Help me please

 My most recent quilt was in response to a friends request for a quilt for her Human Trafficing Awareness Day. 

Human Trafficing is a problem that has been long ignored, yet many suffer in the midst of bondage to slavery.  Men, women and children are held captive by others and forced to do things not of their free will.  A large percent of the human trafficing problem is within the sex trade industry but it can also show up in labor and other venues. 

The blue heart is indictive of the rescue organziations - many of the org. names are stitched onto the heart.  The verse within - Is 61:1-3 speaks to the hope to set the captive free.  The chains indicate the bondage and captivity of those in slavery.  The chain is made with citylights themed fabric as often slavery can go unnoticed in the dark and populated areas.  The hands are all those seeking to be free from bondage.  I stitched between the hands in jerky, chaotic movement to indicate the fear, panic and chaos that those trapped live in daily.  The hands are of all skin color thread for this is not a problem of one nationality, but of all races and countries.  The hands are of all gender and age for slavery seems to know no descrimination.  Where the chain intersects the heart, the outreach of care to rescue, it is broken and within the cirle there is no longer chaotic stitching, only the hope of the scripture and those who seek to help. 

My hope is that this quilt will give a visual picture of the battle raging within our cities and cause us to open our eyes to the bondage that many live with invisibly, yet so controlling. 

A Patriotic Quilt story

I have followed a free motion quilt blog for over a year, inspired to push myself to free motion quilt more, gain skill and think outside the box.  Several months ago I began a semi traditional quilt for a neighbor who was deployed, the blocks reflected his interests and attributes.  As I began to quilt the back it soon became evident to me that the front might be the back and the back the front as the quilting became a story of its own and deserved space and attention to enjoy.  Each bit of the quilting also reflected his life, his family and his love.

As I considered his wife's patriot support and decorating style I thought about how to honor that in a quilt.  I chose to go with a simple pattern so that the quilting itself could be enjoyed, though subtle by color on color.  I also thought of their life in a log cabin and wanted the quilt to have a primitive feel and casual nature.  What I came up with is below- each large star features the name of a family member.  Each stripe speaks to the cost or contribution of their patriotism.  I was reminded that both spouses had served in the armed forces, so all the units that they were part of are listed.  While in the military it is common to live in many states and do much travel- that is also indicated with the states listed.


I really enjoyed making this quilt, thinking of the recipient and how it will speak to her heart.  I have learned the value of not breaking thread as I quilt and finding a way to transition from one point of quilting to another without loss of stitches- after spending 2 days of free time tucking loose threads beneath.  I am finding that my comfort with larger pieces is growing- this quilt measures 56 x 80 inches.  By working from top to bottom slowly I was able to do each section in its entirety before moving along and had no back wrinkles- yeah!

After completing the quilt I gave it a short soak in weakened tea to take the bright out of the white, seeking for an antique, used look.  not sure i achieved quite what I was seeking, but did not want to go too deep and risk tan instead of muted white

slowly but surely I will move through the pile

I have finished quilting the first of the three old quilt tops that I found at a local thrift shop.  I chose to go with a spiral pattern to contrast the linear shapes that covered the quilt.  Overall the quilting went well- though I am grateful for the backside being the back - a few wrinkles that I chose to leave... to lazy and not into investing huge amounts of time and energy to tearing out stitches.  Again, great practice for large quilt quilting on a domestic machine.  Ever learning as I do.

from thought to reality

A few months ago while cleaning my closet of beloved but no longer fitting clothes I thought to upcycle the linen skirts.  I have now completed that thought by completing the quilts. 

Ths first turned out to be a nature based quilt that i quilted with leaves and nature motifs as I meandered through the blocks.  It was great practice for my machine quilting.  I loved the quilt and called it my own- a rare treat to myself as most quilts are gifted away.  The second quilt, which I have posted about before, took longer to come together.  I debated about the fabric as what inspired me was not great fabric, yet searching brought no color solution so I went with it.  I have now completed the quilt, washed it and it washed up fine.  This one was admired from the start by a dear daughter of the heart.  She has graduated college and is in the midst of launching into life.  It will warm her heart and home as she walks by faith into adult life and the adventure that awaits her there.

Again I chose nature as the inspiration for the free motion quilting of this pieces.  I chose lighter thread as there is fabric with white patterning and it is reflective of that pattern of leaves that inspired me.  I was uncertain at first if the tan thread would be overwhelming overall yet upon completion I am thinking that it works.

original plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So from skirt to beloved quilt the fabric of inspiration has traveled.  Now I am daily enjoying the patterns that I chose to wrap myself in ...during thinner days... and now they will again bring joy as we surround ourselves with the natural beauty that they have become.  

completed qult

Found treasures

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July is off and running and I am just realizing it is almost half done... my how the summer is flying by. not nearly enough quiliting is going on...my goals are not coming to pass- too many distractions and this week I picked up a few more.

I happened to be in town, happened to think of a favorite thrift shop and stopped in. Among the many items found were these three patchwork quilt tops. All in fairly good condition- a few seam repairs and only two areas that will need fabric replaced on one. They were half price and crying to go home so they could become real quilts. How could any self respecting quilter leave these orphans to hang "naked"among so many completed blankets and linens. And so I adopted them.

This is a first for me.. and so I move forward carefully. I am not typically a vinatge quilter kind of person, but to have a twin size top completed and just needing to be sandwiched and quilted sounded like an easy enough task. it will also allow me time and place to play with some new free motion designs- a blending of the old and new. i dont know the history to the pieces but each top was pleasing enough to say yes to rehoming it.

Yesterday I puchased a creamy yellow fabric for backing. At first i thought I would use muslin, but decided a hue would be more appropriate. I expect I will bind them with black as all have a bit of black in the patchwork. today I hope to preshrink the backing fabric and by the weekend get them at least layered and one pinned. then the fun shall begin!



An update on my most recent project- the housewarming quilt. It is now pieced and layered. I am needing to get inspiration for the quilting of it. I have been busy with other life and with weariness comes no inspiration... hoping next week will be a few quilting days then i will post the finished image. I am thinking circles to intersect and soften the squares- kind of contrast.... but not sure yet.

thanks for checking in... would love to hear what your fingers are busy with these days.

The pause that refreshes

After a intense time of quilting I find that I often need to pause and take a breather from stitching for a while. I am in such a season. I recently finished up a quilt and now find that i am not drawn to my machine and cloth.

I had not made a quilt for myself in a long time, until recently. I chose the fabrics for this quilt from a favorite skirt that had "shrunk" as the 40's continued on. It is linen and having read of using linen for quilting I saved it for 'one day". A few weeks ago i found some linen curtains that helped me to begin. For two weeks I worked at piecing and then free motion quilting the quilt, and eventually I finished. This one was me- flowers, colors and nature all combined.

I have found that the linen reminds me of the older quilts- a bit rough and very natural feeling- kind of nice, kind of rustic. I have yet to throw this one in the dryer, and I wonder if that will soften it at all, I am hoping so. Still I love to snuggle under MY quilt and enjoy the beauty of it.

I am thinking that my pause will soon end, for I have fabric to cut out and summer vacation is passing all too soon. My hope is to finish the quilt top I am wanting to make for my daughter before school starts in the fall- ok maybe by christmas is more realistic. Until then i will enjoy my new quilt and the pause that refreshes.

old machines

I love my pfaff machines- both blessings from my bear, both unexpected indulges for me the busy sewer in the family. My first was his protest to my purchase of a used Pfaff years ago after my faithful JC Penny machine bit the dust under the children's useage. Little did I realize how wonderful that Pfaff was- it is my workhorse that I return again and again. My daughter looks for it to be passed to her, I think I have told her to not hold her breath, but maybe one day. :)

A few months ago while in a local shop I spied a wooden cased Singer for $15, I looked it over and thought it needed to leave the shop, so it did. I spent a little bit of time on its case and then began to rewire it, fearful to even plug it in the wiring was so worn. Lesson learned- make pictures before taking wires apart. My husband came to my rescue yet still needs information to complete the rewire.

Memorial Day weekend as we traipsed through the Dog Days Flea Market another Singer sang out. For $20 this one joined its grandchild. Having researched them both- one was made in 1923, the other 1942. Both are 99 machines, one shiny black with pretty gold filagree, the other, made in wartime a dull patterned metal. Both stitch a nice straight seam, each have their own particular variations. The older machine has a bar in place of a foot pedal- a neat feature.

Today I spent time oiling the machines and getting to know them a bit better. At first both ran a bit sluggish, yet after a good dose of oil they purred. Where a bobbin cover would not fit at first with a bit of attention it is now covered.

When I bought them I did not know their purpose or destiny, now I do. The 1923 will be gifted to a friend tomorrow. She wants to sew, has bugged her mom to sew. She loves all things old and they live in a log cabin. I think the machine will be happy there, journeying with my friend Elizabeth as she begins to stitch. I was tickled to see that Elizabeth will receive a machine that came from Elizabeth, NJ.

The other machine I am choosing to adapt to hand crank style. Today as I hand cranked the machine without an attached motor I found it enjoyable and thought of how it would be to make a quilt on such a machine, so I shall. I still have the motor should I want to revert it again to electric motor. It will also be helpful due to its slower pace when I teach children to sew.

As I spend time with older machines I am finding a greater appreciation for the folks who invented the sewing machine. For the workmanship that spans almost 100 years - and the machine still going strong. I am thankful for the modern machine, but also for the simple straight stitch machines.