The Baby Made Me Do It!

by Carrie Pålsson

"Guess what, I'm having a baby!" my sister shouted into the phone. I was surprised, but not nearly as surprised as I was by the next thing out of her mouth: "Make a quilt for my baby!"

Me? Make a quilt? Not likely!

When I was a kid I loved to look at quilts. We had several from my great-grandmother and I loved them so much they fell apart from use. When I was fourteen I decided to make my very own quilt, but when my grandma heard about my project it was quickly taken out of my hands and snatched up by her industrious fingers. I still have that pink concoction, but have always regretted that I didn't get to help make it.

But today? Make a quilt now? I'm a modern woman who can't be tied to a sewing machine. I was forced to take a sewing class in high school and hated every single second of it. Why would I willingly subject myself to such an activity?

For the next three months my sister kept begging me to make her little boy a quilt. I still don't understand why she thought I would do it, but I finally got so tired of her constant pleas that I decided to just do it. My mom explained a simple way to make a plain patchwork quilt that required only the sewing of straight lines. I borrowed my grandma's fifty-year-old Singer and set to work. Little did I know I would finish that quilt in one weekend and become addicted to buying fabric, putting together colors, compulsively reading quilting magazines--basically I became a crazy quilt woman.

I delved into the quilting world and was soon muttering terms like feed dogs, double-folded bias binding, and fat quarters in my sleep. Quilting was not as hard as I thought it would be. I quickly discovered that though there are techniques that are easier or harder depending on your experience and preference, there really is no right or wrong way to make a quilt. It's just a big fabric sandwich.

This all took place a mere six weeks ago, but I've already completed two quilts and am just about to finish up my third. I am completely shocked that I've become so addicted to this hobby. I rarely finish anything I start, but this quilting obsession is already yielding completed projects and shows no sign of letting up.

What's the big deal? I think it appeals to my sense of beauty. Fabrics are beautiful and colorful. I could spend hours in the fabric shop marveling over the variety of colors and designs. I'm generally an unartistic person, but quilting allows me a rather simple way to create something beautiful. I look forward to the day when I am confident enough in my skills to tackle a really intricate project. Master quilters aren't just people who sew. They are artists in their own right.

Quilting is probably not for everyone, but if you are interested, here are a few hints from one beginner to another:

• Read, read, read! I jumped into my first project without reading much of anything. When I'd come to a part that confused me, I'd search around online and see what I could find. If I would have done just a little reading first I could have saved myself a lot of time and trouble. I highly recommend the library as a source for first time quilters. My small-town library had two shelves full of quilting books, more than enough to give me the basics. My favorite book has been Your First Quilt Book (or it should be!) by Carol Doak.
• A rotary cutter is a must! A rotary cutter, when used in conjunction with a big, clear plastic ruler and a self-healing mat, makes any quilting project go much faster and is much more precise than scissors. Make sure you keep it closed up when not in use and keep it away from children or pets. These suckers are sharp! Also, many books recommend wearing closed-toed shoes any time you are using your rotary cutter. I agree. You could easily cut your toe off if you aren't careful. I've told my husband that I'm going to sleep with my closed rotary cutter under my pillow when he's away. It could easily protect me from any stranger that invaded my space.
• A little patience goes a long way. I'm not the most patient person in the world, so this was a hard lesson for me to learn. I've learned that if I check my quilt top for problems before basting I save myself a lot of time and energy later. If I carefully pin my corners together I don't get uneven junctions. If I take the time to plan out my design in advance, things end up looking more balanced. Also, the more patience I put into my quilts, the less time I spend ripping seams (and I spent a lot of time ripping seams on my first two quilts).
• Treating your fabric correctly is a must! Wash all fabric in warm water before starting. Press all fabric, using starch or Magic Sizing before you cut. As you work, always press your seams. If you are machine piecing, there's no such thing as too much starch (hand quilting is another story, but I stick to the machine).
• There are people out there who enjoy cutting up squares! In addition to buying specific fabric that I like from the fabric store, I've also been able to pick up a lot of prepared squares at a local craft store. E-bay also sells a ton of prepared squares. If you're like me and don't like the boring cutting part, buying the squares is a great time saver. The only problem? You may not like all the colors or fabrics that come in a grab bag. I also understand that a lot of quilting websites offer fabric and block exchanges, but I haven't looked into that yet.