Blobs of Improv Applique

At some point in the last few years I made one of these blobs. I was using it as a sample for an Improv Applique class I was teaching online. I probably made another one in another class. These were only ever intended to be samples.

Intentions and reality rarely meet in my quilting play.

Now that I have the studio and no machines at home my Morning Make is always handwork, when it comes to stitching. As I uncovered these blocks during the move they came to mind as one thing to play with as the morning grew cold and dark. It turns out they are a fun spot of joy! Now I keep making them.

This was my initial plan for layout: random. Just the four colours and laid out in no particular order. As soon as I decided to turn these blocks into a quilt this was my plan. I also wasn’t expecting to make a large quilt, only 5 x 5 blocks. As the background pieces are 10'“ squares, this would make a simple little baby quilt.

But then… but then I laid out the blocks by colour. It was actually only so I could ensure I wasn’t repeating the background fabrics in each colour way. Seeing them together was easier than thinking through that. And oh! Did that change everything!

This layout is amazing. It is so much stronger in showing off the blobs, giving them colour order. I still get randomness in the various fabrics, but the structure of columns is a much stronger design. There is no going back now.

What I do need to do, however, is add more columns. I’ve currently got 7 of each colour. If I add one more colour I now get a small lap quilt (47.5” x 66.5”). If I add 2 then I get a bigger lap quilt, especially if I make 8 blocks of each colour (57” x 76”). I could add 3 colours, stick with 7 blocks, and get a classic square (66.5” x 66.5”). I’m torn, to be honest. So, I will add 1 colour and see how I feel about it.

Who knows? I may change my mind completely again.

Moving to the New Studio

After 3 and a half years years I am finally in my new studio. I went back and checked, it was March of 2021 that I first spoke about getting this studio space. It was a much delayed renovation (for so many reasons) but we are in the space. Big sigh! Not sure if it is a sigh of relief for me just yet, but it will come.

Over the years I have sewn at 3 different dining room tables, in my bedroom, in a few different basements in various states of being, in a closet once, and most recently (for the last decade) in a dedicated sewing room at home. Every single space has been a place of creativity and challenge. All I really cared about was that I could sew and I made any space work. What all those spots had in common, though, was that they were at home. This is my first time with a space outside of the home.

The goal for this space is twofold. One, I will have my own creative space for sewing and creating. It is much larger than anything I’ve had before with excellent storage and good lighting. Two, I will be able to both host small classes and film classes here. So, personal and professional opportunities.

My personal space is quite lovely. Open with a lot of room. I’m still missing an actual desk, but it is coming. Of course I set up my sewing table first! After a few days of moving and not sewing I was getting antsy. I’ve more or less set it up exactly as I did at home. It works well for me, this standing configuration.

It is a treat to set up a little sitting area. Technically, I had this in my sewing room at home because it was also our guest room and there was a couch in it. Not surprisingly, it was covered with stuff (quilts, quilt tops, blocks, fabric) most of the time so sitting on it wasn’t always an option. I’m hoping for generous cups of tea and visit with friends here. The chairs themselves came from a friend of mine. She and her family were moving away and leaving furniture behind. These chairs were her grandmother’s. I got new cushions made for them from fabric collected over the years (like hemming pants, cushion covers are not in my wheel house most of the time.)

Since the initial planning I knew I was saving this blank wall to be a giant design wall. I’m nearly finished making it and just have to install it. Folks, it is massive. I am so excited. For me, yes, but also when I am teaching. Having been in so many spaces for classes over the years I know how creative we quilters have to get when it comes to design walls. This is going to help so much.

As much as I am thrilled to have this new space for me, let’s be honest, it isn’t just for me. My son is doing online school in the mornings here. He is transitioning to full time school after missing most of the last 2 years with Long Covid. Then, because the house is now empty in the mornings the dog also comes with us. I won’t lie, this presents a challenge. It isn’t exactly the quiet space I would have hoped for. At least not in the mornings! Maybe that actually helps me with the transition out of the home though? Bring some more of home here so it doesn’t feel weird?

True confession time: this is weird. I am feeling rather discombobulated still. There was the stress of all the moving (and the resulting chaos left at home) and adjusting to change. That’s going to take some time to resolve, I think. Then there is the impact on my schedule. I haven’t had to be up and out of the house in a long time. Plus, I am used to throwing a load of laundry in or getting dinner started in the middle of the day. I had my multitasking game down pat! Truthfully, though, I was doing more of the home/mother stuff and very little of the work stuff these last few years. It was what was required for our family but it sure was frustrating for me. Finally, I’ve worked hard to compartmentalize my life since joining the family business. This new studio space is connected to our office/workshop space. That means I can be interrupted at any time with accounting or strategy questions. I can also pop back and forth between my own quilting work or writing and the family business. My head is spinning somedays! I really liked home is home and work is work. Now it is all jumbled.

