Two Question Tuesday - 11/8/11

Two Question Tuesday – 11/8/11

Here's the deal - I really liked Mama M.'s Five Question Friday - but that's just too many questions for me.  So I'm going to do my version - and without the linky thingy.

I'll ask two questions and then give you my answers. If you want to play - you can give me your answers in the comment section. If you have a blog and would rather answer them there - just leave a link to your blog instead. I don't know how to do the "Linky" thing like Mama M. yet - and to be honest - I would rather sew than find out so I'll do it this way until I figure it out.
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Two questions for you this Tuesday -
Courtesy of KatieM - who asked me these questions last week - here you go -

1.  What encouraged you to become a quilter?
2.  What is your favorite process of quilting?

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1. What encouraged you to become a quilter?

How does that song go – “I was Country before Country was cool” - ??

Well – I was Quilting before Quilting was cool.  ;))

In the early ‘70’s - I made a “quilt” from two sheets – some batting – and packaged binding – and then tied it with yarn. I became a “Quilter” when I decided to make a “patchwork” quilt for my first nephew. After that - I made quilts for my kids and just because I thought it was fun.  Most of my friends liked to cook - I liked to sew.

My Other Half encouraged me to enter my quilts in the County Fair when he would point to something and say – “The (insert item here) you made is better than THAT!” And winning ribbons made it even more fun.

Quilting was SO different from my work. My job was SO repetitive - the same thing every month – every quarter – every year. The first month/quarter/year at any job would be – “Oh, that’s cool.” The second month/quarter/year would be – “Oh, yeah – I remember – we did that last month/quarter/year.” The third month/quarter/year would be – “Oh, crap – we have to do that AGAIN!”

Quilting was just my therapy. It kept me sane. I could plan out a quilt – work on it – finish it – and NEVER have to make that pattern AGAIN – unless I wanted to.

It was and still is FUN!!


2. What is your favorite process of quilting?

My favorite process of quilting used to be any kind of sewing “by hand” – Piecing - Needle-turn Applique – Hand sewing the binding - and Hand Quilting.  All of it.

To me - hand stitching is/was very relaxing. It’s also very low-tech. Nothing fancy – just me – a needle – some thread – a thimble – a pair of scissors - and some fabric. Years ago I cut out and thread-basted a bunch of Hawaiian-style patterns – hoping to stitch them all when I “retired”. Unfortunately, I have problems now with my left-hand that make hand sewing difficult so I can't do very much of it anymore. Moral of that story – do it while you can or you may not be able to do it at all. ;))

So now – my favorite process of quilting is Foundation Paper Piecing. I do it completely backwards from most people – but it works for me! I love the precision of the technique and the “sew on the line” simplicity. No futzing with the ¼” seam – just stitch on a piece of fabric – trim it – add another piece - repeat. All I have to do is sew a straight line - and I'm good. ;))

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OK - your turn.


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -