Posts categorized: News

2020 In Review

Posted in News

2020 is over. That’s as good of a lede as you’re going to get on here this year.

Two years after stopping updates here, I’m still waffling on what to do with the site. I was ready to start blogging a bit more, but then 2020 happened. Life has changed so much this year, even separate from how it has changed for all of us. Among it all, we moved to Atlanta from Vermont permanently (or at least not intentionally temporarily, like last time). We’re going to have a tiny human to raise starting early next year. So we’ll see how 2021 goes.

But, as with last year, I’m dropping in to make a 2020 wrap up post to remind myself in the future that making things helped with so much this year as stress relief.

Quilt Finishes

I was surprised in late October when I sat down to catch up on History Quilt blocks and realized I’d made five quilts this year, including finishing the last few older (7+ years!) works in progress that I had sitting around.

Witch’s Bubble Brew
Sinner Baby (Farmer’s Wife/EPP Crosses mashup)
C+S Charms
Reproduction Sky #2 (top only—this was longarmed and donated as a raffle quilt)
Minty Mountains

Quilt Shows

None.

Samplers, Meetups, Exchanges

None.

Clothing

Early in the year—especially once I started working from home in March—I was so motivated to sew clothing. That tanked in mid-May for a while (I thought it was pandemic fatigue + new job + move planning, but turns out it was also 1st trimester hormones), but even with a few months’ break it all added up to quite a few new items of clothing.

Buffalo Plaid Circle Skirt (self-drafted, and matching Purl Soho tie for Carl)
Peppermint/In the Folds Cardigan
Merino Tank hacked from Cashmerette Concord
Helen’s Closet Avery leggings with pockets (wearable muslin)
Megan Nielsen Virginia black bamboo fleece leggings
Seamwork Veronica linen jersey swim coverup
Cashmerette Ipswich Swimsuit
Black fleece House Morrighan Poppy Bralette
Merino scraps House Morrighan Poppy Bralette (not pictured)
Cashmerette Brookline nursing tee/Colette Myrtle mashup dress
Heavily modified Named Asaka Robe from bamboo jersey

With the exception of the swimsuit and the circle skirt for a gala in early Feb, it was all very loungy/comfy stuff and got so much wear this year.

Other Sewing Projects

When I wasn’t sewing clothing early in the year, I was making zip pouches out of sentimental things and odd scraps in an effort to downsize my stash before we downsized housing. I ended up making 20 over the course of the year.

And masks. Although very few in the scheme of things because that was the opposite of stress relief for me.

And then a few baby items toward the end of the year.

The Backlog

Finished in 2020:

Witch’s Bubble Brew
Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses – 16 blocks became a small quilt, rest were destashed
C+S Charm Quilt

Progress in 2020:

Meta history quilt – blocks made for recent quilt projects

Untouched:

Pixelated Churn Dash – my new plan is to unpick the hour or two of straight line quilting I’ve done and send this queen bed-sized one out to a longarm quilter

Destashed:

Self-portrait of an American Woman

New:

Quilt top from leftovers of Reproduction Sky #2

Resolution

Since life is going to change drastically for me in late January, my sole goal in 2021 for sewing is to make sure I carve out time for it more selfishly (but also more sustainably) than I ever have before, because it is my outlet for so much stress relief and creativity.

When we started thinking seriously about moving here to Georgia in late 2019 (with the idea of downsizing to a 700-800sq.ft. city apartment/condo as part of it), I started looking at my remaining unfinished projects and crafting inventory and slimmed it all down considerably. While I still have a stash of fabric (both quilting and a few cuts for garments), I’ve stopped earmarking it for specific future plans right now. Other than the quilt projects mentioned in the backlog (which have their binding and backings completed too), the only project I have supplies set aside for is a pair of jeans. I’d like to actually tackle that in the second half of 2021—I planned to do so this year, but maternity body happened. Otherwise I’ll see where my whims take me.

Catch me on Instagram @raevenfea to see what I make in 2021!

