My first "real" quilt

January 2007 - from a Beginner's quilting class

If I was sure I'd stick with it, I might name this post "Time Travel Tuesdays."  Alliteration seems to be the style for blogging titles.  I'd like to share my photos of older quilts with you because I'd have a much easier way to find them.  (Labels on posts are really handy!)  But alas, I'm not ready for that kind of commitment.   So Time Travel Tuesday might just be an every-once-in-a-while Tuesday.

After getting hooked on the idea of quilting as we prepared for a quilt themed Ladies' retreat, I decided to take a class and learn a few techniques.  The ladies in my class were a lot more experienced beginners than I was!  They already knew terms like "sashing" and "piecing."  I brought along my sewing machine manual, just in case I had to re-thread my machine or wind a bobbin.  I was intimidated by our weekly homework and by all the seam ripping we had to do until those blocks were just the right size.

I'm glad this class was so challenging!  It gave me confidence to try new techniques.  Since I wrestled with the LeMoyne Star in the center of the quilt (Y seams!), I later made another quilt using this block to improve my skills.

I think it's funny that I can still hear Barbara's voice guiding me along as I piece tops.  She's still prompting me to pay attention to press those seams well, fully open and toward the darker fabrics.  She reminds me to walk my hands down that long ruler as I make a cut so that the ruler won't wiggle.  And later to cover the blade before I set the rotary cutter down.  I know it's her voice because she's one of the few people who call me Kimberly.  So do you think she could read her students in each class, predicting which ones would tuck their half finished class project in a closet and forget it?  Looking ahead to see others who would start with her excitement and build their own enthusiasm for expressing their creativity through fabrics....

The only hand quilted one I've finished so far.

This quilt is one of the ones I've kept at our home.  It's a nice reminder of starting this journey.  The tips of my stars don't touch the outer edges just like they're supposed to do.  And I love it all the more because of that fact.

It gets used a lot and you'll often find it draped over my shoulders to ward off the chill as I sit at the computer or read a book.

Enjoy your day!
-SeeingStars