my creative process

When I first started quilting, I was thrilled with the excitement of learning a new skill and making beautiful, useful things.   I read tons of blogs and watched youtube videos (and took one sewing class at Joann Fabrics because I couldn't figure out how to thread my machine!) and was off and running.  

The first quilt I started was cut entirely by scissors and I didn't even own a sewing machine so I pieced the first several blocks by hand - painstakingly tracing a 1/4inch seam line on each strip - I knew nothing about templates or rotary cutters!  And then it was taking too long.  There were so. many. things. that I needed to make.  So I bought a sewing machine, figured out how to thread it, and started even more quilts!

My first quilt

Now, years later, as quilting has become a part of my life and not just a new hobby to try, I find it fascinating to look at how much my tastes and process have changed - it's actually why I've started to blog, because I wish I could look back over the years and see the evolution.  And since I've had more time to sew lately and have been thinking about my creative process, I've decided to join Poppy and Poochy in exploring this further.  When I started sewing I was sometimes led astray by thinking there was a certain way I "should" do something, and although I have become much more aware of my own style and tastes, there are still times where I feel "should" creeping into my projects.  I'd like to banish that -- this is purely a hobby for enjoyment for me, so I'm not sure who I think I should be pleasing!

In a nutshell - I don't like to plan.  I don't like solids or large blank spaces -- I think "coordinated chaos" is the best description of things that I find truly, jaw-droppingly beautiful, and I am only able to achieve that when I let the quilt tell me what to do next.  Although I always have a rough idea of what I'm making, I need to allow myself the freedom to change my mind, change my fabrics, add or subtract.  I have made only one quilt in my entire experience that I do not like, and it is the only quilt I've ever made where I ignored that little voice in my head saying "this is not working" and stuck to my original plan.

coordinated chaos :)

Sometimes ideas are brewing for years before they surface, and other times it's like an idea pops into my head that I must begin immediately.  I don't really understand why my brain works this way but I don't want to change it -- there is something so satisfying about finally knowing what I want to do with a special piece of fabric, but there is also something so satisfying about a lightning bolt that sends me straight into my stash or into a fabric store because I simply must see my idea started right. this. second.  

And since I'm about to start digging through my sewing corner to catalog my WIPs as part of the #31daystohappy project that Amanda is hosting, this seems like the perfect time to also explore my creative process - maybe it will help me finally finish some long-lost projects! 

scrappy rainbow stars

Earlier this year I decided to buy a sizzix.  My goal was to use my scraps more by being able to easily cut usable shapes to have on hand - when I made a bed quilt from Anna Maria Horner fabrics last year, I immediately cut the remaining scraps into squares and have found I use them so much more than other scraps!  I also loathe cutting bindings and often have a quilt ready to bind for months before I finish it, so I started with a 2.5 inch strip die.  I used it to cut a rainbow of scraps into 2.5 inch strips, and then subcut those to 2.5 inch squares.

They sat in their bin and the next time I was feeling project ADD I decided to start sewing something with them.  I started off by making a wonky red star

Which quickly became a rainbow of stars

                             

And then I decided to do some with the low volume for background... and then I added in some simple nine patches... and then I had a quilt top!

                             

I ended up backing it in some Heather Ross I found in my stash that I won in a giveaway years ago -- I just love finding the perfect match when something has been on my shelf forever!  And this was a particularly soft piece - I have no idea what the fabric is but I think it's perfect for a baby quilt.

                                     

And now it's washed, crinkly and ready to be loved by a newborn baby girl - I hope she loves rainbows as 

much as I do!

                        

#smittenkittenquilt

I decided I needed a general color scheme to pull from while working on my cat quilt -- when I cut the first two blocks it took me hours to choose the fabrics - and one of them is just blues!  After a bunch of digging and comparing and black and white photographs to ensure contrast, I decided on this gorgeous group of fabrics.

I have never fussy-cut a quilt before, so it's been a learning process for this one.  I'm very glad I took the time to make plastic templates, but I'm still surprised by how long it takes me to choose just one block!  Because the pattern calls for several different blocks, I made myself a little notebook to track my status -- I copied the picture from the pattern and made little boxes to check off as I go.  I make an "x" in a box once I've cut a block, and color it in once I've sewn the block together.  I'm hoping this will keep me from getting too confused and running out of paper pieces!

I cut a few more blocks this week, and they're basted and just waiting to be stitched together.