2019 In Review

Posted in News

I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to jump back into blogging again for 2020. I’ve been enjoying the shorter form of Instagram for sharing, so I may find a way to publish cross-platform. But, I wanted to drop in and add a 2019 wrap up here as much (or more) for myself than anyone else.

Quilt Finishes

I sewed a lot this year, but very little of it was quilting. I only completed two quilts.

Quilt Shows

The only reason I managed to finish You Are Welcome was because I entered it in VQF. So, it hung there, winning a yellow ribbon. Human and a small challenge project I made this year (Tiger Splash) have both been hanging since September in a public space here in Burlington along with other quilts made by fellow guildmates. (If you’re in the area, they’re on the second floor of the Innovation Center on Lakeside Ave for the foreseeable future.)

Samplers, Meetups, Exchanges

I tried keeping up with my guild’s block of the month this year and made it to month 10. I decided to call it quits at that point, and finished the quilt top at our fall retreat (on a smaller scale) and quilted it in late November.

Clothing

This is a category I haven’t included for a few years, but it’s back with a vengeance. After receiving a serger for Christmas 2018, I dove in to playing with both knits and woven clothing.

Flannel PJ Pants (for Carl, a Simplicity pattern that I don’t recall the number)
Black Helen’s Closet Avery Leggings
Silver Foiled Cake Tiramisu
Cashmerette Concord Tee
Teal Merino Colette Myrtle Dress
Helen’s Closet Avery Leggings Undershorts
Maxi Colette Myrtle Dress
Black Velvet Cashmerette Upton Bridesmaid Dress

Plus, a few shirt refashions and repairs. I started the year with a #makeNine2019 grid that mixed clothing and quilting, mostly focused on #remakeNine2019 where I tried replacing things I already owned rather than adding new things to the mix. I managed to finish six of the nine.

I have a few projects (and their supplies) lined up for 2020 as well (like the Cashmerette Ames Jeans I didn’t make), so stay tuned (on Insta, at least) as I attempt balance my minimalist wardrobe with a desire to make all the (sartorial) things.

Other Sewing Projects

In addition to the clothing projects, I sewed a variety of small things. While dealing with a lot of migraines and anxiety in the first half of the year, I sewed zip pouches as a way to keep myself in the practice of making even when I didn’t feel into it (or much else). Between those, gifts, samples for a workshop I taught, and the seven that I made for my sister’s bachelorette weekend, I made a total of 22 zip pouches and two laptop cases (which are basically tall skinny OWPs).

Other projects included a one hour basket, a Purl Soho adjustable apron, coasters, bunting, a Portsmith tote, and a variety of other small things.

The Backlog

Perhaps in the future I should add clothing to this as well (I’ve had a knit cardigan cut out since May, waiting to be serged together), but for now I’ll leave it with the quilt projects I usually keep here.

Progress in 2019:

Meta history quilt – blocks made for recent quilt projects
Witches Bubble Brew – quilt top completed, partially quilted

Untouched:

Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses – I destashed almost all of the fabric for this, so I’ll be figuring something out for what is left soon.
Self-portrait of an American Woman – unsure of whether I’ll finish this. I’ve only made a tiny block or two.
Pixelated Churn Dash – basted, partially quilted
C+S Charm Quilt – quilt top complete

New:

none! (a first!)

Resolution

I spent a fair amount of time in 2019 sorting through my stuff and decluttering. While I don’t want to limit myself down to the bare sewing supplies I had in Atlanta in 2018, I also felt like I tend to expand to my surroundings like a koi. I got rid of a lot of supplies for crafts I know I won’t work on (knitting, crocheting, needlepoint). Crafting is a space that I’m very bad about keeping things just in case, but being honest with myself, there are a lot of things that I know I’m never going to choose to do over other crafts or projects. So, I’m trying to be much more intentional about what comes in, what stays, and remember that I have the resources to go out and buy something if I do get rid of it and find I need it again later. Plus, it helps me focus on finishing the projects I have in progress rather than jumping to the next new shiny thing. In 2020, I want to focus on sewing through some of the projects I have supplies for before moving on to new things.

