who makes the rules?
#32
I think I am going to change my screen name to "The Outlaw Quilter" if there are quilt police, I'm breaking every law and not caring a bit.
PS. I also wear white after labor day and have managed to evade the fashion police now for a long time too :-)
PS. I also wear white after labor day and have managed to evade the fashion police now for a long time too :-)
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Somewhere in Time
Posts: 2,697
My now 90 year old aunt taught me to hand piece when I was 15 and she taught me to use 1/4" seam allowance.
I think that that was probably used from the beginning bore out of necessity. A much larger s.a. on small pieces would have been difficult to get to lay flat (remember we have electri iron and they might have finger pressed) and all he s.a. would have distorted the block. Also, the limited access to usable fabric probably forced a very conservative approach its use.
Those women were no different from us. Through trial and error they problably figured what worked best and the 1/4" s.a. for piecing became a standard.
I think it is important to remember that all this "rules" are really just guidelines. The people who write the books are offering us lots of options. It is our responsibility to determine which work best for us. We are very fortunate to have so many options.
My grandmother wore out scissors, used newspaper (if she was lucky enough to have it) for templates and wore out a treadle machine, which was probably near impossible considering how many of them are out there for us to enjoy.
Sometimes when I am using a rotary cutter, I think of my granny sitting by the Warm Morning heat stove and rug hooking by kerosene lamps because her newly acquired electric had gone out again.
I am seeing more and more template quilts in magazines again. Just shows us that what is old is new again. There was probably something soothing about sitting by that heat stove in the evening and tracing templates onto fabric and then cutting them out. I love this memory. How fortunate that we are able to quilt for pleasure rather than out of necessity like those quilters who helped to perfect the art we enjoy so much.
I think that that was probably used from the beginning bore out of necessity. A much larger s.a. on small pieces would have been difficult to get to lay flat (remember we have electri iron and they might have finger pressed) and all he s.a. would have distorted the block. Also, the limited access to usable fabric probably forced a very conservative approach its use.
Those women were no different from us. Through trial and error they problably figured what worked best and the 1/4" s.a. for piecing became a standard.
I think it is important to remember that all this "rules" are really just guidelines. The people who write the books are offering us lots of options. It is our responsibility to determine which work best for us. We are very fortunate to have so many options.
My grandmother wore out scissors, used newspaper (if she was lucky enough to have it) for templates and wore out a treadle machine, which was probably near impossible considering how many of them are out there for us to enjoy.
Sometimes when I am using a rotary cutter, I think of my granny sitting by the Warm Morning heat stove and rug hooking by kerosene lamps because her newly acquired electric had gone out again.
I am seeing more and more template quilts in magazines again. Just shows us that what is old is new again. There was probably something soothing about sitting by that heat stove in the evening and tracing templates onto fabric and then cutting them out. I love this memory. How fortunate that we are able to quilt for pleasure rather than out of necessity like those quilters who helped to perfect the art we enjoy so much.
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Georgia
Posts: 1,508
I'm a baby boomer as well. Will be 65 in January. I'm not one to follow rules either regarding this art form. Of course I realize there are some basic rules of thumb to know to even get started but than again I believe I'd fit best in the Crazy quilting arena more than the traditional way of todays quilting.
The quilt police as you state mostly are I believe with juried quilts at shows. Those that want to follow those rules usually are the ones who enter their projects in them.
I most likely will never do what is coined a traditional quilt. I'd rather play with my fabrics/fibers and fabric paints and applique "crazily" and it be one of a kind than for it to look like everyone elses.
I just go about doing it the way I want it done and enjoy my efforts no matter if anyone likes it or not.
The quilt police as you state mostly are I believe with juried quilts at shows. Those that want to follow those rules usually are the ones who enter their projects in them.
I most likely will never do what is coined a traditional quilt. I'd rather play with my fabrics/fibers and fabric paints and applique "crazily" and it be one of a kind than for it to look like everyone elses.
I just go about doing it the way I want it done and enjoy my efforts no matter if anyone likes it or not.
#37
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Russellville AR
Posts: 1,942
In my studio/my world (LOL) I make the rules!
Originally Posted by Fancy Nancy
hear a lot about "quilt police". just wondering, who actually makes the quilting "rules". I have a lot of books on quilting by various authors and there are sometimes different methods given. it bugs me b/c when our ancestors made quilts - the pioneer women etc, they didn't appear to follow "rules" and we never say they did it wrong. so who actually has the right to suddenly make rules on how things have to be done. is their a quilting law book or something? if i want all my seams to be 1/3" rather than 1/4" what does it matter? as long as all the seams are the same size? maybe it just the baby boomer in me but i sometimes resent having to follow all the "rules" that are made by so called quilting experts.
#38
*I* make the rules!!!!! :lol:
Honestly, I do things the way I like them. Maybe they`re not "traditional" or whatever...but it works for me, and I am happy with the outcome. Until I start showing quilts for judging, I'm gonna do what suits me an my quilts and makes ME happy. If you want a 1/3" seam, more power to you.
Honestly, I do things the way I like them. Maybe they`re not "traditional" or whatever...but it works for me, and I am happy with the outcome. Until I start showing quilts for judging, I'm gonna do what suits me an my quilts and makes ME happy. If you want a 1/3" seam, more power to you.
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Milton DE
Posts: 3,189
My cousin is a professional quilter and told me "there are no rules"...If you like it and it works for you, your the judge....So I do my own thing trying to learn a few things but if I like it...it's my rules....
#40
Originally Posted by Fancy Nancy
hear a lot about "quilt police". just wondering, who actually makes the quilting "rules". I have a lot of books on quilting by various authors and there are sometimes different methods given. it bugs me b/c when our ancestors made quilts - the pioneer women etc, they didn't appear to follow "rules" and we never say they did it wrong. so who actually has the right to suddenly make rules on how things have to be done. is their a quilting law book or something? if i want all my seams to be 1/3" rather than 1/4" what does it matter? as long as all the seams are the same size? maybe it just the baby boomer in me but i sometimes resent having to follow all the "rules" that are made by so called quilting experts.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Admin
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
0
06-28-2009 12:26 PM
ButtercreamCakeArtist
Member Swaps and Round/Row Robins
84
06-19-2009 12:59 PM
patricej
Member Swaps and Round/Row Robins
0
05-15-2009 08:08 AM
ButtercreamCakeArtist
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
252
05-03-2009 04:29 AM