A Patchwork of Friends

I am not a quilter. Beginning quilters look at me and feel a smug burst of self-confidence. Even so, I did make my niece a simple baby quilt a couple of years ago, but it was clear that I had no idea what I was doing.
Here’s a little well known fact about me. I like to go big. Instead of going for a jog, I start training for marathons. Instead of moving down the block, we move 3000 miles, practically on a whim, and then move back a few years later.
Knowing that about me, you will probably not be surprised to learn that when Newt told me she’d like me to make a quilt for her bed, I chose one that required approximately 748,000 miles of sewing.
I got the pattern here, if you are interested.
quilt strips
Way back in May, Newt helped me cut hundreds of strips of fabric. And then I got to work sewing up a storm, until I got busy and forgot. However, Newt did not forget. She really wanted to see me finish to have it, and would not let up. So, I made her a promise that I would finish it in time for her birthday. Two weeks before the big day, I got back to work.
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
I might not finish. Crap. I promised.
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
Who needs clean underwear?
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
It’s starting to look like a quilt!
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
I began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I was going to make it! And then Newt threw me a curve ball.
Mom, I don’t like quilts with knots tied in them. When I use them, I feel like I have to tighten all the knots and it distracts me from my book or tv or whatever. Can you sew it instead?
I was going to need some help. The night before Newt’s birthday, all of my closest friends came over for an old fashioned quilting bee.
Quilting Bee
Everyone brought snacks and we took turns eating and stitching, laughing and talking.

quilting bee

Quilting Bee

We quilted late into the night. By the time the last needle was put away, the quilt was half finished.
It’s huge! And hand quilting takes a really long time!
Newt let me off the hook, but I’m still trying to get it done as fast as I can. Which, in all honesty, might take awhile.
Quilting Bee
The help I’m getting these days is not nearly as productive.

Confidential aside to my quilting bee friends: What would I do without you ladies? Thank you for being in my life. I appreciate you!

5 Comments

  1. What a good mom you are! I would have just tied it and called it quits! The puppy looks half asleep in that last picture! 🙂

    Reply
  2. It was fun! Your friendship is a blessing to me.

    Reply
  3. Love how this looks!

    Reply
  4. Awesome job on the quilt, but next time, try quilting it on your sewing machine! So much faster! 🙂 (Though an old fashioned quilting bee with friends sounds like a lot of fun…)

    Reply
    • It was fun, but the sewing machine stitches would have held better. Some of the ones the kids did have pulled out. One day, I’ll fix them all up.

      Reply

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