I had so much fun today. The young woman who is making one quilt for each of her six bridesmaids came over and I taught her how to sew. She had collected a lot of fabrics in pretty shades of purple, purple florals, light pinks and some greens that look great with the purples, and had cut them into block measuring 5 inches across and varying lengths in length. She had them all planned out, the way she wanted to assemble them, everything kept very neatly inside clear folders in a three-ring binder.
We put down a flannel piece and she laid out the blocks the way she wanted them for one quilt top. Over the next 3.5 hours we stitched them all together and when she left, she had a completed quilt top.
The design is very simple, but when it was together the result was pretty and pleasing. She was so excited. I had shown her how to put the pieces together and stitch, and how to pin so that the pieces don't drift apart. I got to show her how to pick out a seam and re-do it. I taught her about beginners and enders. I showed her how to press the stitched pieces so that everything was nice and flat and looked great.
She has a tiny Kenmore sewing machine, about the same size as my Jem Gold. I suspect the works are the same. We sat at my kitchen table, her with the little Kenmore and me with my little Jem and had a wonderful time. She was amazed at how quickly the time flew by, and how much fun it was to sit and sew with another person.
It was so much fun, teaching her how to do the basic sewing. She wants very much to go on to a 'real' quilt pattern once she's done with the wedding quilts. Her MIL to be was going to help her tie the quilts, but, as my mom used to say 'there's a hitch in the git-along' and I suspect I will be helping her tie the quilts sometime around April or May.
I told her that the 'price' of being taught to make quilts is to pass on the knowledge, and someday take a new quilter under her wing and teach her. That made her even happier and she teared up a bit and hugged me.
What a wonderful day this was. Wheeeee! We've claimed another one for our side! She's already talking about getting her fiance to build shelves for her fabric. :)
Sunny (could somebody please copy and post for Polly to read?)