Catch me on Instagram @raevenfea to see the progress!

2018 In Review; and, Goodbye

Posted in News

As I sat down to write this year’s review post, I realized that I was behind on posting by multiple quilts and other projects yet again. And worse, it wasn’t due to a lack of time like last year, but general lack of motivation.

So, after spending a couple of weeks thinking about it, I’ve decided that I’m going to stop blogging in 2019. For now, this site will stay up. Thank you to those of you who have stuck around all these years.

Catch me on Instagram, where I’m slightly better about posting finished projects and in progress shots. My sewjo was back in 2018 despite all of the moving, and I’m looking forward to many new techniques and projects in 2019. @raevenfea

That said, here’s 2018 in review.

Quilt Finishes

I didn’t finish nearly as many quilts this year as I have in the past, and most of them were rather small quilts. But, I did manage to knock off one old work in progress and a second that was not as old, but I was just as pleased about clearing out.

1. Volute (Bang!)
2. Wild Swoon
3. Welcome
4. Give a Flock
5. Welcome 2

It was the year of small quilts. All but Volute (Bang!) were 42″ square or smaller. It almost motivates me to start the process of quilting my giant pixelated churn dash again (queen bed-sized, 1/2″ lines).

Quilt Shows

Volute (Bang!) hung at the Vermont Quilt Festival. Mustang Summing, All the Ys, and The Sum of Scraps all hung at the T. W. Wood Gallery in Montpelier, VT for a show in October.

Samplers, Meetups, Exchanges

Give a Flock finished up the Block of the Month my guild kicked off in mid-2017. I signed up for our 2018-19 BOM as well, and three months in, I’m still caught up.

Welcome was started after I learned about the Welcome Blanket Project. I gifted it to the project after finishing it.

Other Sewing Projects

While I was living in Atlanta, I took advantage of the wide variety of classes I could access and different materials I could buy in-person. As a result, I did more non-quilt sewing than usual. That included knit leggings, a sweater/sweatshirt, a waxed-canvas bag, and espadrille shoes. That’s in addition to a variety of zip pouches, and random other small projects; none of these made the blog.

The Backlog

Aside from the two quilts I finished from this backlog (Volute, formerly Organic Spins; VTMQG 2017-18 BOM), I didn’t make much progress on it. I’m actively working on the one new quilt I started but didn’t manage to finish in 2018.

Progress in 2018:
Meta history quilt

Untouched:
Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses
Witches Bubble Brew
Self-portrait of an American Woman
Pixelated Churn Dash

New:
C+S Charm Quilt

Resolution

One thing that was reinforced by my time in Atlanta is that I love sewing with people and learning new things. Sure, I can puzzle pretty much any technique out, but I enjoy learning them in person, with others. Rather than focusing goals on how many projects I might complete in 2019, I want to focus on learning things with people—taking classes, going to sew-ins, etc. I think there may be more garment sewing in my future as well, after reigniting that passion and receiving a serger for xmas.

History blocks for four of 2018's quilt finishes — History blocks for four of 2018’s quilt finishes

2017 In Review

Posted in News

As well as I can remember, 2017 is the first year that I am incredibly relieved to see in my metaphorical rearview mirror. So long, 2017, and keep your fish next time.

My time and motivation for sewing got pushed aside in favor of dealing with life. There were certainly some highs to go along with the lows, don’t get me wrong—we traveled to Alaska for our 10th anniversary, for starters! But overall, the theme of 2017 sewing seemed to be “whip up this gift before a deadline,” and had very little “me time, addicted to this project” sewing.

Quilt Finishes

2017 was all about babies. So many baby quilts. And, a lack of blogging. I still owe you all some words about numbers six, seven, and eight.

I also finished a mini, “All the Ys”, that took up a third of my Instagram #2017bestnine slots (of course, then I decided to be lame and not even post the collage to Instagram after it generated). I never quite know how to categorize minis—part of my list of quilts (currently 52 finishes, not including minis)—or part of my list of random small projects every year? Something to think about in the future if I start making more than one or two a year, I suppose.

