Whose quilt are you making?

Or why it is important to trust your gut and go with your own style.

I am a devout follower of quilting gurus such as Jacquie Gering and Joe Cunningham. Both Jacquie and Joe are amazing quilters and improvisation features largely in their work. They make slice and insert, stitch and flip and the whole "see where the music takes you approach" seem so effortless.

A few months ago, I posted pictures of blocks that I had made to try out paper piecing. I wrote that I wanted to use those blocks in a quilt. Well, I decided to try some modern improvisation and make a lap quilt incorporating those blocks. Here is the result and to be honest, I am not really happy with it. It just does not work.

Improvised quilt using paper pieced blocks (Nov 2013)
 

I then tried to understand what went wrong, and this is what I came up with: The  alignment / distribution is not quite right and the neat, intricate and somewhat traditional  paper pieced blocks do not go well with the rest of the quilt. But above all else,  it is not "me". I love modern quilting, but I am not into improvisation. I am a planner and I prefer to spend time designing a modern quilt, even if it means hours and hours in Adobe Illustrator before I start sewing. I am not averse to switching fabrics mid-project or reorganizing blocks, but I do like to know where I am going when I start. And hey, there are no rules that say you have to make improvisational quilts if you are into modern quilting. In my opinion, Kathy Mack of Pink Chalk Fabrics sums up what modern quilting / sewing means.

"...my use of the word ‘Modern’ related to attitude over aesthetic. An attitude of fearless experimentation, pushing boundaries, redefining what it means to sew, personal expression through our work, and defining for ourselves what we like and how we go about making it. A passion for individualism and unique creative endeavor."

I think it is really important to try new things, but at the same time, to do what works for you and is the most fun! And this quilt top won't go to waste, because I will turn it into a baby quilt for Project Linus, a charity that provides homemade blankets and quilts to children in need.

If You Can't Go Local, Go Virtual (and win a free Craftsy class!)

Some people are lucky enough to live in areas with various guilds, classes and even weekend getaways for quilters.  But what about those of us who don't live in such thriving quilting communities? This is where the internet comes into its own.

The first time I used the internet for quilting tips was when I looked up how to bind a quilt. I had been following basic instructions from a book, but wanted to "upgrade" to mitered corners. I found several blogs with fantastic, clear tutorials, each with a slightly different technique, and now my binding looks so much better. I have since become a regular user of blogs for tips and smaller sewing projects, for example, I found instructions for my fabric buckets on a blog.

Vanessa Wilson of Crafty Gemini Fame  

I have also watched many a tutorial on youtube, in particular to learn more about techniques for which a video is easier to follow than a series of photos (e.g., foundation paper piecing). I find Vanessa Wilson's Crafty Gemini videos really helpful. (And for parents of young children, she also has great videos on teaching kids to sew. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, sewing machines don't currently have the power to supplant monster trucks and fire engines as the young children's entertainment of choice in our home.)

My absolute favourite online resource is Craftsy. This is a platform which provides users with access to online lessons on topics including sewing, knitting, cake decorating, and, of course, quilting. Prices for quilting classes range from around $15 to $40. You can take the class at your own pace with unlimited access, and you can use the platform to ask your class instructor questions. There are not that many local quilting classes on offer where I live, and those available tend to focus more on traditional quilting, so Craftsy has been an absolute blessing for me!

Jacquie Gering for Craftsy 

As a modern quilter, I loved Elizabeth Hartman and Jacquie Gering's tutorials. I am also a fan of Ann Petersen's classes on specific techniques, such as machine quilting and sewing curves. A few of the classes aimed purely at traditional quilters are not really my cup of tea, for example, one class focuses on Civil War quilt blocks and another on hand quilting (for me, modern quilting also means using modern technology. I would not want to impose my ropey hand-stitching on anyone!) Most of the quilt classes focus on the actual making of the quilts. I would also be interested in a class on how to turn quilt designs into patterns for others to use, including topics such as layout, structure and wording instructions. There are courses like this for knitters on Craftsy, but so far nothing for the quilters. I hope this is something they will add to their selection in the near future. 

Craftsy provides its users with a platform not only for learning, but also to exchange ideas, show their work and even offer their patterns for sale. And although it has grown into a huge business in a short space of time, I think Craftsy still manages to maintain the feel of a close-knit community.   

Even though I do not think that online learning can ever replace the joy of heading down to your local guild to stitch and chat with fellow quilters, using the internet can really help you improve your skills, connect with other quilters and find new inspiration. Whether you are an occasional blog reader or an online tutorial fanatic (like me!), all you need is a computer and an internet connection, and the virtual quilting world is your oyster.

Win a Craftsy Online Class! 

An exclusive Craftsy giveaway and discounts for mukiyo blog readers. 

Click here for a chance to win one of two Craftsy online classes. The winners will be selected at random by Craftsy on 12th September, 2013.

In addition to the giveaway, mukiyo blog readers can also take advantage of a 25% discount on the following Craftsy quilting classes:

Elizabeth Hartman for Craftsy 

• Inspired Modern Quilts with Elizabeth Hartman
• Improvisational Piecing, Modern Design with Jacquie Gering
• Machine Quilting Negative Space with Angela Walters
• Playing with Curves with Ann Petersen

And for those of you who would like to dip your toes in the Craftsy water before you commit to a paid class, check out Elizabeth Hartman's free mini-class, Creative Quilt Backs