My First Quilt
The year was 1980-something. I was in my mid-twenties when a friend asked me if I would take a quilting class with her. She loved vintage decor and couldn’t afford to buy a quilt, so she planned to make her own. Since I already enjoyed sewing my own clothing, she guessed I might like to join her.
Before class we were supposed to purchase our fabric: a focal floral, three “supporting fabrics,” and muslin. Immediately I chose a dark green fabric with small flowers but I struggled to find coordinates. When I came to class the first night, I realized why. I was the only person making a green quilt. Everyone else was making a dusty blue or mauve quilt because they were the “in” colors at the time. Forest green was definitely not in favor, and that’s why there were so few green fabrics available.
We made cardboard templates for each block of the sampler quilt and traced around them on to the fabric. Then we cut out pieces with scissors, adding a quarter-inch seam allowance. Next, we threaded our hand-sewing needles and began quietly stitching. Sadly, my friend wasn’t able to finish the class due to a family emergency, so I finished the course on my own. This sampler quilt almost became my first and last quilt. The process was just so tedious.
My Mother, My Quilting Hero
I thank my mom for giving this story a happier ending. Mom also had a friend invite her to take a quilting class during the quilting revival, around 1976. She was going to pass on the class initially because quilting sounded like something she would enjoy when she was older. Thankfully, she changed her mind and completed her first sampler quilt.
Mom was one of the founding members of her local quilt guild, which is still going strong. She took many more classes, often traveling to the Minnesota state quilt show to learn from nationally recognized instructors. One weekend Mom asked me and my sister to help her make a quilt for our cousin’s graduation gift. She showed me how to use a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler to cut strips. Then she showed me how to quickly sew together strip sets on the sewing machine. My eyes were opened to modern quilting methods, and I instantly fell in love. In fact, I had so much fun that I gathered up the leftover pieces from that quilt and made my own.
More Family Quilts
It’s fun to share a hobby with friends and family, and Mom and I are happy to carry on a family tradition. Not only do we make quilts for family members, but we’re also happy to teach them how to make their own.
The Ultimate Beginner Quilt
Have you heard about the Fat Quarter Shop’s Ultimate Beginner Quilt? They’re offering free video instruction on YouTube and free patterns to encourage more people to learn how to make a quilt. So, go ahead and invite some friends to join you! The sew-along begins on August 1 and runs until November 7. And since you’re learning from the comfort of your own home, put on your yoga pants, pop some popcorn, watch the video, and get stitching!
I invited two of my nieces to make quilts with me, and they’re each going to use the Ultimate Beginner Quilt kit (affiliate link). Of course, I don’t want to miss out on the fun, so I’m going to make my own quilt with fabrics from Moda’s Day in Paris and Grunge. There will definitely be some green! If you want to gather your own selection of fabrics like me, here are the fabric requirements and coloring sheets to help you create a plan.
I’ll be checking in with you each week during the sew-along, and I plan to share some tips for those of you who will be teaching a child how to make their first quilt. Also, be sure to read about more “first quilts” and get tips from Pat Sloan and the rest of the Ultimate Beginner Quilt squad.
Priscilla at The Real Wives of Cross Stitch
Fat Quarter Shop at The Jolly Jabber
So tell me, what’s your favorite color to use in a quilt? (And there really aren’t color teams. Thankfully there are plenty of fabrics to choose from, so you’re not limited by someone else’s sense of style. I love the soft, beachy colors in the Fat Quarter Shop kit! I want to take it on a picnic.)
