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Hi all.
Just thought I'd share my currant WIP's (Work in progress) from a predominantly female craft that seems to be not represented in the stories at all. Patchwork & Quilting.
Firstly, a redwork project that I would have started just after Shrub got elected, all the US presidents in Redwork!
(The strip of blocks in the left of the picture is something of C's called "á–h my gosh" Each 6 inch square block contains, on average, around 40 pieces!)
Plus assorted other iconic symbols off the USA: (you might notice the 2 seals in the picture above as well)
Secondly, a pattern called Chunky Churn dash. (Churn dash is the name of the block)(It's also on the design wall behind the redwork blocks)
First the churn dash blocks.
next laid out with the alternate blocks (Hour glass blocks)
Comments
Piecing, quiilting, embroidery and other thread arts
This really isn't the correct forum for this, but hopefully Erin won't mind any more than the occasional religious or politcal rant. I'd never considered my own interest in all things crafty had anything to do with my gender issues, until a close friend of mine pointed it out. Since then I've come to realize it's a way to express my feminine side that is relatively well accepted.
My guess from the lack of responses to your blog is that most of the readers here don't know enough of the subject to comment. And even experienced quilters often have a hard time envisioning the finished product when it is in a state of assembly. Most people have no idea that even a simple machine-sewn strip quilt for a double bed can have 40-60 hours of labor just piecing the top, and that doesn't include quilting it together, or finishing it! So I sincerely applaud your efforts!
I learned basic sewing in elementary school but was bitten by the quilting bug about three years ago. I've made perhaps 20 quilts since then, one of them a very bright Texas Star queen bedspread. Lately I've been consumed by precision so I've become fond of foundation piecing. I also knit, tat, and do counted crosstitch but my real forte is machine embroidery, which I also design. The only redwork I've done is using machine embroidery. It feels like cheating!
I know from counted crosstitch projects how much work is in the redwork. The photos aren't high enough resolution to tell if you've stitched them already (for the uninitiated, the patterns are printed on the cloth and are either hidden by the stitches later, or wash out). If you have, congratulations! If not, then you'd best get started as we do add to the list of Presidents regularly!
One thing I've learned from my thread hobbies is that people either know and appreciate, or they are completely clueless. My daughter once showed her mother-in-law a 10" tatted doily I'd made for her, using size 60 thread. It took me nearly two months. The mother-in-law's cool response was, "Why would anyone make something like that when they can buy one for three dollars at Michaels?" She obviously didn't differentiate cheap chinese machine made crochet with three shuttle tatting!
Another thing I've found is that sewing and quilting shops and groups of enthusiasts are quite accepting of males, as soon as you show some knowledge or genuine interest. The only places I've ever felt out of place is in the vendor area of some quilt shows. Many vendors are male, so when a male enters their booth they think you are spying on them for ideas. But even so, once they realize you're a customer they relax.
So, kudos for you, happy stitching, and keep on stripping!
Hugs
Carla Ann
fellow sufferer of Walking Foot
PS. I know of at least one story whose main character who is passionate about quilting. I posted a standalone story a couple years ago entitled "The Phone Call." I have an outline for another, probably novella length but my muse is still on vacation.