Quilt making and other things.

Here we all are, under my first quilt. I had no idea when I started what an awesome undertaking it was, nor how much pleasure I would derive from the whole process. My love affair began late spring last year when I wandered into a room with two beautiful women drinking wine and quilting. I was in awe of their stashes. I took a too-dark video, titled it “my new hobby” and sent it to a few perplexed people. Then I scoured youtube, pinterest and quilt blogs for beginning tips and gathered my army of supplies. Through the summer I practiced (on this quilt) sewing straight lines with 1/4” margins, cutting accurately and pressing without steam. I ripped almost as much as I sewed in the first few weeks, but it got easier. As it progressed, the baby would crawl on to it at any opportunity and lay his sweet head down. I imagined this as his encouragement, “keep going, mom! you can do it!”

It’s a pleasure for me to meet so many passionate makers, both online and in the flesh, who dedicate hours and hours to getting tiny corners to match up. I was largely unaware of the rich tradition of quilting and how it relates to storytelling, dreaming and womanly bonding everywhere. It’s only now, since the quilt is finished that I’ve begun to scratch the surface of the deep meaning behind and within this work. I sat up many nights toiling and sore, joyful to the bone to see these pieces of color and shape come together in a way that feels familiar to me. And what I have now is the manifested practice of imperfection. A large, cozy, colorful covering that I sewed all the longing of my heart into.

The precision required in quilting gives me the opportunity to make cuts, stitches and pieces that are uniquely mine. I’ll probably not ever have fully matched corners, and I don’t really care. For me, what makes a quilt (or anything handmade) so beautiful, is the person behind it. I’ve always admired Maria Callas and Eminem for the ferocity with which they put it all on the line. Content aside (I am not a huge lover of opera or rap), listening to both of these artists gives me chills. I hear the real life suffering and joy in their voices. It seems to me that this is part of their gift - to offer their whole self in service of the medium.

I have more thoughts on quilting, wholeness and living in service of our heart to come. In the mean time, there is a sick child to tend to, and a lot more quilts to make.