And Sew It Goes

  • Babies

    One of the most common reasons to sew a quilt is to welcome a new baby. As we prepared for a new addition to our family, I considered how I might share a quilt that parents and baby alike would enjoy. This particular branch of the family has a ‘thing’ for giraffes. So, I thought…

  • Lessons Learned

    After returning from the Gee’s Bend Quilting Retreat in late March, I was excited about the possibilities ahead. I imagined quilts made with methods I had never tried before and the fun that I could have. The one piece of quilting advice I keep thinking about is ‘don’t think.’ Easier said than done! That is…

  • Gee’s Bend Quilting Retreat: Day Three

    The final day of the Gee’s Bend Quilting Retreat was a beehive of activity. It was filled with last minute additions, finishing touches- hand and machine quilting-, and new projects being started even though time was running out.  ‘Show and Tell’  was a memorable part of the last day. It was a feast for the…

  • Gee’s Bend Quilting Retreat: Day Two

    Quilters love to quilt. You can feel it in the room. Watching them design quilts blocks and figure out next steps, is nothing short of inspiring.  I’ve made a few blocks, none with a purpose beyond practicing sewing quilting blocks in the tradition of Gee’s Bend quilts.  I’ve cut fabric into squares and strips. Gathered…

  • Gee’s Bend Quilting Retreat: Day One

    Today, more than 40 quilters gathered to begin planning, cutting, and sewing quilts under the guidance of Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway, descendants of generations of women whose Gee’s Bend quilts are recognized around the world. I have wanted to attend this retreat for a few years, and was finally able to make it…

  • Gee’s Bend Here I Come

    As I’ve returned to sewing and quilting I’ve spent time imagining what might lie ahead. Some things have gone according to plan, other times I’ve been surprised.  I know I can  sew and follow a pattern. I’ve got that hands down. I love to learn and what is most exciting is learning something new. I…

  • Attic Treasures 

    One of my goals this year is to clear out what has built up in our attic over the years. Years of stuff. One might say they are years of memories and service to help you remember younger days in your child’s life or your own.  But this year, I’m purging.  And…I found some useful…

  • Quilts Are Historical Documents

    “Quilts are historical documents. They tell stories that were never written down.”      ~Bisa Butler The Safety Patrol, Bisa Butler Women’s voices are often quieted or brushed aside. This has been true throughout history. Yet women, resilient and determined, have always found ways to be heard—through song, poetry, literature, protest, painting, sewing, and other forms of…

  • Good Old Pythagoras 

    Binding a quilt is something that many quilters avoid. It can be tricky and, at times, frustrating. I learned to bind a quilt by watching a series of YouTube videos. This was super helpful, but they didn’t explain the why. Why does this work?  Because I love math, I couldn’t leave it there.  Why does…

  • Precision and Practice

    What better way to encourage and use math skills than through sewing? The precision of math is lovely. The precision of my sewing, however, varies. Sometimes my seams wander. Other times, a template slips and the pieces I thought were cut to perfection are anything but. It keeps me humble. No matter how carefully I…

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