The Quilt: Get A Life

Some of you may wonder, why a quilt? Well, last winter I was taking stock of my life (a terrible idea, by the way) and I realized that I have no hobbies. Yes, I have activities, memberships and interests --which I see as all being purpose-driven.

But I wanted something that's just for fun, that I can daydream about, that's stimulating without adding pressure.

Fascinating, you say, but it still doesn't explain why a quilt? Well, I opted to make a quilt to help me get a life because: 

• I can sew (note I did not say I love to sew. Some people do; I, on the other hand, have a functional --and sometimes antagonistic-- relationship with my sewing machine);
• I can work on a quilt in little, tiny increments in between interruptions;
• I am attracted to the historicity of quilting and its place in women's experiences;
• and, finally, I feel no urgency to complete such a project (other than meeting a self-imposed deadline), as no one will suffer if it takes me until eternity.

Plus, I like pretty fabric. Another added bonus is that there's a large (very large, it turns out) community of quilters and fabric artists online. Inspiration, tutorials and encouragement abound.

In case you're wondering what kind of quilt I'm making, the design is called "Liberty Coins" from the book Quilts Galore by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes (1991).

If you've embarked on a similar journey, share! I'd love to hear about it! What are you doing, and where do you find encouragement?

amazon.ca

(My quilting will have to take a break for the next month, as I'll be occupied with Christmas-related projects. Details to come!)

The Quilt: For Once, I Won't Channel Liz Lemon

photo from nbc.com
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
(link to one of my favourite clips)

My partner's favourite show, hands down, is "30 Rock" with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. And one of his favourite lines is when Fey's character recites a list of her recent summer accomplishments, including starting a quilt, and Baldwin replies,"You'll never finish that quilt." To which she grudgingly retorts, "I know!"

For the uninitiated --a category I include myself in-- quilting can seem like the Sisyphean task of sewing: labour-intensive, never-ending and, ultimately, futile. I marvel whenever I see a completed quilt. Having confessed this, you can understand why I've been reluctant to admit that I've started a one.

I've kept it a secret because I gave myself a deadline to finish of two years, and I wanted to be sure that I could produce on schedule. When I began the quilt two years seemed like a generous amount of time, but that was back in January. Yes, as in 10 months ago. And so far, I have... cut out a bunch of little pieces of fabric. Faith in my ability to complete this project started to waver.

Until this past week! I... S-E-W-E-D...!! (Horn fanfare, please.)

Do not let my renewed enthusiasm mislead you: I (still) have lots more little pieces of fabric to cut, and I really need to get the lead out if this quilt is going to get done before global warming makes it irrelevant.

But, I now have hope. And I resolve that I will not Lemon out! (Stay tuned...)