Monday, December 14, 2015

Quilting as work? Or, what this quilt taught me.


I made this quilt with the intention of writing it up as a pattern. I thought it would be beautiful in a magazine. Or maybe I would just sell the pattern as a digital download. And I made a bazillion half square triangles for it. And really thought about my fabric choices and the placement of colors.


Making the quilt was relaxing and enjoyable and I loved seeing it take shape. It was quilted. I bound it. And then it sat. And sat and sat and sat. It sat in the corner of my sewing space. And then it felt like it started to loom over me. "Write me up as a pattern," it would say. Over and over and over. For far longer than I care to admit.


A few weeks ago, I unfolded it and lay it out on my bed. I felt detached from it and looked at it almost as if I wasn't it's maker. I oohed and aahed over the perfect points. The color. The movement. And then I snapped out of my trance and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.


I don't quilt to make money.

I quilt for the joy of it. The creative expression. The knowledge that I make something so practical and beautiful.

Now finally today, this quilt is in the washing machine. It will soon tumble around in the dryer. And it will forever be a reminder of precisely why I love to quilt.

-dana

14 comments:

em's scrapbag said...

It really is a beautiful quilt. So many patterns and colors.

Kelly O. said...

It really would have been a wonderful quilt for a magazine. A cover girl! But I understand completely why she will forever be your quilt and yours alone.

Megan said...

I loved reading this. I love all the steps of the process too - the pattern planning, fabric selecting. You've done a superb job.

Jacque. said...

Hear! Hear! Yay for you, Dana! It is an awesome quilt, for sure.

Jennifer said...

Beautiful!

Kathy@KayakQuilting said...

...and it is indeed lovely. Enjoy it for the memory of the making process and love it for the beauty of the result.

DianeY said...

I love this quilt and love how you said you don't quilt for money! That's the way I feel and I find it almost irritating that the first question someone always asks is if I sell them.

Kar said...

Another beautiful quilt Dana! Whatever you decided to do, you have to feel good about it inside. Until then, keep making those beautiful quilts. : )

Tipper said...

We all need that reminder-to be who we are and to do what we do without giving thought to what others might expect of us. I've enjoyed catching up with your blog this morning-even if you did make me teary eyed : )

MERRY CHRISTMAS from The Pressleys!! We love you all.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

This is so beautiful. I love that you quilt because you like ve it. Me too. I'd love to see this as a pattern. It is stunning. The color placement makes me happy

Teresa said...

It is amazing.

The Cozy Pumpkin said...

How beautiful both in it's construction and in it's deeper meaning it's taken on as reminder of why you quilt. As I read this I realized I have some fabric groupings that are lying around waiting to be made into quilts...and they haven't been yet because they were "supposed" to be patterns (to sell or submit), and reading your post makes me excited to cut into those fabrics and make those quilts for the pure enjoyment of it. :)

Christine S said...

This is absolutely beautiful!!

PMookie said...

Excellent post. Well said.

Your quilt is a work of art. Your art to treasure and enjoy.

I always learn from my quilts and am glad to see others do too.