“Whether made for public display or for intimate private use, quilts provide a window into their era and visually narrate often-invisible American experiences. Within a quilt’s fibers, materials, patterns, and decoration are embedded larger stories of industrial production, politics, social change and communities along with the personal stories of families. Some live on the surface of American life and some are embedded deep within community history and tradition.”

Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories

Director’s Forward

Pamela Parmal, Jennifer Swope, and

Lauren Whitley

Happy Friday!

This week has been a busy one in the studio...working on two vintage quilts (repairs, new binding, etc.) and two custom quilts have been in the works! I also had the pleasure of perusing my copy of Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories that I ordered. The book is a companion to the exhibit now open at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. For more information about the exhibit you may visit here: https://www.mfa.org/

This exhibit is so exciting and the publication is a feat in itself. I listened to Jennifer Swope discuss the exhibit and the book on the Quiltbuzz podcast, which you can find here: https://quiltbuzzpodcast.com/podcast/episode-040-jennifer-swope-of-the-museum-of-fine-arts-boston She discusses how the book is an extension of the exhibit because the exhibition space only had a limited space, but the book allows for more exploration of the themes of the exhibit through many more examples of quilts. The book is beautiful! I will share more as I read through it. I am participating in the SuzyQuilts book club, and we will begin discussing the book this week, I think! I should check what I need to have read!

The companion book to the exhibit of the same name at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

I am also participating in the MFAQAL (Museum of Fine Arts Quilt Along) put on by Amanda @broadclothstudio. She enlisted the help of some wonderful pattern designers to help her put together the blocks in the quilt. Each designer chose a classic quilt block found in the exhibit and “reimagined” it and gave it their own “modern spin” (quotations per the MFAQAL pattern!).

This week we are working on the Water Lily block and the Courthouse Steps block...I have been cutting the fabric for my blocks. I will piece them this weekend.

The MFA Boston is working on putting together a virtual exhibit, so if you cannot get to Boston, then you may be able to see the exhibit anyway!

So much of my work is honoring memories and people’s lives, and I love the quotation at the beginning of the blog. I am honored to be a part of this vibrant, important community!

Sending Quilting Love,

Ginger

Coming Next Time: Thread...

I am Reading: I am still reading Wicked by Gregory McGuire, but I finished Tightrope by Simon Mawer this week. I am working my way through Let Your Creativity Work for You by Heather Allen. Also I picked up the third Witcher book, Blood of Elves. I am still reading bits of poetry, and I have stacks of things to read, which always makes me happy! Of course I am reading for my quilty book club...I will share as I go along!

“She cast around for the right words. That was the problem with words--they nail the thought down, made it explicit, fixed it, crucified it on the cross of exact meaning. But life has no exact meanings, only shades of meaning, hints, versions, and contradictions, a confusion of loves and hates, of motives and desires.”

Tightrope

Simon Mawer

Hello!
I hope you have had a brilliant week. I keep waiting for rain...maybe today! Last week we explored twelve common words I use when I am talking about making a t-shirt quilt or quilt. I have twelve more words that I think might be important to the process of making a quilt.

Quilt vs Blanket--Most quilters will get a little irritated at a quilt being called a blanket, but I really see “blanket” as the overall group and a quilt is a special kind of blanket. Quilts have three layers and blankets usually have one. I love the word “counterpane” for a quilt, but it is a bit archaic.

Piecing-the process of cutting and sewing the pieces of a quilt top together. Piecing is used most often in reference to the quilt top, but the back of a quilt often needs to be pieced as well.

Block-One unit of a quilt. For instance a 12T t-shirt quilt has 12 blocks in it.

Quilting-the act of stitching the three layers (front, batting, backing) together, and the actual stitches used to hold the three layers of the quilt together.

Applique-sewing one piece of fabric onto a larger piece of fabric. For instance when I sew a small logo onto another block of a t-shirt quilt.

This sweet little pumpkin block has a skirt appliqued to it!

Heatnbond-an iron on adhesive that helps in the process of some types of applique.

Miters or Mitered Corners-The corners of the quilt are created by sewing the fabric at a 45 degree angle, like a picture frame. (It’s magic!)

A great example of meander quilting and a mitered corner!

Meander or Stipple-the most common type of quilting I use for a t-shirt quilt. It looks like loose puzzle pieces.

Longarm-the large sewing machine that I use to quilt quilts. My long arm has a 10” frame.

Hand-guided Quilting-the quilter drives the machine as it sews. All of my quilting is hand-guided. I do not have a computer attached to my longarm machine.

Free-motion Quilting-A pattern is not being followed and the quilter is in full control of the machine.

Domestic Machine-a regular sewing machine used at home.

Hopefully last week’s blog and this blog help with the general vocabulary of quilting! Let me know if you can think of other words I should define!

Sending Quilting Love,

Ginger

Coming Next Week: How much time does it take to make a quilt?

I am Reading: I am still reading Wicked by Gregory McGuire and Tightrope by Simon Mawer, and I am working my way through Let Your Creativity Work for You by Heather Allen. I am still reading bits of poetry, and I have stacks of things to read, which always makes me happy!

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