Time, I need time. Change isn’t always easy, even if it is the right thing to do. I miss hearing the birds in the background or the noises of residential life. Now I have trains on the regular, power tools, and our employees on their lunch break. That being said, I have the wide open space and opportunity plus excellent storage (as soon as all the shelves are up). Nothing is ever going to be perfect, but it sure can be good.

Quilters' Playcation Adventure Sewalong Update

It’s hard to believe that we are 28 weeks in to this sewalong. Mostly because that means we are more than halfway through the year already!

As a leader/instigator/quilt teacher I get such joy from seeing my students and followers enjoy the process of improv quilting. I never anticipated how much joy I would get joining in with you. It is a great comfort to me to show up each week and sew with people. On the occasions where I missed and had to reschedule I’ve been quite sad. I feel like I am letting everyone down, for sure, but I also just really miss it.

This year’s Quilters’ Playcation Adventure Sewalong is different for me. How many times have you heard me talk about NOT squaring things up until you are making layout decisions? (Hint, almost all the time.) This time, however, I started squaring up and sewing the blocks together right at the beginning. This means I am composing the quilt as I go. It’s a different thought process. It’s a good challenge for me.

So long story short, I love everything about the Quilters’ Playcation Adventure Sewalong this year.

Unquilting

Sigh… Big sigh.

Last week I was all excited because I gave myself a day to quilt. It’s been a stressful few months and I needed a day to myself. I also needed a quilt finish or two in order to clear my brain. So I booked a day on the long arm, got a few quilts all prepped, and went in to My Sewing Room to hang out with Emily, who runs the long arm department there. She helped me load my first quilt and thread the machine - the two tasks I always forget how to do. Otherwise I feel pretty comfortable on the long arm. I started up and went along merrily.

Yes, I checked my tension - once - at the very beginning. Admittedly, it was hard to see as it was yellow thread on a yellow part of the backing, but it looked okay. And so I rambled on. Nothing fancy with my quilting, just loops and stars all over. I was listening to some upbeat dance music and in my groove. Emily was doing her thing and left me as I felt more than confident.

Overconfident.

About halfway through I noticed that the tension was off on the stitching. I saw the blue fabric of the background as it wound around the bars and I could see my tension was off. I made some adjustments on the computer of the long arm and continued. Folks, it did not get better. Finally, I conceded to my mistake and called Emily over. I should have stopped there but I decided to proceed, after she made more adjustments. Bad move. Long story medium, we never fixed the problem. I pulled the finished quilt off the frame and set it aside. Maybe it will get fixed with a wash? I foolishly thought to myself.

Emily tinkered with the machine - the bobbin casing was a bit off - and we loaded the second quilt. This time I pulled out an extra bit of fabric and tested the tension before I touched needle to my quilt. Much better! I proceeded to quilt the second quilt without any problem and in the course of those few hours accepted what I needed to do on the first quilt. While waiting for me to finish Emily graciously started the job of ripping stitches for me.

It’s been a long time since I made a mistake like this. I don’t blame Emily, even though I was renting and she was technically supervising me. I know enough, and made that clear when starting that I should have caught this myself. It would be easy to get really frustrated and beat myself up. Or I could get angry and blame Emily too. Neither action is going to help. The only thing to do is let out that big sigh, find your favourite seam ripper, and sit down to rip. It’s just a mistake on a quilt, it isn’t life threatening or even life changing.

Ripping stitches when the tension is loose on one side is actually quite easy, just very time consuming. This quilt measures over 60” square and I have a tendency to quilt things to death, so there was a lot of ripping to do. Thankfully, my son and I have been rewatching Ted Lasso so I sat with him and ripped, and ripped. He would fiddle with the pile of thread that grew with each episode. Therapeutic for both of us in many ways. It took me the entire third season and almost all of the Netflix series One Day to finish ripping. I only put one hole in the backing so that will be an easy fix.

It was all just a mistake, it happens. I know many of us would get ourselves quite worked up over this. Maybe call ourselves a few names? Cast blame and shame? Perfectionism is a nasty beast. Of course we want to improve, not feel like we are wasting time, and get things finished. That’s normal and understandable. But making ourselves feel bad over quilting? Totally uncalled for and unnecessary. Shit happens. Acknowledge it, clean it up, and move forward.

Time to rebook in to the longarm. This time I will remember to bring an extra piece of fabric for testing tension. I will also not be so cocky and use the resources there (Emily) to make sure I am doing things right.