* This isn’t exactly a finished quilt, but is a completed iteration. Semantics.

Quilt Shows

Human hung at the Vermont Quilt Fest and won a second place ribbon on its own merits. Cyclist was also present at VQF, in the “Lobby Lights” exhibit along with many others by my guildmates.

Samplers, Meetups, Exchanges

With my crafting mojo as limited as it was, I didn’t get involved in much this year. I started participating in my guild’s block of the month, but only finished the first two months. I’m about six behind at this point (we started mid-year). I helped my guild piece #quiltsforqc quilt tops during a sew-in, but that was it for various collaborative projects.

The Backlog

I barely touched my existing project backlog this year. I did finish one old project, Sampler On Point, which officially finishes off my old sampler projects from Utica. And, I made the first full panel of my history quilt (48 blocks). But, I started two projects in May that I didn’t touch again after August or so, which means I’m technically net negative on backlog progress.

Progress in 2017:

Meta history quilt
Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses

Untouched:

Witches Bubble Brew
Organic Spins
Self-portrait of an American Woman

New:

Giant Pixelated Churn Dash
2017-8 VTMQG BOM

Resolution

Looking back at my 2016 review, I didn’t do a great job of being on the same playing field as my goals for 2017, let alone accomplishing them. Which, of course, makes me hesitant to make any goals for 2018.

That said, I’d like to finish a quilt to enter into VQF this year. I’ve found the feedback from judges very interesting for the previous two years. At the time of writing, I hope to finish up Organic Spins once and for all, and enter it. I started it in September 2011, which makes it my oldest work in progress that I’m still trying to finish as originally envisioned.

I’d also like to catch up on posting about my final finishes of 2017 before too late in the year and keep up in 2018. Thanks for sticking around!

Carl and Rae outside of Hope, AK. August 2017.

2016 In Review

Posted in News

When I sat down to write this, it struck me that my opening could be much the same as last year’s. Again, we traveled quite a bit. Again, I changed roles at work (back into development, still team leadership). But, I also spent weeks on end not entering my studio space, not sewing, not dreaming up projects. I posted the fewest updates here since I started keeping this blog in 2009. So, this will be a pretty minimal roundup for the year.

Quilt Finishes

I was surprised to realize that I finished one more quilt this year than last. The finishes fell evenly into three categories: baby quilt gifts, donations to my guild’s community quilt drive, and ones I kept.

Every quilt I finished this year was either a pre-existing work in progress or made from stash. I’m happy to see my backlog of started projects shrink a little more. Despite the stash projects, my collection of fabric actually increased exponentially this year (more on that later), but it was nice to use up some of the older bits.

Quilt Shows

Despite not blogging, I did more to show my work in real life than I have in past years.

The F-word hung at the Vermont Quilt Fest. I don’t think it was very well received, but one of the judges gave me some insightful feedback, so it was a satisfying experience.

Human hung at the Squam Modern Quilt Show hosted by the Cambridge MQG and Gather Here, as well as in a special exhibit by the Vermont MQG at the Champlain Valley Quilt Guild’s show this year (an exhibit I also organized, which ate up a chunk of time).

After four years of traveling the country (and to Canada), my 1812 Challenge Quilt finally came home this summer.

Samplers, Meetups, Exchanges

I signed up for the Mighty Lucky Quilting Challenges this year, but only completed two of the challenges. January’s bias tape challenge resulted in a mini art quilt, and I made a pillow of quilted words as a result of June’s challenge.

I also made a few blocks for two quilt drives (along with other members of my guild): #quiltsforfortmac and #quiltsforpulse.

The Backlog

Progress in 2016

2013 Sampler from Tiger Lily
Meta history quilt
Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses
Witches Bubble Brew

Untouched

Organic Spins
Work in Progress

New

Self-portrait of an American Woman

Resolution

I find myself hesitant to make any resolutions for 2017, but if I were to do so, it’d be as simple as “spend more time creating.”

