“September Textile Love” prompt is a reminder to label quilts

I’m participating again in Seam Collective’s September Textile Love challenge. Today’s prompt is “Spinning a yarn” for which I have responded with photos and details about this quilt, “Blue Rhino Moon.” This is a  story—or “yarn”—that is worth re-telling.

“Blue Rhino Moon”
2014 Guild Challenge

Textiles have stories

I believe all textiles have a story to tell. (Oh, if some could actually speak!)  When I look at the quilts I’ve made over the years, I think the stories behind the ones I remember most are the Guild Challenges I’ve participated in. This quilt,  “Blue Rhino Moon,” is a Guild Challenge piece that often accompanies me when I bring samples of my work to my workshops, like my Intro to Free-motion Quilting or Intro to Improv Quilting. This is when I get to re-live and re-tell the story behind the quilts. 

“Blue Rhino Moon” detail.

“Blue Rhino Moon” was made in response to my guild’s “Paint Chip Challenge” in which participants had to find three paint chips whose color names began with the our initials, use fabrics in these colors as the predominant colors of the quilt, and include some type of hand embellishment. My colors were Volcanic Ash (grey), Hang Ten (turquoise), and Oh So Red—VHO. I love the vibrancy of the complementary color palette, and the contrast with the black and volcanic ash fabrics. The quilt is improvisationally pieced and free-motion quilted on my domestic machine. The hand embellishments are tiny crocheted and tatted motifs. 

Back detail of free-motion machine quilting.

Here are detail photos of the machine quilting from the back of the quilt.

Back detail of free-motion machine quilting.

The message is: Label your quilts!

I so appreciate when one of the requirements of a Guild Challenge is that a label be attached to the quilt. Labels are one of the best ways to document a quilt, its maker, and its story. Yes, it takes a little extra time and effort when we are running up to the last minute of that Challenge deadline… but we have too many quilts by “makers unknown.” Don’t add your beautiful quilt to that list.

The title for this quilt came from a fabric scrap that was amidst the fabrics I pulled while making the quilt. This fabric scrap (with the rhino) incorporated the colors of the quilt so I used it and other trimmings from the patchwork to create the quilt label.

“Blue Rhino Moon” quilt label.

In the astronomy of ancient cultures, from where other full moons get their names— like the Strawberry Moon, or the Harvest Moon—I don’t think there is such a thing as the Blue Rhino Moon. But for the story of this quilt, the Blue Rhino Moon does exist.

And this story also includes a reminder to document your quilt by including a label!

Knitting and Quilting Show and Tell

With my current position as a fabric rep for Blank Quilting [see My Fabric Rep Trek postings], I have limited time in my schedule for teaching knitting and quilting classes. When I do get the opportunity to get back into the classroom, however, I am always appreciative of completed projects that students bring in for a quick, pre-class Show and Tell. Here are some examples of the fabulous handiwork of my talented students.

Irene completed her Shades of Blue shawl from my design-your-own Mitered Diamond workshop. Irene was in my beginning knitting class just last fall and has been fearless in tackling and accomplishing advanced knitting techniques.

Irene and her Shades of Blue mitered diamond wrap.

Lois and Ofie finished their Cool Cotton Vests made with Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme. One of the bonus techniques in this knitting workshop was the inclusion of a lined pocket. This vest also had the option of a top button closure. As you can see, some chose to put on a button... some did not.

Lois (left) and Ofie (far right) in their summer cotton vests.

Jenny was in one of my Beginning Quilting by Machine classes. Here is one of her recent quilt tops—a stunning black and white star quilt. It's queen size and very striking. (I love black and white quilts, don't you?)

Jenny's black and white queen size quilt top.

Another very prolific quilter from my Beginning Quilting class is Sue. She made this Lone Star quilt for a grandson. He chose the colors and fabrics for the star. The lime green against the hot red orange and purples make it sparkle! Go bold with color and you get spectacular results.

Sue's Lone Star quilt for a grandson.

Sue has an embroidery sewing machine, so she used the in-the-hoop quilting motifs to quilt this full size quilt. She scaled the digitized motifs to fit the various size pieces in the patchwork (setting triangles, background, borders, etc.).

In-the-hoop quilting motifs.

Below is a view of the back of the quilt. She used a lime green solid fabric to complement the front.

Detail of the quilting on the quilt back.

The center star and the half stars were quilted in the ditch. A contrast in value between the color of the the thread and the background fabric enables you to really appreciate the sampler of quilting motifs.

The contrasting thread adds to the texture and print of the background fabric.

Sue also embroidered the label for the quilt to document her gift of love for a special grandson.

An embroidered quilt label.

Always remember to include a label on your quilt! It can be handwritten with a fabric marker, embroidered by hand or machine, printed from your computer, or made by a variety of methods. The label documents your work and celebrates you, your talent, your creativity and your place in history.

The Pansy Quilt finally has a name

After many great suggestions and a long discussion with her two grandchildren, my MIL decided on the name for her Pansy quilt: "Pansies in the Grass with Diamonds." The label is complete and is now attached. Yay!

Thank you to Cheryl for the suggestion.  And, Happy Birthday, Ma!

Making a label for a nameless quilt

When I visited the Crazy Quilters guild earlier this month for my Visual Language of Quilting presentation, I brought along this quilt as part of my trunk show. (It has lots of quilted feather designs on it.) However, I noticed it did not have a label because it was still without a name. Having a captive audience of experienced quilters and creative thinkers, I asked for assistance on giving this pretty quilt a name.

Here are their suggestions: Pansies out Pat's Window, Asian Feathers and Flowers, Forest Pansy, Purple Pansies for Pat, Feathers for Pat, Fancy Pansies for Pat, Pansies at Pat's Window, Pansies in the Grass with Diamonds, Pansies Four, Pretty Pansies for Pat, A Rich Relationship, Pansies on Point, Feathers, Flowers and Fun, Box of Pansies, Pat's Poppin' Poppies, Flower Beds, A Walk through Pat's Garden. Other suggestions include: Flowering Treasures, Happy Pansies, Flower Boxes, and Birthday Bouquet.

Thanks, Crazy Quilters, for your wonderful ideas and suggestions! I will press the owner of this quilt to make the final decision... and I'll get that label attached. After all, I should practice what I preach: "Document your quilts! Make and attach a label."