My first quilting class

I told you about my first patchwork, the four pointed star with eight points in the middle. Let's say that was a bit enthusiastic. The blocks to finish that place mat were a bit easier for a beginner. As I was working full time and going to university in the evening, time was one of my least available assets. But after patchwork, I should learn quilting, wouldn't I? My MIL taught me the first steps, and I thought I would never learn to quilt!


Especially because I had an Arts & Crafts Teacher in primary school who told my parents that it would be better for me and the world that I would not hold a needle in my hand anymore I was a bit scared. My MIL advised me to take a hand quilting class from the teacher she learned it from. That would settle my nerves. The teacher, you guessed it, Ted.


So I went to my first quilting class and had to design a feather wreath, just like Ageeth shows on her blog (it's the homework of the first class and Ageeth follows this class now). After that, we had to design the lines and quilt them. In class Ted taught me her technique with the thumb quilt ring and a normal thimble and that helped a lot.

With 4 weeks between classes I was ready to go. As usual I jumped in with both feet, so in the first week after the second class, in between work and study, my quilt was designed and I started quilting. I tried my best and as I had heard that small even stitches were best, and particularly if front and back are difficult to separate, I knew what I had to focus on. I can do as I was told. Sometimes.
And although 4 weeks are a long time slot, one way or another, time was too short. I only had to do the straight lines, but I took days off from work to get it finished. But I was happy with what I did, and enjoy the homework.

After 4 weeks the next class started. I came in early and spoke with one of my class mates about the homework before class started. Ted heard me saying that I had to take days off and wanted to see my work, why taking days off would be necessary. And when she saw my work, it was clear. In my effort to make small even stitches, I created 20 stitches on an inch, upside counted!
Look at the long straight lines in the pattern, the vertical and the horizontal, especially those on the right upper side. I don't know how I did it. But I did.
Not surprisingly Ted ordered me to go bigger....;-) The quilt was finished with 12-14 stitches on an inch. It saved some days for my vacation.

Nowadays I still make tiny stitches. I don't know how to make bigger ones. I just can't, don't know how to. On the other hand, I still learn a lot and I hope to be able to finish one day a quilt that is juried in at Houston or Paducah. Keep your fingers crossed!

Have fun quilting!
Anymart