Stella’s
Quilt: 1988
My MIL had asked me to make her a machine cover in apricots and browns. Her machine was set up on a desk in her bedroom at her unit in Bayswater. I made the machine cover between Feb and March 88 using a very sweet “Swallows in the Window” pattern. (I have no idea what the source of this pattern was - no internet or googling then!) I gave this to her, along with two hand quilted cushions, for her birthday in 1988. The blocks were handmade; the machine cover machined together to make it a little robust.
This gave me the idea to make a matching
sampler quilt for her bed. I had been
teaching beginner’s patchwork at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House and did a
few blocks along with each class as demonstration pieces. I can see a few Jinny
Beyer pieces in this quilt so my taste in fabrics (and colour palettes) was
perhaps starting to become a little more sophisticated?
I set the blocks on point and
then finished off the quilt with some basic hand quilting – just to get it done
in time for Christmas 1988. Hand pieced
and hand quilted between March & December 88.
We are told she was found wrapped in this
quilt when she passed away in 2010. I am fortunate to have this quilt in my possession now. It
is a wonderful reminder of her.
Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 152 x 195cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Blocks by hand; borders machined 1988
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Gift
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited:
Collection: Home# 008 Stella's Quilt
Pattern Name: Sampler set on point
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim & Ginny Beyer
Fabrics Purchased: 1987/88
Fabric Design: Ginny Beyer & Mixed Prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton
Lessons Learned:
This was a serious amount of work to “give away” even if it was for my MIL. I discovered that making quilts for money was never going to be for me; too much time and effort with insufficient recompense to make a “living” out of crafting. I’m just not that motivated. Knowing this has also allowed me over the years, to say a firm no to offers and suggestions that I might really like to finish someone’s family heirloom (sitting in bits in a box under their house). Life’s too short! Find yourself a little bolt hole, set up the machine (or what-ever) and make a date in your diary (and keep it!) for some stitching. It’s very Zen….
My MIL had asked me to make her a machine cover in apricots and browns. Her machine was set up on a desk in her bedroom at her unit in Bayswater. I made the machine cover between Feb and March 88 using a very sweet “Swallows in the Window” pattern. (I have no idea what the source of this pattern was - no internet or googling then!) I gave this to her, along with two hand quilted cushions, for her birthday in 1988. The blocks were handmade; the machine cover machined together to make it a little robust.
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| Not the best of photos but it was a rather nice block Collection: Home# 007 Sewing Machine Cover |
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| Stella's Quilt on the line at her unit |
Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 152 x 195cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Blocks by hand; borders machined 1988
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Gift
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited:
Collection: Home# 008 Stella's Quilt
Pattern Name: Sampler set on point
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim & Ginny Beyer
Fabrics Purchased: 1987/88
Fabric Design: Ginny Beyer & Mixed Prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton
 |
| The colours are much more appealing in this digital shot |
This was a serious amount of work to “give away” even if it was for my MIL. I discovered that making quilts for money was never going to be for me; too much time and effort with insufficient recompense to make a “living” out of crafting. I’m just not that motivated. Knowing this has also allowed me over the years, to say a firm no to offers and suggestions that I might really like to finish someone’s family heirloom (sitting in bits in a box under their house). Life’s too short! Find yourself a little bolt hole, set up the machine (or what-ever) and make a date in your diary (and keep it!) for some stitching. It’s very Zen….