As the year draws to a close, two articles I read this year have really stuck with me and will likely play a role in how I look at things in the coming year. In the first (from 2014), Cheryl Arkison talks about why she doesn’t limit the number of projects she currently has “under construction.” (link no longer available) As someone who spent the previous three years making a concerted effort to reduce the number of works in progress I have, it may seem odd that in many ways I agree with her. But as she discusses in the section about creative challenges, I do think there can be value in having a variety of projects to work on. A lot of my focus has been on clearing out projects that never really called to me in the first place, but that I didn’t want to abandon. What is left is a collection of very different ideas that are simply waiting for me to be in the right mood to explore.

The other was Abby Glassenberg’s article about how language matters and the often exclusionary nature of how we talk about quilting. While I think the entire article is spot on, the section at the end about fabric stashes struck a particular chord. I purchased over 60 yards (yes, really! I couldn’t believe it either) of fabric this year. Some was to supplement what I already had to finish in-progress projects, but much of it was taking advantage of sales two local shops were running (one was moving, the other closing). Mere days before the article came out, I made one of those throwaway small-talk jokes to the fabric store clerk at checkout about my husband’s likely horror of such a large purchase and maybe I should sneak it inside. It was also mostly a lie, because he doesn’t really care and I felt no guilt (also: I’m a terribly awkward person in conversation most days, especially for small talk). It was one of those things we say to act like everyone else. Just like all the brainless micro aggressions that continue to feed racism, sexism, ageism, all the other -isms. In other words, this is the year that I managed to turn buying fabric into a great philosophical event for myself.

That’s all a really long way of obliquely saying that in 2017 you should expect more ‘statement’ projects (a lá F-word, Human), and more stash projects (fabric palette projects?).

2015 In Review

Posted in News

2015 was an odd year—it went by in a flash and I sewed much less than I have in recent years. We traveled more than in the past and for longer stretches of time. I started a new role that is less about development and more about guiding a team, became co-leader of our local Girl Develop It chapter (an organization that aims to teach women to code), and made progress with the learning curve of both of those changes. Sewing (especially quilting) took a back seat. What I did sew, I did with real intention and a certain level of dumping things out of my brain and sewing space.

At the end of 2014, I made a resolution to clean out my works in progress (the quilting ones, at least). Three-fifths of my quilt finishes this year came from that collection, and I worked on a few others. The second part of the resolution—that I not add to the list—wasn’t met. I started two projects that are still unfinished.

Quilt Finishes

* denotes a long-term work in progress that I finished

For the first time, this year was about finishing things—and in one case making a statement—not about gifting. In fact, the only quilt of the five gifted was the first—a quilt for a new cousin in my generation.

Getting the F-word out of my head and into a quilt was extraordinarily satisfying, and one of the unfinished projects is something else in that vein.

Sartorial Projects

My one wearable was a Halloween/Cosplay costume for Mary Sanderson. I’ve loved Hocus Pocus for 20 years, and was happy to jump in when my coworkers wanted to dress up as the three Sanderson Sisters for our office costume contest.

Crafty Things

Not only was this a slow year for quilting, I sewed very few smaller craft items.

My Art Student and the Cottage Garden bag is an all-time favorite and took about the same amount of effort as a typical quilt.

Samplers, Meetups, and Exchanges

I contributed blocks to two charity quilts for my guild, pieced the back for one of those, and made a block for a quilt Thomas Knauer is doing.

But, I did nothing with others that will end up in a project of my own.

The Backlog

Again, this was the year of cleaning out works in progress. I went into detail on the ones I made progress on in a Mid-year Progress post.

Progress since the progress report: I finished one quilt, decided Drunkard’s Compass will never be completed as designed and returned the fabrics to my stash (there are a few blocks finished that may turn into a pillow cover or something next year), and found the heart block for the Miniatures 9-Patch during a massive organizational spree in November.

Progress made:

Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses
Miniatures 9-patch
Witches Bubble Brew
Drunkard’s Compass
Meta history quilt

Untouched:

Organic Spins
Double Wedding Ring
2013 Samplers

New:

I Am Human
Work in Progress (such a meta name)

A Resolution

I have a couple of very specific finishing goals for 2016: I Am Human, Work In Progress, Miniatures 9-patch, and a baby quilt in January.

