Life without needlework is impossible for me to imagine. It seems I've done some form of it all my life. I think the first thing I learned to do was embroidery. I never embroideried as well as my Mama did. She did all kinds of beautiful needlework. The pillowcases in the photo are her handiwork.
My favorite form of needlecraft is quilting. I also enjoy crochet, knitting, and sewing (garments, etc.). I used to love to do cross-stitch; but with years goes sharp vision, so I gave that up.
I used to think it was important that I pass this art on to my daughter--and I tried. She tried too, but she has never really caught the needlework bug. The only one of my Mama's grandchildren who inherited needlecraft skills was my niece Jenny. Jenny's crochet and piecing were exquisite. I have a few pieces of her work, which I treasure--including the crocheted doily in the photo below. Jenny passed away in 2000 after battling cervical cancer. I sure miss that girl.
There's something so satisfying about creating with needle, thread, fabric, and yarn. It's not just the fact that I've made something pretty or even useful, though. It's that by using these skills, I help to keep alive traditions and talents of past generations of women.
For the most part, needlework was born out of necessity. I often think of the women of the families who settled the American West. What hardships they must have endured, traveling for months by wagon or on foot, through all kinds of dangers, known and not even dreamed of, then settling on land that had not been set foot on by any of their race. These experiences (fear, hardship, sickness, death, hope, love, beauty), they translated into their quilt blocks, knitted blankets, homespun fabric, and woven rugs. They left these patterns and skills to us, all of us who want to accept the heritage. I thank them, those generations of women and girls who used what they had to make covers and clothing, linens and keepsakes--who may never have known they were doing art. I love them all.
I'm editing this post to add a photo of my first finished bock for the Fall Block Party Challenge. I am not extremely happy with it. I love the fabrics, and the block design; but I don't do well with paper templates, which are included with the patterns.
You can purchase mylar templates at a cost of about $40 for all the templates to make all the blocks, but I think that's a bit much to make one quilt. I really wish Marti had included rotary cutter instructions for the blocks. I think I'll figure those out for the rest of the blocks, and leave off the paper template cutting. I might even make this block over.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 08/29/2007, Karla said ...
Beautiful photos. I wish I could embroider. I'll have to add that to my list of things to learn. I signed up for a crochet/knitting class that starts in a few weeks. I'm very excited! I'm so sorry for the loss of your niece. Sounds like she was a very special person.
Karla
On 08/29/2007, anita said ...
What lovely needlework! My grandmothers used to embroider pillowcases like that one; I wish I had one of them. You're so lucky to have some of your Mama's pieces.
On 08/30/2007, Sarah said ...
N is also for NICE job lady! That's one beautiful block!
On 08/30/2007, Sister Cage said ...
Finished Block - I love this block. I wish I could use the rotary cutter--I've had 2 or 3 of them of different makes and sizes, but I always cut the ruler or the template. Just have never got the knack of it.
On 08/30/2007, Georgina said ...
Loved your first block, those fabrics are gorgeous!
On 09/02/2007, Kim West said ...
If you want, I can send you the rotary instructions for them; I just drew the blocks in EQ6 - just have to put fabrics to the blocks now.
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