Sunflower Rustic Tote Bag- Hand Quilted
Blog - Quilt Blocks Color Embroidery
Quilting is a relatively new process for me since many people know I started out drawing and painting. I only started quilting in 2020. As I moved on through different mediums I picked up and dropped a few, quilting is something I have come to genuinely enjoy and I started learning during the pandemic. My great grandmother had a Singer sewing machine with the hand crank when I was very little, she was able to show me how to use it but we don't have it anymore unfortunately. Someday I hope to get a hand crank machine refurbished to hold onto properly. The type of quilting I specifically enjoy is called English Paper Piecing. It’s done by hand and is perfect for embellishing with embroidery or other fun things.
There are a handful of questions I get asked repetitively about sewing, using machines and making quilts. I will touch on the most frequently asked questions and how I plan a fabric project. I also want to make clear that for each medium the plan most likely will change. Projects can go awry in an instant, blow up or fall apart (literally) so never rely on one set plan, a set of “best practices” or any other “go to” quackery.
What are you thinking when you made (X)?
There is a science to making art, as for me that means making mistakes constantly and learning what those mistakes are and how to avoid them. Some things exist that I know I just can't avoid, like the cost of cotton. From threads, fabric or interfacing cotton is going to cost me out of pocket and put me in a hole so I need to accept that it is a hill I just don't want to climb. I was once told though, acceptance is the first step to recovery. I think I’m always recovering from something, so I accept it, that doesn't mean I enjoy it or like it lol. My process involves tolerating the parts I hate and enjoying the parts I love therefore I try to allow myself to be subjective of the finished product. Did I get to the finished outcome? Or am I somewhere else completely? These questions need to be asked. At some point there will be a beginning, middle and end to your project and these subjective questions need to be asked to make sure the final vision is still in sight, or maybe you found something better and you can scrap the old vision.
How can I start sewing?
A needle and thread is the easiest way to start sewing. There are books on hand sewing, quilting and almost every method of stitching available. Youtube can be a resource if the person making the content has knowledge about the skill that you are interested in. I stick by picking up a needle and thread since that is how I started in elementary school, then from there I learned more advanced sewing techniques and eventually how to use a machine.
What made you want to make quilts?
I have made different types of art, a quilt is another art form so I said why not try this out. It was exciting to buy the fabric, match the threads and pick out embellishments. Designing the quilt patterns takes more time than I expected, there is so much math involved that I would not suggest quilting or bag making for people who hate math. I love holding the finished piece and admiring it. I love when someone wants to buy a piece because for me that means I did a really great job. Not selling tells me that maybe I went wrong somewhere but I can't always blame myself sometimes the world isn't ready, such as our current economic situation. Right now not many people globally would buy a quilt unless they need another blanket or purse out of necessity so purchases are slim. I have a real passion for design and art making so I just keep going even if it means not becoming very successful.
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