Beyond that, the majority of my guild (including me) decided to participate in the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club so I want to keep up with that.

I finally organized the larger pieces of my stash (comic book boards as mini-bolts for the win). I hope I can keep up with having my sewing room organized. I still need to deal with all of my scraps that are hidden in various bins and boxes.

I’m loathe to commit to much, because I think 2016 is going to turn out much like 2015 in terms of work and traveling. Looking forward to seeing how it goes!

Halloween 2015: Mary Sanderson

Posted in News

Winifred: Don’t get your knickers in a twist! We’re just three kindly old spinster ladies.

Mary: Spending a quiet evening at home.

Sarah: Sucking the lives out of little children!

The big reveal (two months late): two of my teammates and I dressed as the Sanderson sisters from the movie Hocus Pocus, and won second place in our company costume contest! I was Mary.

I ended up hacking the bodice, apron, wig and cape together without in-progress photos and never technically finished it (safety pin lacing holes for the win), so this post will just show photos of the ‘finished’ costume as I wore it for our office contest with a few notes on modifications. I showed you the various skirts and chemise in previous posts.

Rachael Arnold as Mary Sanderson — Photo by Bethany Robinson.

The bodice (from Simplicity 5582) ended up being very straight forward, except that I bag-lined it instead of using bias tape to finish the edges. I wore my (also not completely finished, despite being made in 2012) regency corset under everything, as the bodice is made of a fashion knit with interfacing and a cotton lining, thus had no shaping ability. I have yet to finish the lacing holes and used safety pins the day of. The fit is horrible. Despite matching my waist measurements, there was no way the bodice would close (partly because of the added bulk from the skirts). I added an extra inch to the front, but it still wasn’t enough.

The cape is attached at the shoulders (more safety pins), and was only hemmed at the top: the sides are unfinished (the knit doesn’t ravel), and the bottom is selvage. I had to seam it up the middle due having two pieces of the fabric, and not enough forethought. I chose to use the knit because it had a printed pattern that looked like a rough texture, while being simple to work with for a costume.

The apron is just a rectangle of fabric (actually three (felt and fashion tulle), layered, to get some texture). attached to a waistband, with patch pockets. I couldn’t find any multi-colored fabric with the right boucle texture.

The hair was fun—it’s a mix of my own and a structured wig piece. I made a base out of a styrofoam cone painted black with wire in the top, then hot-glued hair clips to the bottom. Then, I attached a hair extension piece that matches my already-dark-brown hair and clip-in purple pieces to create the structure for the shape. When wearing it, I twisted my own hair up onto the base and used a ton of pins, which held it all in place. Since I already have bright pink highlights, it was a little more jazzed up and multi-colored than Mary’s, but worked out surprisingly well.

If I wear this costume again in the future, I’ll finish up the lacing on the bodice, and add the accessories that really make something like this work (rings, earrings, proper shoes), but it was a lot of fun for an afternoon at work!

2014 In Review

Posted in News

When wedding planning took over all my free time during the spring and summer, I didn’t expect to finish many quilts this year. Once the day had passed and life settled back to normal, however, I found myself manic with quilting motivation. In the end, I finished two more quilts than in 2013!

In January, I posted about wanting to improve my skill at binding. I ended up only hand binding one quilt (Stars For Lennon) and feel much more comfortable machine binding. Yay!

Quilt Finishes

Four of the quilts were made with specially-purchased fabric, three were entirely from stash, two only required a purchase for backing, and one was an even mix of stash and new purchases. Additionally, three were long-time works in progress which I’m happy to be done with. Better yet, I didn’t start any quilts that weren’t finished this year.

Sartorial Projects

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Despite purchasing fabric lengths for a few different dresses, I only finished one, and never managed to blog about it (or take blog photos, for that matter). It’s a second Tiramisu that I have worn so often that the cheap jersey is starting to pill, and needs to be taken in from stretching out. I guess that is a good thing, in this case?

Crafty Things

The unofficial theme for crafty projects this year was embroidery, evidently. I embroidered a few things for the wedding that went unblogged (a lingerie bag for me, Carl’s pocket square, and jewelry bags for my bridesmaids). I also made tea towels, potholders, keychains, and stockings in addition to the typical mix of doll quilts and stuffed animals.

Samplers, Meetups, and Exchanges

None this year! Now that we’ve started an official Modern Quilt Guild here in VT, perhaps that will change in 2015.

One of those quilt finishes was from a previous sampler, though.

The Backlog

For once, I didn’t add to this list. I even managed to remove three things from it (well, technically I only remembered to add one of them to the 2013 Year in Review, but the other two should have been listed).

These are projects in progress for which something is cut out, at a minimum:

Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses
Organic Spins
Altar steps
Miniatures 9-patch
Witches Bubble Brew
Drunkard’s Compass
Double Wedding Ring
High-school t-shirt quilt
2013 Samplers
Meta history quilt

I have one or two more with all the components sitting in a box, waiting to be cut.

And, on the blogging side of things, I should probably finish up this site redesign!

A Resolution

I don’t know what 2015 will bring. I would like to continue making quilts for our nieces and nephews (six down, seven to go), and there are a few other people in our lives I’d like to create something for.

The one resolution I will make is that by this time next year, I’ll have done something with every unfinished quilt project listed above. Something might be progress, might be finishing, might even be officially giving up and repurposing/donating the completed parts—there just will be momentum of some sort. And, I won’t add to the list.

Sounds like a good way to start, at least.

Quilting, Privilege, and Doing What You Love

Posted in News

When I first took up quilting, in the back of my mind was this idea of the quilter as a prudent housewife making quilts with clothing scraps to provide warmth for her family because resources were scarce. The truth is that rather than prudent, quilting is profligate, with a $3.58 billion industry supplying all manner of goods that a “true” quilter needs. “But historically, quilt makers were poor, putting together what they had,” innumerable sources claim. This too is a falsehood, as it has almost always been the wealthy who had the money to either buy the yardage of printed goods needed for a wholecloth quilt or the idle time to sew one from small scrap pieces. Thus, quilting is neither quick nor cheap, either historically or in a modern context. There are exceptions; even the poor have produced utility quilts, and some may have made livings making quilts, but they are not so numerous as the popular mind believes.

Moof/Peter Rabbit Quilt Collage — Two things I love, both of which will only ever eat up my disposable income.

On the other side of the coin is the idea that every stay-at-home mother or underemployed crafter can somehow make a profitable business out of their sewing or crafting. The idea that even in a marketplace flooded with goods made cheaply in the global sphere, somehow, the small resurgence of the homemade, local market (driven, mind you, by privileged buyers who can afford the premium to feed their eco-minded ideals) is the saving grace of craft, where goods you make in your spare time (at first) can grow into a business that is sustainable and profitable.

The real truth is that quilting is either an expensive hobby or a business at which one can barely break even if you pay yourself a living wage. The same can be said of most other crafts. But to anyone viewing the world of quilting online, this truth is hidden by a horde of blogs that extol the virtues of doing what you love and bringing in extra money for the household through crafting. That somehow, simply identifying quilting or crafting as a hobby means you aren’t fully embracing life; that doing so means you don’t have a place in the online community.

The average crafting/quilting blogger seems to be middle-aged, female, married to a man who works full-time, with children, Christian, and solidly middle-class (if not higher). She has disposable income with which to buy all of the latest and greatest crafting toys (or at least enough to make a good show of it on the blog), and lists some of what she makes for sale online. If one or more of the above aren’t true, she is either actively trying to resolve the disparity, or you don’t hear about his or her blog, because they’re not one of the cool kids.

I’d like to make some grand call to action, a war cry perhaps, for those of us who don’t fit that mold to unite and show the world we exist, but I won’t humor myself to assume I have such reach or influence in the online quilting blog sphere. Instead, I simply hope to inspire a little thought to burrow in your mind about the exclusivity of our world and the factors that lead to it.

Quilting is not full of economical housewives making due with what she has, nor is it a way to do what you love and make a solid living. Rather, it is a world of $3000 sewing machines, $10/yard fabrics, costs to produce a single quilt often over $100, sponsorships, prostituting crafty favors for a chance to either get published or draw more blog followers, making less than minimum wage just to compete with undercutting hobbyists and goods made in southeast Asia, and keeping up with Mrs. Jones.

Is that a bad thing? Who am I to answer, as I sit here on a blog that I have no aspirations to grow into the next best thing and with my disposable income to fund my hobby without needing to pretend it’ll one day to become a business. But, as I see bloggers stressing over the need to increase their readership, produce more, sell more, and get noticed, I do wonder about all the others we’re missing because they don’t think they can compete. There is so much talent out there, but the current culture of quilting on the internet seems content with ignoring it unless it can be monetized.

So, yes, I posit that it’s a bad thing. I just don’t have an answer to how we can solve it any time soon.

Further reading:
In the Name of Love

The plural of anecdote is not data, and while I admittedly came to quite a few conclusions of my own based on personal anecdotal evidence (particularly the average blogger bit), much of what I said can be found in the Quilting in America™ 2010 study.

On Indiemade, Etsy, and “Do What You Love.”

2013 In Review

Posted in News

2014 is here, and I’ve started taking stock of what sewing projects are coming up next. 2013 was certainly full of change for me, but that translated to what felt like a less productive sewing year.

I didn’t actually fulfill any of my sewing resolutions for 2013, but I wouldn’t call the year a total loss. One major theme: I don’t have a bunch of abandoned WIPs from the year like I have in the past; I either finished everything I started, or am still consistently working on it for the most part.

Quilt Finishes

I say 2013 “felt like a less productive year”, but I actually finished one more quilt than I did in 2012.

Sartorial and Costume Projects

My big win of the year was finally finishing a Tiramisu in December. I also made Butterick B5814 for Halloween, but don’t have photos or a post about it.

Crafty Things

There were a few quick projects I didn’t blog about (like very simple drawstring and Velcro bags for wrapping Christmas gifts, tote bags, and the like), but I did do a few here and there.

Samplers, Meetups, and Exchanges

The notable finish here was Swapped Stories, from the block swap I started in 2012.

I started two Saturday Samplers, but stopped after just a few blocks because of the move. All of the blocks I received are done, but they are packed away awaiting some rainy day.

Fails and Projects I Got Bored With or Ignored for Too Long

This list grew just a bit, because I didn’t complete a single project from it in 2013. I really do hope to focus on these in 2014.

2011: Miniatures Heart Nine-Patch—saw some cutting board action in 2013 (strips cut into pieces for 9-patches), but nothing more.
2011: Organic Spins—I made more progress in 2013, but it’s still not complete. I have everything I need, I just need to finish appliqueing and quilting.
2011: Drunkard’s Compass—needs a lot of work.
2012: Witches’ Bubble Brew—is fully pieced, but needs a lot of applique and then finishing.
2012: Double Wedding Ring—was not touched in 2013.
2012: The Steampunk Costume—is never going to be finished with the original plan, but I’d like to do something with all of it.
2012-13: Farmer’s wife / EPP Crosses—I did some EPP this year with a group in the spring and on my own as recently as Thanksgiving, but it has a long way to go and I only touch it every couple of months.
2012-13: Tiger Lily Saturday Sampler—all 12 blocks are complete, but I haven’t started piecing them together.

Wrapping Up

I have three quilts in progress that were started in late 2013 which are my main focus for early 2014 (two December babies, one January birthday). There are two more babies due to friends in the spring, so the first half of the year seems pretty full.

Aside from those planned quilts, I’m resolution-less this year. I want to see where the year takes me here in VT. I joined the local guild, but have only attended one meeting so far. I haven’t found a real quilt-shop home yet, nor any monthly groups. It’s an adventure I’m looking forward to.

I wish you the best of luck (or all the motivation) in 2014!