My fascination with patchwork quilts started back in my high school days long before I had fabric scraps to work with. It was an expensive experiment of collecting supplies that never really yielded an actual quilt. I kept my quilting supplies, even the ugly fabric for 14 years in a box until now. I even have the tattered Quilter’s Almanac special edition published in 2000 that fueled my quilt dreams.
My one and only Quilt Almanac magazine from 2000
Now, my working woman’s shirt quilt top showed me that it takes more than a sewing a straight line to make quilt pieces fit together correctly. Luckily, a friend taught me a new way to make it work. Paper piecing! It makes it possible to use up little fabric odds and ends and sew a quilt together little by little on-the-go. Plus it’s super easy and precise.
Super easy to do with just paper pieces, thread, and fabric scraps
My first paper piecing experiment is with hexagons. I’m loving it. It’s basically made up of left over fabric scraps. Even some of the fabric from my first quilting attempt back in 2000. This has got to be the most precise thing I’ve ever made. I can’t wait to start incorporating this technique into other projects.
I altered this dress for a friend. She needed 2″inches taken off the shoulders. I’m getting gutsy! I decided to add the scraps to my Hexi quiltSo far so good. I even included sequins fabric scraps from my first alteration project
I have had an fascination with handcrafted textiles since before I can remember. The most influential women in my life have been skilled at sewing and needlecrafts. This includes great grandmother Mattie and grandma Arelia who was ever encouraging and proud of her “sweet pea” as I attempted my first projects at the age of 11.
Starting with braid weaving, then progressing to sewing, then crochet I was on my way. I received a bachelors in Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising from Eastern Michigan University in 2006. Over the years I have picked up knitting, loom weaving, embroidery and finally spinning every type of fiber I can get my hands on.
The process of creating using traditional techniques has brought me much joy and fulfillment over the years and I hope to inspire others to explore our heritage skills through my sharing.
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Traditions in Cloth 