing I didn’t take time to think more about. Instead I went into it full throttle. Now that quilt was an excellent lesson in making sure you have an accurate 1/4″ seam.
That leads me to say there are some things that I think I very important if you are just starting to quilt. First having some good basic tools is essential. You need a self healing mat the larger the better, a rotary cutter, a 6 x 24 acrylic ruler and a 1/4″ pressure foot for your machine. Being able to sew your seams accurately is essential to allowing your quilt to end up even and squared when you are finished. Adding additional rulers like the 6 x6, and 12 x12 squares are very helpful in squaring up your blocks. Secondly ironing is a vital step. You will Iron after each seam is sewn. First iron it as it was sewn and then iron again pressing it to one side or the other. The next row you would iron as sewn and then to the opposite side as the row before it. That way when matching two pieces together you will have one seam going to the left on one piece and to the right . That allows for the bulk of the seams to be distributed evenly. Also when possible enter the sewing machine with the seam facing down. That helps to keep your seams matched up and even. The more precise you can be the better your end result will be.
There are many pressure feet, tools, rulers etc. that you can add to your supplies as you go along. Some quilt patterns use particular templates. If you are just beginning I would recommend taking a class or finding a quilt group in your area. This is great not only for the education you will get but finding other women who also quilt gives you a valuable resource and support.
The Double wedding Ring was a challenge for me. It was made as a wedding gift to my daughter and her husband so this was a special quilt. to me.
The Southwest Quilt is a wall hanging. That was fun to make. It uses a number of different techniques all within this small quilt. The cacti were stuffed and had tiny rhinestones attached. The corners were paper pieced. The sky has free motion quilting with iridescent thread.
Quilting is a fun rewarding hobby. Because there are so many styles of quilts available there is bound to be one that will be a style for you. Have fun quilting. If you have any questions I would be happy to try and help if I can.
Kathleen #324
Thanks for all of the helpful tips Kathleen!
Karin #4472 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 7:48 amThose are very beautiful quilts - must take lots of time and patients. I have seen them on the gallery a while back… they are just so cool. Nice work.
Meghan E says:
October 31st, 2008 at 7:51 amHoly cow! Those quilts are amazing
Pinky #3405 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 8:03 amWow now that is amazing! The talent we have in the Fiskateers is unmatched! Thank YOU for sharing!
Bonnie says:
October 31st, 2008 at 8:14 amWOW!!! those quilts are absolutely gorgeous!!! thanks for sharing Kathleen!
Sarah #3020 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 8:18 amwow…what amazing quilts. I’ve been sewing since a young age and still have not tackled a beautiful quilt like this…you are quite an inspiration!
Colleen F. 2970 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 9:10 amBeautiful quilt. Thanks for the tips, I am saving squares so that I can make a quilt.
Patty 2832 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 9:18 amWow..they are all beautiful !
I’ve always wanted a double wedding ring quilt…I started one about 19 years ago ! (hubby and I will celebrate 19th anniv. in Dec.)…Talk about pieces..OH MY… I got started on it and had a little accident between me, the sewing machine needle and my finger….’nuff said.
The pieces that I did get done are still in a bag somewhere! LO
Gorgeous quilts!
Betsy #2572 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 10:01 amThose are beautiful!!! I am totally amazed at anyone who can sew like this!
Lisa M. Pace says:
October 31st, 2008 at 10:35 amThose quilts are amazing. Incredible works of art. TFS
Stephanie #3584 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 11:34 amJust amazing the work y’all do. I wish I knew how to do this. Wow.
Tona says:
October 31st, 2008 at 12:24 pmWow! Amazing!!! Thanks for sharing. They are all beautiful & you are very talented Kathleen.
Marla #3291 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 12:30 pmWow Kathleen you do beautiful work!!
kimberlee #2494 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 3:10 pmOh, wow, Kathleen! Thank you so much for your very helpful tips! I am officially starting to quilt in Jan with a block a month featuring prairie stars. Wish me luck! I can’t sew a straight line to save my life! LOL
Michelle 3624 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 3:45 pmKathleen has an amazing talent and I am so glad that she shared it with all of us here!
Laura Casey says:
October 31st, 2008 at 4:15 pmAbsolutely gorgeous !! Thanks for showing off your wonderful talents !!!!
Cherrie #1790 says:
October 31st, 2008 at 4:36 pmjust gorgeous work - I am so envious of this talent!!
Merlene says:
October 31st, 2008 at 4:39 pmGood job girl! Kathy not only has a lovely scrapbook room, but she also has a great sewing room, thanks to her amazing husband who encourages her creativity.
VickiF says:
October 31st, 2008 at 10:50 pmwow! Awesome something I’ve never been able to master…
Donna Pedersen 4454 says:
November 1st, 2008 at 7:34 amYou can see that there was alot of time and effort that went into these quilts!! They are just wonderful! TFS
Barb #2975 says:
November 1st, 2008 at 7:56 amKathleen — I am speechless! WOW!
mariah says:
November 1st, 2008 at 9:43 amMy Sis-in-law just finished the wedding ring quilt, and the colors even look like hers.. your quilts are awesome.Mariah#2457
Kathleen says:
November 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pmA BIG Thank you Rebecca for featuring my sewing/quilting side of my Fiskars world. Also to all of you who have commented I appreciate all your wonderful comments. Like it says in my story I started sewing when I was young and never stopped. I now have added sewing for my Granddaughter to my list. When I get her Birthday dress done I will post it in my gallery. If you have any questions for me I would be happy to help if I can. Happy quilting everyone!!
Mardi says:
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 pmThese are absolutely beautiful!