Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Pictures
The Seven Year Stitch >

The Seven Year Stitch

The Seven Year Stitch

Old 08-13-2011, 08:11 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
TheSevenYearStitch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 205
Default

I've remarked before that my mother always insisted on cutting out each piece and never did any strip quilting. As you're about to see, she would have been able to do a lot more quilting had she not insisted on cutting out each square individually. Somehow, she got hung up on doing the same design, over and over and over again, literally until the day she died.

The History

My mom did many quilt tops in her day, but she never learned to finish them. She had a standing arrangement with her Aunt Thelma (who I refer to as "That Old Battle-Axe!) who had a long arm sewing machine. My mom would make quilt tops, maybe about 5 in a row, and send them to That Old Battle-Axe to finish. Payment was made in quilts. That Old Battle-Axe would keep as many as she wanted and send back whatever she didn't. She didn't ever send but a few back. Because of this, we have very few of my mom's quilts. Who knows whatever happened to the ones that were kept. Maybe that's why my mom stuck with a simple design, over and over. She just wanted to get them back!

After the Old Battle-Axe died, my mom stopped quilting and didn't start up again for years. She finally decided to learn to finish her own, but died before she could do it. A little while after she died, my dad gave me all of her fabric (which was mostly hideous, I'm afraid to say) and a stack of squares she had sewn for a quilt.

My mother never taught me how to sew. She didn't have the patience and was a little intimidating about it. For years, I would take her squares out of the rubbermaid tub I had them in and look over the stitches, examine them, and marvel at how PERFECT they were. I also thought about how angry she would be if I dared to mess them up.

I did sewing projects here and there, and finally got myself quilting about 6 years after she died. I worked on some baby quilts and small projects and finally pulled out her squares to finish the quilt so my dad could have it for Christmas.

I finished the quilt exactly 7 years and 1 day after she died. I learned a lot finishing that quilt, especially that I don't have to be a perfect seamstress to quilt. It's not the fanciest--probably the most ordinary looking quilt you'll see on these boards. But our quilt, which I call The Seven Year Stitch, represents a lot :)

What she left behind
[ATTACH=CONFIG]241487[/ATTACH]

Quilting as simply as I can--she wasn't a fan of fancy
[ATTACH=CONFIG]241488[/ATTACH]

The finished product!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]241489[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails attachment-241481.jpe   attachment-241482.jpe   attachment-241483.jpe  
TheSevenYearStitch is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 08:18 PM
  #2  
Super Member
 
Judith1005's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: *where the sun almost always shines*
Posts: 9,323
Default

it's beautiful. i love the white you used to frame each block. it really sets off the blocks. and you do have a wonderful memory of your mother.
Judith1005 is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 08:22 PM
  #3  
Power Poster
 
erstan947's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 12,166
Default

Very nicely done and a wonderful tribute to your mom.
erstan947 is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 08:25 PM
  #4  
Super Member
 
LeslieFrost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Trego, WI
Posts: 1,871
Default

Our mothers were all complex people in many ways. I'm glad that you faced your Mom's memory and were able to finish that quilt. It is now a beautiful and useful object.

In a way, I feel sorry for the quilters who don't see beyond 'the rules' and the striving for perfection. I quilt because I like it, both the process and the finished product. I refuse to do anything because someone tells me I must. Had enough of that in my working life!
LeslieFrost is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 08:28 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
TheSevenYearStitch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 205
Default

It's pretty plain, but I think seeing that quilt over and over has inspired me to try lots of new things! She had finished another top that's a miniature of that one. If the hubby and I ever have a bambino, I'll finish it and the little one can have a baby quilt from their grandma :)
TheSevenYearStitch is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:04 PM
  #6  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Suring, Wisconsin
Posts: 15,364
Default

Your mom loves it.
Grandma Peg is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:12 PM
  #7  
Super Member
 
cowgirlquilter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 4,656
Default

Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous.
cowgirlquilter is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:16 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
anothernancy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: WISCONSIN
Posts: 402
Default

What a wonderful quilt! The first quilt I made I cut out all the squares by hand (queen size) because that is how my grandmother did it. This quilt is a wonderful memonto from your mother and you. You did a beautiful job!
anothernancy is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:18 PM
  #9  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Upper Michigan
Posts: 8,248
Default

I think it turned out wonderful!! U both did a great job!!
Painiacs is offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:19 PM
  #10  
np3
Power Poster
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 13,214
Default

Very Pretty!
np3 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BellaBoo
Main
29
10-24-2016 04:25 AM
barnbum
Pictures
25
08-03-2009 02:51 PM
sondray
Links and Resources
0
07-26-2009 02:45 AM
Ethel A
Pictures
59
04-19-2009 06:41 AM
sondray
Links and Resources
0
11-21-2008 11:24 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter