One of my very favorite conversations is “if it isn’t hand quilted it isn’t a quilt” or “hand quilted means putting your heart into a quilt”.
I no longer get my panties in a wad
My back no longer gets up
I just share
because I’ve been in that group who thought and felt and experienced and said that out loud.
Now I just share
that I love hand quilting and appreciate the level of work that goes into the hand quilting process
I can hand quilt, I can hand piece, hand applique
but
I’ve found home, peace, contentment in doing the machine work. Nobody is more surprised than me. But I do. I love the hum of the machine, listening to the needle pierce the layers of batting and fabric seeing stitches form evenly and cleanly as I stitch around the surface of the quilt. My heart is all over that baby.
@play is my heart, in that moment, on a quilt
I can clearly see the journey of this quilt and hear her whispers.
mmmmmhhhmmmmm
I can see how good Greg Case made her look and
how squaring her up made a difference
I can see the gift of what she taught me and appreciate her beauty
I can see my heart in Quantum Leap too.
I can see the growth and progress.
I can see things I think as flaws that no one will notice
I can see the love in this quilt
Yep, my heart is here too
I can see my heart in one of my future quilts as well that will be based on this photo of Sarah Vedeler taken at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel while we were at BERNINA University.
Yep my heart will be here too.
If your heart is in hand work I get it.
If your heart is in machine work, I get it
if you heart is in quilting on a long arm, I get it.
My one question this Saturday afternoon. . . how can we appreciate the beauty in all of quilting? How do we promote that perspective shift? One that honors and respects quilters no matter what their style? How do we work on developing that appreciation for the broad range of quilt making that’s out there?
These are serious questions quilters. I’d like to hear what your thoughts.
Happy Quilting!
Teri
I know this topic is a powder keg to some. For me, it is how does the quilter express herself best? I have never become “one” with my machine. I can pick up a needle and thread and express myself freely, no pattern, just going with what is in my head. I admire those who can do this with their sewing machine. There are times when I think I need to purchase a newer machine (Bernina 810 and 1630 are the current residents). I also know that if I took the time to practice, to learn, and spend time with the machines, I might change my mind. Like most media, the more you practice, the more fluent you become with it. My view is, do the best you can do with what you like to do most. My pet peeve has always been the “quilt in a day” mentality. But, that is because I enjoy the process. The end product is just the cherry on top. 🙂
Those of us, like you, who understand this perspective need to keep on expressing this thinking. There is no way we can change someone just by arguing with them. So the right approach is to just smile and hope they, too, will discover that there is joy and extraordinary talent in all forms of the art of quilting.
I think the name of ‘quilter’ is perhaps too broad. Because for me I’m in love with the longarm – I’ve totally fallen and it is ALL I want to do – I don’t even want to make quilt tops – I just want to make texture with the beast – and I know that the longarm experience is totally different from the domestic, the hand quilted even the computer generated …… But what ever you do ‘quilter’ seems to be the name for it. But also quilter is the name for people who only like piecing tops and don’t like the ‘quilting’ process of sewing all the layers together. I don’t think any is less or more – I think as long as you are enjoying it – who cares?
To the people who say “if it isn’t hand quilted it isn’t a quilt”, I like to ask them if they use a microwave. When they say ‘yes’ I ask why don’t they cook over a fire. I also tell them that if our ancestors had a sewing machine, the majority of them would have used it for quilting.
I believe quilting is a very special talent just as an artist has his or her special way of expressing themselves so do quilters no matter what their venue is. I appreciate every aspect of quilting whatever it turns out to be but for me free motion quilting is where I’m at now but who knows where that will lead. This is why I find the world of quilters so vast, different and exciting. Aren’t we lucky to have so much talent out there to just relish in and who cares what kind of judgement is placed on that talent as long as you find your inner spirit in whatever you create.
Teri, what machine do you use for your beautiful quilting? I am trying to decide what would be best to purchase.
I am currently stitching on a BERNINA 780. Until about a year ago I was stitching on a BERNINA 1080. For most quilters, depending on their budget I recommend the B 550, B 710 or B 750. The B 550 and B 750 are the patchwork editions and come with the patchwork foot and BERNINA stitch regulator.
No matter which machine I’d also get the #24 Freehand embroidery foot (for quilting).
The 5 Series is a regular size home sewing machine the 7 Series has 10″ of space to the right of the needle and has more lighting.
Let me know if I can answer more questions 🙂
I agree totally. I like the slowdown work of hand piecing and hand quilting. And I like machine quilting. I am quite sure it is not cheating, because I know our forebears, IF they could have afforded a machine and figured out how to use it this way, would have loved being able to use their skills this way!