Forty Years of Quilting

I have been quilting for forty years! Before that I dabbled in assorted hobbies, most related to stitching. I always sewed. My grandmother let me sit on her knee while she operated the treadle when I was a very little girl. That's when the bug bit me. I even made my own wedding dress! The quilting bug did not bite me until my first child came onto the scene. I took some time off work and we moved the year after he was born, so I decided to take a class in quilting. All was done by hand at that point! It was also before rotary cutters were invented. It's amazing those of use who quilted back then kept it up. It was quite laborious and not nearly as much fun as it is today with all the gadgets available!

At any rate, I have decided to post photos and notes on the many quilts I have made over the years. I would like to start with the very first quilt that I made in the early 1980's! Without a rotary cutter, these strips were cut with scissors on a marked pencil line on the fabric made with a yardstick. The strip cutting took as long as the sewing! Not know better, I also used a cheap sheet for the backing. It was done in a quilt-as-you-go manner, so the blocks were hand pieced together. The quilt still resides in my home although it was very well loved by my son and even went to college with him. Here is a photo of the full quilt:

Log Cabin, extra long twin

A little worn, but still together! Notice the cheap sheet backing. I had to whip stitch those blocks together by hand on the back. It is not fun to sew cheap sheet fabric together by hand! 

While making this quilt was a labor of love, it was definitely more difficult than it need to be. Today's techniques would be super quick and easy! Soon I will share the last quilt/s that I made for Christmas gifts. For now...back to my studio for my brand new project!