When I read all the topics here on the board I always feel like a really strange and weird quilter:

I like patchwork and appliqué, but I don't do it.
I own a sewing machine, but I don't use it.
I have a rotary cutter, but I only use it for cutting the selvages of my fabric.
I never buy fat quarters.
I have a fabric stash, but every piece of fabric has at least 5 yards.
I use cotton prints for the quilt backing, not for the top.
I use solids for the quilt top, not for the backing.
I never use sewing thread, I put together fabric length with hand quilting thread.
I don't need a sewing room, a comfortable chair near the window and my hoop on a stand is enough.
I don't collect patchwork patterns, I collect quilting patterns.
I don't need machine needles, I only need betweens.
I have never used a seam ripper.
I don't use my rulers for cutting fabrics, I use it for marking grids on quilt tops.
I never put a binding on my quilts, I do a knife edge.

You see I'm a quilter - but a very strange one! :lol: :thumbup:

what is a knife edge? individual is not wierd just different--i love to see whole cloth quilts--i made one once 10x10 inches got it right out of my system!!!!

A knife edge is a kind of self binding. You just fold the top and backing to the inside and close the quilt with a running stitch. This method was mostly used for the traditional North Country and Welsh Quilts from UK.

i would never categorize you as wierd.

talented
practical
talented
thrifty
talented

are you detecting a theme here? ;-)

AWESOME would be the word to discribe you! I only wish I was so talented...instead I rely on my Janome 6600 for piecing the quilt and quilting it. I also rely on the rotary cutter and rulers. Congratulations on being able to do it all by hand...I envy you.

I'm fishing for compliments...

:lol:

I have to say AWESOME too! :thumbup: To be honest, if I had to hand-quilt or hand-piece, I'd probably never do it. My attention span and patience are both near zero. :lol:

Every time I see your work the word I think of is not wierd but amazing.

Your work is Beautiful!
and you are not weird, you just have one form as I like to call it of quilting.
I like to try and work with all methods! It makes you appreciate the truely talented like yourself!

You work is amazing. I wonder, do you use a little darker thread on the quilt, rather than white on the white top. I have read somewhere that this is a good idea and it used to be done years ago. Pam

I think you are talented!!!!!!!!!

This is what makes quilting such a great needle art. There are so many methods, patterns, and techniques that can be used. The most important thing is to do what makes your soul "sing". Hand stitching for hours just wouldn't be my thing, however that doesn't mean that I can't admire and enjoy your beautiful creations. Quilting is a sanity saver for so many people with the added benefit of creating something beautiful, useful and comforting. I don't think any quilter should need to feel "weird" about what they do or don't do. It's your quilt, your time, your fabric and your choice! Happy stitching always.

If your Feeling that way, then Stop... the talented way you express yourself is incredible, wish I had the patience for that type of art, and yes, It Looks Great !!! a Beautiful way to make somthing useful and attractive!! That seems to be the fun part of this forum, all are Welcome. :)

I agree - you are not weird. I aspire to be a quilter on that level. I use a sewing machine because my hand work is awful. I was always on too much of a hurry to learn to do hand work. This year I have worked on practicing it - it looks better but still no worthy of anything yet!

Your work looks awesome.

Your work looks awesome - I envy you that you can do all that by hand.

Oh my goodness, you are not weird, you are an artist! I would love to see more of your quilting art. Please!!!

Sometimes I use a thread a little darker or lighter than the fabric, that makes the quilting stichtches really visible and gives a little bit of color contrast. A few years ago I saw some antique Amish quilts and they were all quilted in black or dark grey, even on fabrics in red or bright blue. The quilt on the picture is made of a very light grey solid and the quilting thread is dark grey. I like this effect a lot.

The wonderful thing about quilting is we can have our own style and be as creative as we want. Your quilts are beautiful. And you are so talented. You're not a strange quilter but a talented artistic one.

I wish I could do hand work like yours. I have done 1 quilt totaaly by hand stitching but it is still not done, I am at the borders. Great work.

Andrea, I too am a handquilter. I piece when it is absolutely necessary. I love printed fabric but if I use it in a quilt I use it to accent the large plain areas that will have intircate quilting. I do what is necessary to get to the part I like the best, the handquilting. The only kind of applique I do is fused. Like cooking I have forced myself to master the necessary skills to do the job right but in the case of cooking it is the eating I most enjoy. Your work reminds me of the wonderful bed drapes, coverlets and bolsters you see in museums displaying magnificant beds in old castles and estates. I like to use thread that shows up against the plain background. Not long ago I helped quilt at the local Senior Center. We used a varigated thread. It really looked great on all of the black sashing etc.

Borntohandquilt,

Are those all your quilts that you have quilted on that web site that is attached to your signature? Those are beautiful! I can see you have put to much time and effort in your quilts, you have done a wonderful job!

I only wish that I could do such beautiful hand work!! :roll:

Your work is exquisite!! I wish I lived around the corner from you! - I'd be sitting at your knee soaking up everything I possibly could! PLEASE tell me you are teaching at least one person to quilt! Your style needs to be passed along, as should ALL great art!!

Thank you!
I've done all the quilts on my website and I also did some more. But some of them are sold or I gave them away as presents and I think there are 3 big ones and 2 small that I have to take pictures of.

:oops:
I've just started again to teach handquilting after a break of about 4 years. (I didn't have the time because of a fulltime job) Handquilting seems to start a revival here in Germany - but wholecloth quilting is still very rarely done.
I love the traditional quilting patterns with all their varieties so much and I see it somehow as my mission to keep them alive and to show them to other interested people. Hopefully I can manage to do so.

Andrea . . .just visited your website . . .those are INCREDIBLE!!!! What talent you have!!!!! :)

I've never seen a quilt with a knife edge before. . .but LOVE it :)

Andrea,
I too just visited your website ---awesome!! You should be very proud of your work, it really is amazing! You made me very happy to hear you are teaching again:) Now if I could only afford to come over & take a class... :)

I dont consider myself an "average" quilter either!
that is one of the amazing things about quilting! it dont matter the method.. only the end result!

WOW! I just visited your site!!! what awesome talent!!!

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are gifted.

Everyone of those quilts are beautiful! I have only seen hand quilting in a straight line before and loved it, but, your quilting and designes just bring a feeling of home and warmth! Yes, I agree, please teach more how to do quilting that way!

I think "unique" and "special" and "extraordinary" would be better adjectives to describe your work (and yourself) than "weird"

If my handwork was as lovely as yours, I could throw away the seam ripper, too. You do such great work.

To each of us, quilting brings joy! The way we quilt is not important, the joy is.

I aspire to do hand quilting. It would take a million years for me to do what you do! :D

Not wierd at all; very talented!

Weird NO! Wonderful YES!

You're ONE VERY TALENTED quilter that is very unique!!! Keep the quilts coming and post the pics for all of us to DROOL over!!!

your work looks beautiful, I do alot of applique and always hand quilt so my machine is pretty redundant - have always admired whole quilts but not yet tried one -on my 'to do' list

Not Strange!!!! - Wonderfully talented and creative. You have a special gift of creating something spectacular with minimal physical items. The extrodinary images you create with needle and thread are amazing and I for one love to look at and deeply admire.

What an amazing talent you have. Your work is beautiful. Such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing!!