I started quilting 18 years ago in The Netherlands when my husband was in the Air Force. My hobby at the time was crocheting. A neighbor of mine asked me to come to their weekly quilting group. I said “quilting? I don’t know how to quilt!” She asked me if I could sew a button or hem pants? I said “sure I can”. And she said ”then you can quilt!!”
At the time I began quilting most of us were learning hand piecing and hand quilting. Only a few of the ladies in the group machine pieced. We would cut out the paper shapes and make templates from cardboard (saved cereal boxes) then trace each piece onto the back of the fabric. This could be hundreds of pieces of fabric, depending on how many blocks were needed and we would cut out each piece by hand. It was very time consuming but somehow so satisfying and relaxing to see the pieces fit together to form each block.
I only hand piece my quilt projects every now and then. I love the history behind it. It takes me back in time. Now I usually machine piece my projects, the seams are stronger when machine pieced and you get a top done much quicker. I love my rotary cutter and mat and strip piecing is the best!!!
The last quilt I hand pieced and hand quilted is a quilt that hangs on my bedroom wall. It took me 2 years to finish it. It was started in 1993 and finished in 1995. It is my “Family Quilt” It is comprised of 16 blocks, one for each member of my family and a couple for places we lived. For example my block is called “June Bride” and was pieced using colors that were in my wedding. The first block I made for the quilt was called “Star Sapphire” and was pieced using blues and cream. This block is for my oldest son Bryan whose birthday is in September.
The four center blocks are for me, my husband and our 2 children at the time. The other 12 blocks that surround our 4 blocks are for family and places we’ve lived. It is my favorite quilt to date!! I’ll post a picture soon!!