About a month ago one of my yoga teachers began class discussing ASAP.
As soon as possible.
But instead of as soon as possible she wanted us to ponder other possibilities.
As slowly as possible. As smoothly as possible. As steadfast as possible. As sure as possible.
Urgency and Our Nervous Systems
My teacher shared how we all move so quickly, constantly rushing – and how that sense of urgency overloads our nervous systems into thinking we are in a constant fight or flight mode. By moving slowly, smoothly, steadfast, or any other ‘s’ you want, you take time back for yourself. You give yourself space to calm down, relax, release anxiety and just breathe.
Urgency as an artist
That sentiment, those classes have really been sitting with me. On my morning walks I’ve been thinking about “as slowly as possible” in relation to my work.
We live in an urgency culture and artists sharing on social media doesn’t help, leading us to feel like we aren’t doing enough, making enough, creating enough. If we could only be faster or better. All of that has led me to this:
Do I find joy if I make quilts quickly?
Is there joy for me if I’m rushing to keep up with others?
How do I actually like to make quilts?
I’m a Slow Maker
Historically, I’ve been a slow quilt maker. I rarely have a plan – usually a general concept that I work towards. That process, slow as it is, allows me to connect the fabric I’m using with the story I’m telling. It grounds me as I dive into my creativity because, as an artist it’s important for me to connect with the story. I need and want some cohesion between the parts.
The Story of Making Matters
Ultimately, the story is in the seams, each methodical stitch, each cut, snip, or seam ripped piece. The names of quilts tell the stories, too, and when I’m not rushing, I can watch the story unfold with each piece I sew while each chapter is slowly written. Each piece perfectly placed so I can write a plot using hue, value, tint, tone, shade, or scale.
When I look at my work, I can always recall the time I created it and the story I was telling. Perhaps I was working through a challenging life event, like in Therapy and Metamorphosis, or Metaphor – the story for those quilts are in their names. Or maybe a scrap quilt that tells many stories – each piece a slice from another story coming together to write a new book.
Enjoy the Process
Slowing down allows you to savor the process, work with what you have, and create a connection to what you’re actually making. Cloth is simply our medium to create beauty and allowing ourselves to slow down also means we can intentionally not choose consumerism. We can work within a finite set of constraints (what we have) to make something beautiful.
This isn’t don’t buy new fabric – we need the industry to survive – but be intentional about what you buy and how much you buy when you are creating to help you build that creative connection with your medium.
We’re Better Makers When We Create Intentionally
Slowing down also allows us to create more durable items.
So often quilters guffaw when they hear about rules but rules exist for a reason and they are important BUT, and this is a big but, but if you know the rules then you know when and how you can break them to stretch boundaries. If you are going to spend the time and money to make something beautiful, make it last. And it’s easier to make something that will last when we aren’t rushing.
Mastery comes slowly with the doing, the learning, the creating. We weren’t born masters of our craft and we won’t get there if we continually rush.
Take time to enjoy the process, to let the story write itself and, while you’re at it, sit back and enjoy a cup of sweet tea while you take it all in. Don’t know how to make sweet tea? Drop me a line. I’ll share my recipe.
We’ve all been there. We have an idea for a quilt; we are finally ready to begin. We buy the fabric, we play a little, maybe even cut some pieces and place them on the design wall. But the grand idea doesn’t come together.
Frustration sets in. We question ourselves. Maybe a little imposter syndrome rears its ugly head into our psyche. What’s the path forward? How do I go to get this concept out of my head and onto my design wall in a meaningful way? Where do I go from here? I’m stuck.
What is a pivot?
The ability to pivot your quilting practice is actually a good thing. It builds on your strengths, your experiences, your knowledge and it challenges you creatively.
A pivot simply means you change direction for a quilt top or how you are quilting a quilt.
The Importance of Pivoting
Pivoting on a quilt or other project doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you recognize when something isn’t working. Perhaps a color story isn’t singing or a secondary design isn’t popping the way you wanted; maybe your quilting isn’t quite coming together the way you’d like.
When you pivot, you figure out how to adapt and change the parameters to make your quilt work. Pivoting shows growth. Recognizing when it’s time to pivot can often be the difference between a quilt that excites and energizes you and a quilt you hate. There are too many quilts to make. You shouldn’t spend time piecing one that you don’t like. So instead of second guessing yourself or worrying that your work isn’t good enough, the ability to pivot allows you to test new ideas; it allows you to build on your strengths by taking your skills, knowledge and passion to follow a new direction for a quilt top that aligns with your vision.
Why We Hesitate to Pivot
We usually hesitate to pivot for a few reasons.
Judgment For a fairly solitary art, there is a lot of community in quilting. We find community online, at guilds, through quilt friends and at a local quilt shops. The voice in your head can often be your best cheerleader and your worst judge.
If the project doesn’t work out will your quilting community think differently of you? If you share it with your community will people be harsh (kinds words matter, y’all)? Will you think differently of yourself if that happens? Will it affect your psyche if you stop working on a project? So. Many. Questions.
Sunk cost Fabric is expensive and your time is worth something, too. You spent all this time and money to make a quilt. Walking away is a waste of time and resources.
Uncertainty I think this is a big challenge for a lot of quilters. You’ve worked on a quilt. It’s not what you wanted but if you keep going can you change course? Can you take what you have and actually turn it into something beautiful that makes you proud or will you make things worse? Will you sink even MORE money into an awful project?
You Have To Change Your Mindset
Pivoting is a mindset.
The reality is that if you continue to work on a project that isn’t going anywhere it will drain your energy. You’ll regret going further than you should have. Pivoting means you respect your creative boundaries by changing your plan.
Pivoting in Your Quilting Will Help Your Practice Grow
If you view a pivot as a creative aid instead of a hinderance, your mindset changes.
It’s very uncomfortable to pivot and navigate a new path but you grow personally and creatively when you sit in that discomfort – when you are forced to think about your project differently, when you are forced to work within a set of constraints, when you have to analyze the material you have or blocks you’ve made – that is where you move forward and it could be the best gift you give to your quilty self. It could be the thing that moves you forward to create your best work and recognizing that you need to pivot might be the best decision you make for a quilt.
What You Gain With a Pivot
You can gain so much by simply acknowledging that you need to pivot. In addition to challenging yourself to create in new ways and you’ll gain fresh perspectives on how your scope of work can thrive. You’ll build resilience from taking a risk and navigating change, and it’s a confidence booster.
More importantly, the ability to pivot keeps your work from becoming stagnant.
Identify What Isn’t Working and Why
When your quilt isn’t coming together you need to determine what isn’t working and why. Sometimes you step back from your design wall (or floor, or bed, or….) and you can immediately see the problem. Other times, you need to look at your quilt for a while before taking any steps forward. While it’s never too late to change course, if you aren’t sure what the problem is, taking time to make a decision is always a good decision.
Reflect on what you don’t like. Is it color, scale, value? Spend time figuring out what’s not working.
Identify what you like. Take time to asses what you do like so you can lean into that design idea, color, or concept more.
Once you’ve identified the challenges then you can determine the best way to fix it.
Redesign
This is the hard part. Once you’ve figured out what you do and don’t like and now it’s time for the redesign. With quilts it could involve making more blocks, taking out blocks, adding a border, an accent color, or more. There are an infinite number of solutions if you have a quilt conundrum but the only thing holding you back is you.
Don’t be afraid to play and take risks. Remember, there’s great reward in quilty risk-taking. Don’t be afraid to pivot. AGAIN. Some of my favorite quilts saw multiple iterations before finally being sent into the world.
Make sure you have fun along the way. You’re pushing creative boundaries. It’s okay to get messy multiple times.
Stay True to Your Inner Artist
When we pivot it is very easy to try to take a quilt in a direction that doesn’t really reflect our voice and our style. Sometimes it’s the right thing to do to explore and grow. Sometimes it isn’t.
Whatever you decide I think it’s important to find your artist voice. It can take time to develop and your voice usually evolves. My work now is reminiscent of my early work but you can see how I’ve developed as an artist. My colors are the same but my technique is much better, I’ve honed in on my color sense and I know what I like and don’t like. Don’t be afraid to explore your voice, either.
Finding Your Voice It takes time to find your voice but I think the biggest tool that helped me was the book, The Artist’s Way. It’s a 12 week program that was written and designed to help you unclog your creative pathways by identifying roadblocks.
I’ve gone through the book twice and I continue to journal daily. My Morning Pages have helped me process personal and creative challenges. I cannot recommend the book enough.
I’ve linked the notebooks that I use for my journaling. You can use anything you want. These are the ones I like best.
TLDR: Are SewTites worth it? They are! You should go buy some now.
SewTites was kind enough to send me a sample pack and wow! I can’t say enough good things to say about them. I’ll definitely be ordering more for myself. Keep reading for the full review.
Use code PATTYMURPHY to receive 10% off your order.
What Are SewTites
SewTites is a woman owned company born from the simple idea to use magnets instead of straight pins while sewing leather to a bag. Genius, right? The idea took off and many iterations and products later, SewTites is an industry leader, and for good reason.
How Do SewTites Work?
SewTites are easy to use. Simply separate the magnets, put your fabric or project between them, then clamp the magnets in place to keep your project from slipping. Easy, right?
Of the three sizes sent to me, I used the SewTites original (aqua) and the SewTites HD (blue, heavy duty). The magnets are incredibly strong and can be used across a variety of mediums. In fact, if you look at the SewTites website you can see how creative makers get using the magnets!
My initial test run with SewTites happened while I was making the smaller version of Persephone Awaits to take to AQS.
Using SewTites to keep blocks together while piecing.
Here’s what I liked:
Ease of use
Not stabbing myself with a straight pin
I was able to maintain accurate and precise piecing results
Use code PATTYMURPHY to receive 10% off your order.
What REALLY Impressed Me?
What really impressed me is that I was able to keep the SewTites in place on my blocks while I was sewing (see the video above). No taking out pins. No forgetting to take out pins. No messing up my machine. I was simply able to secure my pieces together and sew. The SewTites were just to the outside of my presser foot. It’s genius and I think it’ll be a complete game changer for me. My only regret is that I didn’t try them sooner.
The magnets are safe for use with your computerized machine but don’t store them on it!
Accuracy and Precision
If you’ve been following along for a while you know that accuracy and precision are a part of my ethos. I know it’s not for everyone but for me, any tool that can help me maintain my accuracy and precision get an A+ in my book. These magnets might even get an A++.
Where Else You Can Use SewTites
Possibilities are limitless for using SewTites but for garment making, bag making and embroidery the magnets provide a wide variety of options to help keep your work secure.
There are several weights/strengths of magnets that you can use if you are sewing with hard-to pin fabrics like leather, gauze, lace, or other specialty fabrics that are thin or stretch. If you aren’t sure which magnets to get, a mix pack will give you the option to test a few types before you commit.
The SewTites website shares all the magnets and possible applications so you can pick what best suits your needs.
Are They Worth The Investment?
Hands down they are. I will definitely be ordering more for myself.
Will SewTites Replace All My Pins?
No. There’s a place for straight pins in every studio and I don’t see myself ever getting rid of all of them. I do, however, see a future studio where my SewTites and straight pins live in harmony, though.
PROS:
The magnets are incredibly strong. Great to use if you have dexterity issues. You can achieve accurate and precise piecing results. You avoid pin pricks. There is no need to replace dull pins.
CONS:
If you have fingernails, be sure to slide the magnet off the back instead of trying to pull apart so you don’t break a nail. Ask me how I know. 🙃 They are an investment. A worthwhile investment, but an investment.
If you’ve been Zero Waste Quilting curious, this 10 page guide is for you. Packed with lots of helpful information to help you get started creating a more sustainable studio.
In this guide you will learn:
The major concepts behind Zero Waste Quilting Ideas to get organized How to create a Zero Waste studio and more!
You can preview the guide below and you can also download and print it.
Have you ever wanted to make a quilt and the idea, the plan, sat in the back of your head for a while, marinating, until you saw the PERFECT collection of fabric to make it? It’s not just me, right? Tell me it isn’t just me.
I’ve wanted to make a quilt using solids to recreate my Persephone Awaits quilt pattern for a long time. I hadn’t prioritized it until my friend, HollyAnne, over at String and Story, put this bundle together and I knew I had to have it. I joked with her that I tripped on my credit card and oops! The order went through. But seriously, it’s a gorgeous bundle of fabric, right?
Watermelon Radish fabric stack
My Excitement Wanes?
I was so excited when the fabric arrived! I ran down my driveway to mailbox when the was delivered and practically skipped back inside. I couldn’t wait to get started. The only problem? I thought I ordered bundle of half yards but I ordered a bundle of fat quarters.
The Solution? A Glimmer
I was bound and determined to use this bundle to make a version of Persephone Awaits. So what’s a girl to do? Instead of a Glow Up, this quilt got a little GLIMMER.
WHAT is a Glimmer?
A glimmer is the opposite of a glow up. When we hear glow up we think about a reimagined version of *something* that’s bigger, better, maybe has different colors. But this quilt wasn’t going to be bigger. It was going to be smaller.
Enter the glimmer.
What Changed?
The bordered diamond blocks are made the same way but they are smaller and I added an inner border and a piano key border.
The addition of the piano key border makes this quilt almost (almost) a Zero Waste Pattern. The remaining fabric is minimal. I have some leftover diamonds and strips that I plan to make into something new in the next several days. Stay posted for that.
The Original Version
The original version of Persephone Awaits is a simple, bordered diamond quilt. I made it with 16 half yard cuts. The quilt finishes around 65” square and it’s a quick, easy make. I wrote a long post about it here if you’d like to read more about it here and there’s a longer post about Zero Waste Quilting you can read at We All Sew.
Persephone Awaits quilt
The Updated Version
The updated version has bordered diamonds, a small inner border and a piano key outer border. I created this glimmer with a bundle of 16 fat quarters making it a fun quilt to use with a bundled collection and it’s budget friendly.
Persephone Awaits quilt. Small version
There’s Value in Small Quilts
I think it’s easy to forget that there is value in small quilts. Small quilts are just as important as large quilts. They help us hone a technique, test an idea, and they allow us to make something quick and easy just to make something quick and easy. When we’re stuck in a rut a quick, easy quilt is a great way to dive back into sewing and shake off some of the cobwebs. It can kick start us back into motion and that’s important because getting started is the hardest part.
Sometimes making a quilt involves the wing and a prayer. That was the case with this pink version of Misunderstood. I wanted to make a quilt coat. I wanted it to be bright and bold and vibrant, and I thought that the Misunderstood design would make a really interesting coat.
We Start With a Quilt
I have wanted to make a quilt coat for a long time. In fact, my friend Teresa GAVE me a copy of her Elemental Coat pattern at Quilt Market 2024 when Zero Waste Quilting was released and I’m embarrassed that it’s taken me this long to get around to making one; however, I think it was worth the wait.
Misunderstood Quilt
The What If’s?
I made the quilt and, I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty bold. I was second-guessing myself. I was second-guessing my decision to create this. I was second-guessing how this quilt would look once I cut into it and turned it into a jacket but a little faith prevailed and I went for it. I quilted the top, cut out my pattern pieces and with a lot of nerves and a pair of scissors, I cut out my pieces.
Misunderstood Quilt with coat pattern pieces on it
There was a lot of anxiety about cutting into this quilt. What if I made a mistake? What if I mis-cut? What if I hated the jacket when I finished? All the what if’s ran through my head but this jacket wasn’t going to make itself and part of growing required me sitting in some discomfort. I had to remind myself that this was just a quilt. I was cutting up a quilt. I was making a coat and if I didn’t like it, I could find another purpose for the parts and pieces.
A wing and a prayer worked. I am pleased as punched with how this quilt coat turned out. I am so excited and just love it. It is bright, it is fun, it is bold. I added some embroidery. I’m hoping to add more and I’m really really excited to share this with you!
Me wearing my unfinished but assembled Misunderstood Quilt Coat
Nothing says almost finished like an unbound quilt coat over a hoodie!
The Devil is in the Details
Here are some detail shots from my quilt coat.
Detail of Misunderstood Quilt CoatMisunderstood Quilt CoatMisunderstood Coat SleevesDetail of Misunderstood Quilt Coat with embroideryDetail of the back of the Misunderstood Quilt CoatMisunderstood Quilt Coat
The Power in Your Stash
This quilt coat highlights how much value we have in our fabric stashes. The ability to create something on a whim. The opportunity to play and expand our creative selves. AND, in this case, the power to make an entire quilt coat without buying ANYTHING extra.
Triangle pieces cut out to make Misunderstood Quilt Coat
I did not have to purchase any additional supplies to make this coat. All the fabric in the quilt – top, backing, batting and binding – were in my stash. Even the embroidery supplies!
I was able to pull scraps and yardage to make the top. Keeping my fabric and scraps visible and organized by color sped up the process because I could just grab fabric and audition it as I put the top together. Furthermore, the Flying Geese blocks in this quilt finish at 1 1/2” x 3” and 3” x 6” so scraps would either work or they wouldn’t.
Triangle pieces cut out to make Misunderstood Coat.
Additionally, I’m on team bias binding so I keep the extra in a bin and pull it out as needed. For this coat, I used three scrap binding pieces. Two around the body and another around the sleeves. You can see two of them in the detail photos above.
About Making the Coat
The coat is easy to make and Teresa’s instructions are easy to follow. The version I made is full length with full length sleeves and a collar. There were four pattern pieces used – the coat front, the coat back, the sleeves and a collar. I had plenty of room to cut all the pieces from my quilt, too.
TIP: Be sure to lay out the pattern pieces on your quilt BEFORE cutting into it. I traced around the pieces on my quilt to make sure I could make the longer version and wouldn’t come up short.
Teresa includes variations so you can make:
Cropped or hip length versions
3/4 sleeves
a hood
Once the pieces were cut out it took me a few hours to put the coat together. Construction is simple and sewists from confident beginners to advanced quilters can easily make their own quilt coat.
I opted to sew the binding down by hand and that probably took me as long as it did to make the coat but it’s also the perfect night-time activity.
In progress Misunderstood Coat Binding
Embroidery Stitches I Used
I used two embroidery stitches on this jacket. A chain stitch and a lazy daisy stitch which, frankly, look pretty similar. The truth is I used the embroidery to embellish any spots in my quilting that were askew. I need to add more but I’m really happy with how it looks so far.
Detail of Misunderstood Coat Detail of Misunderstood Quilt Coat
Bottom Line
Would I make another? Absolutely. Have you made one? If not, you should. 🩷
Sometimes you’re fortunate enough to have an experience that changes you for the better. That was my experience when I taught at John C. Campbell Folk School last week. It’s long been on my bucket list to teach there and I was incredibly excited when an invitation was extended to me.
What Is John C. Campbell Folk School?
John C. Campbell Folk School at Dawn
John C. Campbell Folk School (JCCFS) was founded 100 years ago by Olive Dame Campbell and her friend Marguerite Butler. The school is based on a Danish model folk school that brings art and education to adults in rural communities. After much travel and research, Olive Dame and Marguerite decided to establish the Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. You can read more about Olive Dame, Marguerite and the founding of the Folk School here.
Lots of rural education came in the form of what we consider arts and crafts but these crafts, techniques and tools were essential to sustaining every day life. While we may endeavor to create these things for fun now, this was serious business in living100 years ago. Currently, the Folk School offers classes in over 50 subjects including baking, clay, cooking, jewelry, wood carving, quilting and so much more! There are always different classes and different programs on the schedule and JCCFS even has a Little/Middle camp they offer one week in the summer for elementary and middle school children. My youngest went for three years and loved every minute he was there.
Community is the Core
The Campbell Folk School has a strong focus on community and it has four core values:
Joy Kindness Stewardship Non-competitive
When you walk on campus for the first time you feel it immediately. I felt the sense of community. I was never alone. I never felt awkward reaching out to ask for help. People offered help when you didn’t even know you needed it! It takes work to create an environment like that. My parents, who live in rural North Georgia, say that’s just the rural way of life and, perhaps it is, but I think it’s more than that at Campbell. They want everyone to feel welcome and belong. There’s some magic in those mountains.
Let’s Talk About The Classroom
I had a really bright classroom. It had windows, light, design walls, and lots of space but more importantly, I had seven incredible students who were eager to learn.
I taught my Aether quilt. This class is more about color and design than it is making a quilt. Piecing this quilt is the easy part but laying out this quilt definitely challenged some of my students, especially the first two days. I’m pretty sure there were some heads knocking against the walls but by the end of the third day things really started to come together the idea that we were looking at color instead anything else started to resonate. Then the magic began.
Aether Quilt version 2.0
I think part of the joy in this classroom was the sense of community. Everyone got along. There was an absolute lovely group of women who shared about their lives, talked, shared tools and collaborated. It was special and we could all feel it. The week that I spent with those women was absolutely transformative. It has changed how I want to approach teaching and it has changed how I want to approach my own work as well.
Maybe it was the ladybugs in my room sprinkling good luck on me. Maybe it was just predetermined luck. Whatever it was, I’m glad it happened.
What Kind Of Teacher Are You?
I always wanted to be one of those teachers who read from a book or turned on classical music during class and I leaned into it last week. It’s not just about teaching, it’s about the entire experience.
Each day during class I shared a meditation from a Melanie Beattie book. The meditations tied into what we were learning, had learned or where we would land throughout the week and going forward. Students loved it. They loved to lean into the lessons.
I was finally the teacher I wanted to be.
Leaving The Classroom
During closing ceremonies I thought it was appropriate to share another sentiment attributed to Mother Theresa:
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
You didn’t forget the sense of belonging to one another at Campbell and I really want to take that sentiment forward. I want to really work us on expanding my community here, online, wherever. I want to foster those relationships. I think it’s really important to do that but I also think those are the things that will help me slow down. Help me remember who I am and where I’m going and what I love about this art. My art.
What Does That Mean Going Forward?
I’ve been sitting on my experience and thinking about where I want to be this time next year. What did that experience mean for me and how do I carry the lessons I learned forward?
What I’ve landed on is the word intentional.
I want to be more intentional and grounded in my work and my approach to my work and pretty much everything I touch. I want to slow down and enjoy the process. I want to be present. Presence removes hurry and I think I have more to offer if I land there.
Aether Quilt layout progressTrudie at her quiltAether quilt background Trudie working on her quiltAether Quilt background Detail of Aether Quilt Orange Peels
Gallery 6
Aether Quilt layout progressLisa’s Orange Peels on the design wall Orange Peels on the design wallAether Quilt almost complete layoutAether Quilt backgroundDetail of Orange Peels against background
Gallery 7
Orange Peels on the design wallMore Orange Peels on the design wall Partial layout of an orange peel quilt Final Orange Peel LayoutAbby and her quiltEt voila!
Around Campus
Barn Quilt A frame featuring a loom, fibers and the plants that dyed them.Textile library at John C. CampbellA collection of tatted lace. Antique shuttlecocks for weavingYarn for weavingYarn color wheelPlacard on the front door at John C. Campbell Folk SchoolAn old building at John C. Campbell Folk SchoolDirt road at John C. Campbell Folk SchoolEyes on a TreeWreath at John C. Campbell Folk SchoolHandmade basket at John C. Campbell Folk SchoolWooden birdhouse at John C. Campbell Folk SchoolMouse House
Evening Entertainment
Reading of A Christmas Carol
A reading of A Christmas Story at John C. Campbell Folk School
Followed by the Morris Band, Cloggers and Dancers
John C. Campbell House Band
Morris Band Cloggers
Morris Band Dancers
More dancing!!
Closing Thoughts
If you have the opportunity to go to John C. Campbell Folk school and take a class for week or a weekend I cannot recommend it enough. It was truly one of the most incredible experiences that I have ever had and my sincere wish is that everyone can experience that magic that I did.
I learned things as a human, a teacher and I want those lessons to carry me forward.
Maybe I just needed to be there. Maybe that week was all about lessons learned but I definitely felt like I was home and there is nothing better than going home.
They Got Married. Cute name for a Double Wedding Ring quilt, right? This quilt was inspired by my Aether quilt and was originally designed to be the second quilt in a series of ombré and large floral quilts. In addition to wanting to be more mindful of the fabric I was (am) using, I decided that templates that work across multiple quilts is also excellent.
Now I know I am not the first quilter who uses the same template for multiple quilts, I was just happy to join in on that practice.
