Make MY Nine in 23

Warning.  This is going to be a wordy (clearly no sewing) post. And as my 150^th post, it is dedicated to my quilting friends.

Image Courtesy of Graphics Fairy 

I’ll begin by saying, this Make Nine in 23 is not my idea but one developed by Veronica.  And I might add one which she has used successfully over several years to inspire her to make time to sew, create and finish things.  As always, it is useful to have a Things to Do List and this one quite took my fancy as a useful springboard, particularly for working out where I am at in my quilting life.  For many years now, early each New Year, I add to my Project List – a basic list of my (many) languishing unfinished projects with a few little extras sitting in a not-quite-ready-to-sew pile (these are my bright little sparkles added to keep the joy :-).  Of course, I also keep another list of quilts that I’m inspired to do some day…now wouldn’t that be half of those in Quiltmania…oh my!  So, I have to confess that my list(s) is not quite so arty and has rather more than 9 projects.  What inspired me most was Home Row’s Nine Questions to ask yourself to help narrow down your chosen projects for the year.

Using these questions to help me massage and sort out my own yearly “maker’s routine” was quite an interesting exercise and one I think, helped me to focus on what was important.  Especially given the time I have for sewing!  Rather than record all my rather wordy responses, I’ll list the questions I asked myself and then give a condensed version of the answers.  I should note here that I enjoy this sort of self-reflection as it helps me focus – so little time & so many things to do – whilst some makers just prefer to get on with it and be led by the whimsy & joy of creating.

So, the Nine Questions I asked myself were:

1. What do I want or need?
2. What did I learn from last years successes?
3. What values are important to me?
4. What quilts are currently on my bed and on my walls?
5. What do I like & not like doing? (In terms of technique & quilting style).
6. Am I a seasonal maker?
7. Making time.  What’s my plan?
8. Do I want to stash or UFO bust?
9. Do I like to explore new techniques or crafts/arts?

In summary, I find something inspiring in patchwork & quilting.  It is enough for me, although I would like to get back to making my own clothes – perhaps one day.  Right now, I’m consumed by quilts.  However, my making time is currently limited to 6 months of each year as I also love to travel.  I have a large stash and many UFO’s (grin) – 12 at last count with many more ear marked for the future. As to the UFO’s, they have their own life and I’m not about to rush them for the sake of finishing them.  I always think you get a better end-result if you let the quilt, as it progresses, speak to you.  I live to honour the old but am also prepared to explore the new.  I also am fairly fastidious about workmanship and quality; I try not to rush a quilt’s progress just to get it done.  I’m also not big on following trends – each quilt has to stand on its own in terms of colour, texture, pattern, design.  That doesn’t mean they always work out – these ones are my quilts of learning!

I’m mostly inspired by old blocks & designs (Barbara Brackman, Nancy Cabot), love colour (Rachel Hauser) and love modern interpretations of old designs (SujataShah, Kaffe Fassett) & recently discovered a useful book by John Q Adams. 

If you’re wondering, I have, over the years, cleared my work area (my Garden Shed) from knitting & wools, cross stitch kits, silk screens (fabric printing), embroidery, a hardly touched weaving frame and most of my polyester fabrics so that my focus is on quilting.  I do dabble from time to time in dyeing, will add embroidery to a quilt if essential (just not too much!) and now, am loving the quiet style of boro & sashiko (Mutsu).  In all, I probably spend too much time on the internet (Jenny Doan) or with my head in a book or magazine, looking for inspiration. 

Now all I have to do is work out which ones are to make the selection final Nine in what little remains of 2023.  See if this works for you...