Cranky Quilting
Some years ago now, I had major surgery. To paraphrase Ben Franklin, 'the prospect of ovarian cancer concentrates the mind wonderfully.' Fortunately the cyst turned out to be benign, but they had to take it out to make sure. Gives one the opportunity to spend a final day. One was enough. The gynecologic oncologist (yes, a specialist inside a specialty) appeared to be about fifteen years old. Upon inspection, he announced I had the best looking innards he'd seen in quite awhile, but "that and 25 cents would get you a cup of coffee." Where's this guy going to get a cup of coffee for 25 cents, was my question. A complete wacko. I liked him.
The wacko had an even younger – if you can imagine – resident partner who sewed me back up after the offending ovary got the axe. (Apparently the lead doctor leaves the finish work to the resident for teaching purposes). A very tall, athletic Black gentleman so urbane and sophisticated he could have done a photo shoot for GQ with his own wardrobe, this guy did beautiful work: small, even, well-placed stitches. And on a material so much more difficult than a quilt sandwich!
You can see where I was going with this; I tried to interest him in quilting. Just as a hobby, mind you – he clearly was an excellent doctor (I barely had a scar a few months later) – but encouragement is important in the recruitment process, and a small well-placed idea may come to fruition many years later. It was my first campaign, and although short, I like to think it was instructive. (Short because they tell you not to come back after a good outcome at an oncologist’s office; their exact words were “we don’t want to see you in here again.” DEAL.)
I noted his demonstrated natural sewing talent, the need for more young people and more men in the field, the strong tradition of Black quilting, and the precedent-setting work of football great Roosevelt Grier in the related needlepoint space. He looked rather startled the first time I brought up the subject, and borderline alarmed the second time, but the idea certainly entertained the nurses, one of whom had to sit down, she was laughing so hard. Some people do not take the long view.
As it turns out, I have not seen him again, but the idea of recruitment to quilting is important. Maybe we could even integrate it into medical school, surgery of course, but perhaps other specialties as well. After all, as one Victorian-era surgeon frequently exhorted his students: “less drinking and wenching and more needlework, gentlemen!” OK, so on multiple levels this clown was part of the problem, but you get the idea. Find the unorthodox talent pools and work on them.
You might think that leaves out most of the people who have jobs, kids, aging parents, houses, lawns, and intractably gabby acquaintances, but no. This site is for you. Ideal readers have very little time, a lot of interest, enough disposable income to buy at least scrap bags of fabric, and like to start design projects. (Oh, baby, do they start design projects.) They subscribe to magazines, draw on napkins, join quilt guilds whose meetings they can’t attend, and try to do lines of stitching in five-minute spurts on old machines with small extension tables tucked into a corner of the dining room. Welcome!
In terms of structure, we’ll wander through a number of cranky themes, but keep strategies front and center: unconventional resources, cost-cutting, hoary rules you needn’t worry about, disaster recovery, creative inspiration, mixed media, machine complaints, and so on. I added at least one design to each post, as well as epiphanies and processes that have worked for me. I did not, however, add basic tutorials on how to cut or piece – you either know that already or can look it up online. I did put some tips (largely heretical) on how to make matters come out right despite marginal skill. Finally, I showcase my favorite quilting books, old and new. There are experts out there; I am not one of them, but I am warmed by their light.
Quilt Design Notes:
At the top of the page is a photo of one of my UFOs (unfinished objects, for those just getting started). More complete picture below. As you can see, this is a scrap quilt, in entirely nine-patch blocks, with strong contrast between the dark and light areas in each block. About half the blocks have the darker value at the corners, and the other half the lighter value. A black and dark gray print outlines the whole thing. Additionally, I made certain to keep related color lines together in an abstract pattern. I think this works pretty well. If I ever manage to actually quilt it, I'll give it to one of my nieces.
