10 things I have learnt on my patchwork journey.
I started my patchwork journey over 30 years ago. I have been obsessed with half square triangles, reproduction fabrics, art quilts, modern fabrics and everything in between. Do I revisit these obsession every now and again most definitely. I have more UFOs than I am happy to admit to and have nowhere near enough fabric so I will just keep buying.
So what have I learnt on this 30 year journey.
1. Sometimes it is about the destination and sometimes it’s about the journey. I have started many a quilt not really knowing how it is going to look in the end and I have made many others knowing exactly how it will look and who I will give it to.
2. Fellow quilters are always there for you. Whether to encourage you to buy that piece of yummy fabric, help you with your maths when it is all too much, inspire you when you have lost your mojo or to remind you that no one else will even notice that that point is not perfect.
3. Need is not always the motivation for making a quilt. More often than not it is the desire to be creative that drives us to start/make a new quilt, if it happens to find a home with a family member or friend, great. I once explained this to a colleague when she asked ” who is that quilt for?” I answered “ when an artist starts a new painting he/she is not painting it for a particular wall within the house, they are painting for the pure pleasure of painting. If it happens to look great in their house fantastic but if not they have still enjoyed the process of creating”.
4. Buying fabric and using it are two different hobbies. I have 2 pieces of fabric I must have bought 20 years ago, they are still too beautiful to cut up.
5. There is no such thing as too much fabric, it is a fact.
6. Accidents sometimes happen for a reason, we learn from them. I like to call them happy accidents when the end result is better than what I had planned for.
7. I should change my sewing machine needle and rotary cutting blade more frequently. I am always amazed when I change both how much easier my patchwork experience is, who would have thought.
8. No one, other than a quilter, will ever understand the true value of a handmade patchwork quilt. It is not about the cost of the fabrics or the hours spent making it, it is about the love invested in every stitch and that is what makes a quilt so warming and comforting.
9. I have caught the bug and I don’t want to be cured or vaccinated. The creativity bug manifests itself in many forms, I am happy to have the patchwork strain.
10. The things you learn along the way and the people you meet are what gives your quilts their spark , their warmth and their interest.
Patchwork journeys have many varied paths, some are long and straight, other’s are windy and rocky. I love whichever path I am on most of the time but sometimes you just have to step off the path, take a deep breath and regroup. Today I am on a smooth path so I am going to continue on for a bit longer.
Margaret x
Nest of Quilts
