I'm taking a Quilting Class!

I've longingly looked on as gorgeous quilts were started and completed in the modern quilt along.  I own The Modern Quilt Workshop and I've thought about joining, but I know I'm just not up to the task.  (Check out Kim's quilt -- is that not incredible?)

Now I've started several quilts over the years and not one of them has ever made it anywhere near completion.  Probably because I have always chosen something too ambitious and gone into it with too little know how.  So I decided to start with something easy and to learn the basics from my knowledgable local quilt shop teachers.

Even though I've been sewing since I got my first children's sewing machine when I was about 7, I went in and told them that I wanted to start from scratch.  I asked to be taught about thread, fabric selection, everything.  So that's how I'm coming at this -- with a totally fresh outlook.

With the help of the friendly staff at Robert's Sewing Center in Joliet, I chose these fabric:

And I will be making the "Candy Cane Lane" quilt from Christmas at the Bears Paw Ranch.  It's a *very* easy design in which there really aren't any corners that have to meet, so I don't have that to worry about.  We'll save that for quilt number #2.  The fabrics are civil war prints I think and they are from various manufacturers.  I needed so many different prints that we kind of had to pull them from all over the place. 

Overheard at our house:

Me:  My homework is to wash and iron the fabrics.
Pete:  I'll show you how the iron works.
Me:  Very funny.
Pete:  And I'll wash the fabric too.

Comments

[Cindy]

You go girl. Those fabrics are beautiful.

[Cindy]

You go girl. Those fabrics are beautiful.

[Lisa]

That Pete is a funny guy. The iron comment made me laugh out loud! I hate ironing as much as I love knitting! Gorgeous fabric....I haven't quilted in forever.

[Scout]

That Pete sounds like my T. So funny huh?

Also, you need to check out my post today with some vintage Boogas! ;)

[Imbrium]

I'd love to get into quilting, but I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head. I've never really liked classic quilts, but some of the modern ones are so neat!

[Toby]

Oh my - quilting motivation! I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. You see, since I started knitting 6 months ago I have done very little quilting. *sigh* I know it's really a good thing, but if only I didn't have to take time away from knitting to do it...

[Denise]

I thought you were slowing down... taking it easy.. do you NEED another thing to do?? you be crazy!!

[abby]

*sigh* so pretty.
I really need to learn how to sew. Really. I'd love to make quilted bags to carry knitting in.

[Kate]

I love your fabrics, they look fantastic together. You can never have too many hobbies - and a good excuse to get more stuff!!

[Vicki]

I can so relate to your ambitious, yet unfinished quilting projects! I have a lovely quilt I started for my daughters transition to from quilt to big girl bed! She is now 5 and the fabric sits in a rubbermaid in my craft closet....Oh well. Someday. Happy quilting!

[kathreen]

hey julie
did you see that makezine posted about your podcast list
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/02/knitting_podcasts.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

[Terry]

Wow, love the fabrics - great how you got it all to look wonderful together.

Take a look at Denise Schmidt Quilts - cool book re: modern quilting, something that seems like you may enjoy. Keep us posted on this, will ya?

[Vicki]

That's a great idea. I really should do that too. I started a quilt at one point years ago for Jaime. Yeah, a queen sized quilt. It hasn't gone so well, needless to say.

[Shelley (Pink House)]

I like your palette! NIce colors and pattern textures. that's my favorite part of the quilting process. But I love rotary cutting and piecing too.
I'm curious..when I saw the quilt shop in "Joliet" - do you live in Montana?

[kerrie]

that is exactly the kind of conversation that Wayne and I have! I can't remember the last time I picked up the iron to do anthing other than block something that I'd knitted!

[vanessa]

oh, another obsession, er hobby :-)
be careful, the quilting stash can grow as big as the yarn stash!

[Kim]

Sorry I'm late on this one --
Hmmm ... maybe I'll just add you to the quilt along against your will! Mwa ha haahahahhaa!

Well, you are a member in spirit until you feel ready to take the plunge. Best of luck! I think quilting is easier than knitting in a lot of ways, so I bet you'll be a natural.