The story

I just have to say, that hopefully, the title of this blog will be a misnomer at some point, because I'd like to do more quilts (I think), and would like to document all of my quilting experience here.

That said - let me give some background...

A few years back, when we were living in Ohio, my mom came to visit, and I decided it was time for me to buy a sewing machine. She went with me and helped me pick one out. It's a White Classic 312. I got it for around $60. I used it a couple of times - I made a couple of purses, a couple of sets of pillow cases, and maybe a few other things here and there.

Then I didn't use it for a looooooonnnnnnggggg time.

I would break it out maybe a couple of times a year, at the most.

Now, in 2010, I've used the machine more than I've used it since I first got it! I made a camera strap, a couple of blankets, a few burp cloths, an apron, and I think that's it.

So, I'm feeling it right now. I've always been so intimidated by sewing, but I'm not anymore. I mean, for some things I still am...but I know more about my machine, so I'm more comfortable with it all.

However, I was not at all interested in quilting. I think I even said those exact words to my husband..."Trust me, that's one thing I won't do!"

Until...

Melissa invited me to the May meeting of the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild. I told myself that I would go just to go...gets me out of the house for a night, I get to spend some time with Melissa, whatever, it would be fun. But, in the back of my head, I had this nagging little voice that kept telling me, "You're going to leave that meeting wanting to make a quilt."

That voice was right.

I was so inspired by these women and their beautiful quilts! I always thought of quilting as so old-fashioned, but this is the modern quilt guild. And I'm a modern kind of girl!

I walked into the store where the meeting was being held, (Home Ec, which is in Silverlake on Sunset), and I saw the total cuteness of it all, and even before the meeting started I was asking Melissa how much it cost to be a member, because I was more than likely going to want to join.

After the meeting was over, I asked the president of the guild what would be a good starting quilt for me based on my experience. She recommended I start out with a coin quilt.

I had no idea what that was, so instead of seeming more clueless than I already was, I nodded my head, and made a mental note to check out what a coin quilt was as soon as I got home.

I did that, and excitedly told Grant that I wanted to join. But I didn't really know what I wanted to make. As I was showing him pictures of quilts that people from the guild have made, I saw what really inspired me - a Christmas quilt! I would make a Christmas quilt for Kendall's bed! She's my oldest daughter (she's 2 1/2), and was born on Christmas day.

The next day, I was completely obsessed with the idea. I found a tutorial for a coin quilt, and found the fabric that I wanted to use.

The tutorial for the quilt is for a crib sized quilt. I want to do a twin size. So, I figured I would just use this tutorial, but then add some borders around it to make it big enough for a twin. But how to do that?

I printed off some graph paper, and went to work. I've never done anything like this before, so it was a little challenging, but I'm happy with my design.



So, that's what I have so far. An idea and a drawing. I want to use this blog to show the whole process from start to finish. Seeing that the fabric I want isn't even in stock yet, I'll have to wait a bit. But in the mean time, I'll post other projects that I do. I already have another one all drawn up.