My Stash Bustin' Quilt

As a child my mother taught me how to sew. I took to it well enough and I can competently follow a pattern from start to finish (with only a few phone calls to Mom, for verification purposes, you understand). 

But I never *loved* it. I only really loved picking out the fabric and the pattern. Cutting and pinning and sewing and tweaking the sewing machine and hemming and finishing and trying on and alterations were a necessary evil if I wanted that hand-made garment in the very beautiful fabric. It wasn't long before I stopped sewing altogether.

I may have stopped sewing, but I did not stop fabric shopping. Often, when I would go into Joann's for some yarny goodness, I'd pick up a smidge of fabric here and there. Or if Mom came out for a visit, I'd beg her to make me some pillows or curtains or even a crochet hook carrier (which I really need to start using again.... another blog post, perhaps). As a result of these maternal exploitations, my fabric stash grew.

Enter Good Intentions. "I will make this a quilt! A picnic quilt! Super simple, just squares, very random, stash bustin' quilt." My little family picnics here and there throughout the year, whenever the day begs for it. But, oh, how much I hate sewing. And my mother isn't a quilter. And my mother in law (who *is* a quilter-- you should see what she can do!) is a few states over and has already made us 3 quilts-- no machine involved.

Enter Sharon.

Sharon is The Awesome. If you say, "Hey, Sharon, can you make _____ for me?" she can and she will - quickly, and precisely, and with a smile on her face (I don't think I've ever smiled at a finished sewing project. Scowled, yes, but smiled... not that I recall.) 

This is how my story played out....
Me: "Hey, Sharon, can you make me a quilt? I have the fabric; I can get it to you. I just want it for picnics, so 60" x 60" and I was thinking just squares- nothing crazy."
Sharon: "Yep! Sounds good!"

And then POOF! From a bag of fabric, she produced this:

 

Most of this fabric was actually used for projects around my house, gifts for friends (hand sewn only, as me and the Singer don't actually get along) and other bits were cut down from baby shirts and even a pair of boxers (Whaaaat! they glowed in the dark. How do you throw something like that away? The answer is you don't: you make it a quilt). So it's 90% sentimental fabric (even the backing was a top sheet from my teenage years. I promise I'm not a hoarder) and 10% I-really-loved-this fabric. My boys love pointing out the familiar squares -- "Look! A PILLOW FROM MY ROOM!!!" yells my oldest son -- and selecting their favorite colors -- "Blue! Blue! Blue! Blue!" my youngest points to all the blues, equally delighted with each.

I am so delighted with this quilt!

And I love having crafty friends. Thank you, Sharon!

:)

Have a Lovely Day!
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