They Got Married
Where It Began
The seeds for they Got Married began while I was making Aether. I wanted to keep exploring curves and building more quilts based on the Orange Peel template I created. A natural next step was to build out the double wedding ring with arcs.
I drafted the templates in Illustrator, printed them out, made sturdier templates with comic book boards* I’d taped together and I was off!
Like Aether, I built out the arcs first then I added the orange peels and center sections.
They Got Married progress photo
Almost there!!
They Got Married almost complete
I love this never been seen before photo of They Got Married. Everything was going well until I saw a HUGE spider web across some of the tree branches. And the spider started to move.
Anyhow, I was holding the quilt somewhat clumsily and Greg managed to snap a photo. If only there hand’t been a spider. I love the vista here. Gorgeous, right?
They Got Married
They Got Married was an exercise in patience and color. Getting the pieces to flow *just so* took some effort but it was well worth it in the end. Using all the yardage I needed to make this quilt? Also an effort but the collection of goods I created is so much fun.
Sewing Curves
Sewing with curves is easy if you have a few tricks in your back pocket. My best tips are:
use starch
use pins
use a smaller stitch length (it makes the curves smoother)
clip curves, if necessary
patience pays off
Arcs for They Got MarriedBack of arc for They Got MarriedSewing arcs to center sections
Details, Details, Details
A few detail shots for fun.
I used a bright solid for the backing and scrap bias binding around the edges of the quilt. In fact, the bias binding color coordinated with the colors on the edges of the quilt to create a seamless look! The binding below is actually leftover from Misunderstood!
Binding and backing for They Got Married
Quilt top lifestyle photo before quilting.
Back of They Got Married
Zero Waste Quilting Book
The pattern for They Got Married is available in my book, Zero Waste Quilting. You can order copies on my website, or pick up copies at your local quilt shop or other retailers.
Have you made a Double Wedding Ring?
Notes
*Comic book boards are one of my favorite studio tools:
I wrap fabric around the boards and use them for storage.
I use them for templates.
I tape them together for large templates.
They are great to use when you fold paper back while foundation paper piecing
It’s funny when you look back on your scope of work to see how it’s evolved. For me, looking back includes Zero Waste Quilting before I even knew I was working in this sphere. Often a scope of work happens that way – you start doing something and it snowballs until one day you recognize it. For me, at least with Zero Waste Quilting, that’s exactly what happened. I didn’t start out with a plan – it just sorta happened.
Little Lone Star Quilt
This Lone Star quilt named Little Lone Star was the first Zero Waste Quilting pattern I made.
Back in 2017 my friend, Sarah, owned a quilt shop in Decatur, GA. The shop has since closed (RIP Intown Quilters) but years before the shop closed Sarah asked me to make a quilt and pattern so she could sell kits at QuiltCon. We all loved the new line of Alison Glass prints so I grabbed a fat eighth bundle and got to work.
Detail of strips cut to make the Lone Star QuiltDetail of Lone Star pointDetail of the center of Lone Star quilt
We chose an Essex linen for the background and the finished quilt was <<chefs kiss>> beautiful!
Anyhow, the top finished at 43 1/2” square so I needed the tiniest bit of fabric to make the backing wide enough. I didn’t want to buy 3 yards of fabric to make the backing so I used leftover diamonds – if I had offset pieces I had just enough fabric to do the trick.
Close up of quilt backing
I quilted the quilt on my domestic using my walking foot. I quilted in spirals to add softness to the diamonds in the Lone Star.
Spiral quilting on Lone Star quilt
The Second Zero Waste Quilt
The Lone Star went to QuiltCon and Sarah sold out of the kits but I had some of the diamonds and fabric leftover and desperately wanted to make something with them. I absolutely loved this fabric and didn’t want any of it to go to waste.
I decided that a quilt using negative space would be the perfect second project to use the remaining scraps!
Enter the second Zero Waste Quilt I made.
Quilt hanging on a ladder
I took the remaining scraps I had and sewed dark grey between them. I also took apart any remaining diamonds that had been sewn into strips for the Little Lone Star and put them into the new strip sets.
In progress cutting strips
I cut the rows at different widths to create variety then sewed varying size width rows between the strip sets to create the top.
