The Seven Year Stitch
08-13-2011, 08:11 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 205
I've remarked before that my mother always insisted on cutting out each piece and never did any strip quilting. As you're about to see, she would have been able to do a lot more quilting had she not insisted on cutting out each square individually. Somehow, she got hung up on doing the same design, over and over and over again, literally until the day she died.
The History
My mom did many quilt tops in her day, but she never learned to finish them. She had a standing arrangement with her Aunt Thelma (who I refer to as "That Old Battle-Axe!) who had a long arm sewing machine. My mom would make quilt tops, maybe about 5 in a row, and send them to That Old Battle-Axe to finish. Payment was made in quilts. That Old Battle-Axe would keep as many as she wanted and send back whatever she didn't. She didn't ever send but a few back. Because of this, we have very few of my mom's quilts. Who knows whatever happened to the ones that were kept. Maybe that's why my mom stuck with a simple design, over and over. She just wanted to get them back!
After the Old Battle-Axe died, my mom stopped quilting and didn't start up again for years. She finally decided to learn to finish her own, but died before she could do it. A little while after she died, my dad gave me all of her fabric (which was mostly hideous, I'm afraid to say) and a stack of squares she had sewn for a quilt.
My mother never taught me how to sew. She didn't have the patience and was a little intimidating about it. For years, I would take her squares out of the rubbermaid tub I had them in and look over the stitches, examine them, and marvel at how PERFECT they were. I also thought about how angry she would be if I dared to mess them up.
I did sewing projects here and there, and finally got myself quilting about 6 years after she died. I worked on some baby quilts and small projects and finally pulled out her squares to finish the quilt so my dad could have it for Christmas.
I finished the quilt exactly 7 years and 1 day after she died. I learned a lot finishing that quilt, especially that I don't have to be a perfect seamstress to quilt. It's not the fanciest--probably the most ordinary looking quilt you'll see on these boards. But our quilt, which I call The Seven Year Stitch, represents a lot :)
The History
My mom did many quilt tops in her day, but she never learned to finish them. She had a standing arrangement with her Aunt Thelma (who I refer to as "That Old Battle-Axe!) who had a long arm sewing machine. My mom would make quilt tops, maybe about 5 in a row, and send them to That Old Battle-Axe to finish. Payment was made in quilts. That Old Battle-Axe would keep as many as she wanted and send back whatever she didn't. She didn't ever send but a few back. Because of this, we have very few of my mom's quilts. Who knows whatever happened to the ones that were kept. Maybe that's why my mom stuck with a simple design, over and over. She just wanted to get them back!
After the Old Battle-Axe died, my mom stopped quilting and didn't start up again for years. She finally decided to learn to finish her own, but died before she could do it. A little while after she died, my dad gave me all of her fabric (which was mostly hideous, I'm afraid to say) and a stack of squares she had sewn for a quilt.
My mother never taught me how to sew. She didn't have the patience and was a little intimidating about it. For years, I would take her squares out of the rubbermaid tub I had them in and look over the stitches, examine them, and marvel at how PERFECT they were. I also thought about how angry she would be if I dared to mess them up.
I did sewing projects here and there, and finally got myself quilting about 6 years after she died. I worked on some baby quilts and small projects and finally pulled out her squares to finish the quilt so my dad could have it for Christmas.
I finished the quilt exactly 7 years and 1 day after she died. I learned a lot finishing that quilt, especially that I don't have to be a perfect seamstress to quilt. It's not the fanciest--probably the most ordinary looking quilt you'll see on these boards. But our quilt, which I call The Seven Year Stitch, represents a lot :)
What she left behind
[ATTACH=CONFIG]241487[/ATTACH]
Quilting as simply as I can--she wasn't a fan of fancy
[ATTACH=CONFIG]241488[/ATTACH]
The finished product!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]241489[/ATTACH]
08-13-2011, 08:25 PM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Trego, WI
Posts: 1,871
Our mothers were all complex people in many ways. I'm glad that you faced your Mom's memory and were able to finish that quilt. It is now a beautiful and useful object.
In a way, I feel sorry for the quilters who don't see beyond 'the rules' and the striving for perfection. I quilt because I like it, both the process and the finished product. I refuse to do anything because someone tells me I must. Had enough of that in my working life!
In a way, I feel sorry for the quilters who don't see beyond 'the rules' and the striving for perfection. I quilt because I like it, both the process and the finished product. I refuse to do anything because someone tells me I must. Had enough of that in my working life!
08-13-2011, 08:28 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 205
It's pretty plain, but I think seeing that quilt over and over has inspired me to try lots of new things! She had finished another top that's a miniature of that one. If the hubby and I ever have a bambino, I'll finish it and the little one can have a baby quilt from their grandma :)
08-13-2011, 09:16 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: WISCONSIN
Posts: 402
What a wonderful quilt! The first quilt I made I cut out all the squares by hand (queen size) because that is how my grandmother did it. This quilt is a wonderful memonto from your mother and you. You did a beautiful job!
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