A Quilting Project for Now

A little while back I wrote about how it can be challenging to work on projects with all the interruptions of life.  One of my favorite projects/crafts is quilting.  I love putting fabric and print together to form design.  I love the methodical stitching, watching faint lines form and fabric puff ever so slightly.

It really does pain me to imagine that it will be a long time until I'm able to make a full-size quilt again.  It pained me, too, when I really wanted to make a quilt for my best friend and her groom but knew I didn't have the time.  My mom came through with the simplest of ideas and it was as if the heavens opened up and the angels began to sing.  I could quilt.  I could finish pieces.  I could do it!

"Old Home"

And so I did.  This past fall, I made three quilt squares and framed them with Jamey's help.  He made the frames and some of the glass even came from our old windows.  All the fabric was leftover from previous quilts.  I love it when projects come together (and don't take years to complete).

"Robbing Peter to Pay Paul"

The project was quite simple.  I pieced the top and used thin batting (to sandwich between) and leftover (less-than-lovely) fabric for the back (which no one will ever see).  I quilted the square, then wrapped it over a piece of sturdy cardboard, taping the edges to the back of the cardboard with masking tape.  Jamey hammered in flat little brackets to keep the cardboard-covered square in place, then we covered the back with brown paper, gluing the edges to the back edges of the frame with rubber cement glue and attached a picture frame hanger.  We chose not to use spacers to keep the quilt off the glass.  Some feel this is important.  We did not.

Don't give up.  Find a manageable way to keep doing the things you love.  Let's not completely extinguish the talent and joy God gave us.  It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Giving Idea: Sewing Kits

photo credit: mcc.org

"Sewing kits provide basic tools to make and mend clothing. These tools will be used often and must be of good quality. People in such countries as Bosnia, Haiti, Liberia, Nicaragua, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine receive sewing kits from Mennonite Central Committee." 

Go here to learn what's needed in each kit and where you can drop off or send the contents.

Pin It