Close up of pieced quilt top
It took me a while to quilt this top but once I got around to it I used a variegated thread to sew some straight lines AND mimic the angled columns. Getting the columns quilted out just right took some time but I love the look in the negative space!
Detail of quiltDetail of quiltDetail of quilt
After making the Little Lone Star and the first Zero Waste Quilt I carried on like normal. I made another Lone Star Quilt for the birth of a friends baby but nothing came of those scraps.
Lone Star Quilt
Like the original Little Lone Star, I quilted circles but these were concentric. I left space between the circles for some hand sewing and let other friends put in a few stitches into the quilt, as well!
Detail of Lone Star quiltDetail of Lone Star qultDetail of Lone Star quiltDetail of center of Lone Star quilt
And then I went on a quilt retreat and made another Lone Star. This time, the wheels began to churn.
Lone Star Revisited
I had a rogue roll of 2 1/2” strips sitting in my studio. I’d had them for a while and decided that I should use them to make another Little Lone Star. They were the perfect width for this little quilt!
Lone Star quilt
I had enough fabric leftover to make another small quilt and a pillow. I can’t currently find a photo of said pillow but when I do, I’ll add it to this post!
Lone Star quilt leftovers
I added a the green and the purple inner border fabrics from my stash.
The Idea Sparked
I made the last Little Lone Star in November 2021. That’s when the idea really clicked. What if I were onto something?
And it turns out I was.
I’ve gone on to design and in some cases redesign patterns so they are all Zero Waste. It’s such a smart way to use your scraps. Working within the confines of what fabric leftovers you have challenges you in the best possible way.
A Secondary Bonus
A secondary bonus to Zero Waste Quilting? It’s a great way to practice your Free Motion Quilting. Yep! You create quilts and small projects you like but they aren’t as precious so you aren’t afraid to use them for practice.
It’s nice to use an actual quilt for the practice, too! Here’s an example of my latest project practicing my FMQ using Zero Waste Scraps.
Radioactive Qulit
Detail of Radioactive Quilt
This quilt is named Radioactive. It’s a free pattern in my shop.
Have you used a Zero Waste Quilt project to practice your free motion quilting? If so, be sure to comment and share with me. I’d love to see your project and learn more about it.
The last of the scraps from Metaphor. As I said in previous posts, some projects come easily and ohers take time to figure out. Some you figure out with a little divine intervention.
While I was writing this book I took at trip to Italy. The Tuscan country side was relaxing and inspirational and the family time was incredible. I packed cotton balls for make up removal while I was there and one night while I was washing my face it occurred to me that reusable face wipes would be the perfect way to use some of the smallest scraps! I didn’t have a full plan yet but I knew I’d incorporate face wipes somewhere into my book.
Fast forward….we get home and I work my way through the Cute As Pie Carrier. I had some small pieces that I’d cut from the corners and just KNEW they would make perfect reusable face wipes!
Wipe Your Face
I grabbed some flannel scraps, sewed the pieces together then pinked the edges.
Wipe Your Face progress photo
Back of Wipe Your Face
The great thing about projects like this is that you aren’t limited to size. These are small because I had small pieces of fabric remaining but you can easily make these any size you want.
Scraps of flannel, microfiber, and old towels are perfect for one or both sides. You can serge, pink, or use a binding along the edges, or you can sew the pieces right sides together, turn, and edgestitch for a more finished look.
The Final Project
I thought about making these two separate posts but both projects are small and I thought one post would do justice for the face wipes and pattern weights.
The very last pieces of fabric I had were the perfect size to make pattern weights.
Weighed Down pattern weights
I folded the fabric in half, stitched up the sides then moved the fabric so I could create a triangle. My pattern weights were filled with sawdust (so no, they don’t weigh much down) but you can fill yours with anything – lavender, emery, whatever floats your boat!
If you fill your pattern weights with emery or other fine particulates, you’ll need to make a lining fabric to put the emery into before putting it into the pattern weight. This is to keep the emery from coming out through the seams.
Progress photo of Weighed Down
Progress photo of Weighed Down
Hand sew the opening closed and enjoy!
Do you have a favorite small project you’ve made using leftover fabrics?
