My son is amazing
 

My oldest son - in Lexington, Kentucky- lost his job the end of March when things first started shutting down in his area. After a few days of stress he got out the new sewing machine I had sent him last November for his birthday- which he had not had time to check out. He spent a couple days playing with all the different stitches it had, learning the machine, getting comfortable with it. Then he started making masks, playing with different styles, sizes, types- wound up making masks for his wife & coworkers, his boss & many other people. Then he told me, I’d like to make a quilt. When he told me he had started playing with it I had put together a ( care package) with tools, notions, rulers and a bunch of fabric. Pretty soon he was playing with 1/2 square triangles and designing a quilt. Then last week he sent me a picture of a Jinny Beyer quilt he found and said he wanted to make that. He had a ( jelly roll) of teal & purple solids. He told me he had cut up a bunch of the strips into 2 1/2” squares to get a head start. I said Oh No! Stop, you don’t use squares, the fabrics are diamonds cut at 45*.
I was going to show him, but he didn’t have time. This morning he sent me a picture and said- ok, what did I do wrong?
I sent him a text message telling him that pinning was important and explained how to pin the segments together. In About 5 minutes he sent a new picture- Perfect!
I let him know I had to leave for therapy but would check back in when I got home in case he had any other questions.
when I got home he was ( is) on a roll! I’m amazed how fast he catches on with just an occasional text.
first pic is the 1/2 square triangle quilt he made, then his ( what did I do wrong), then the *got it*. Then what I saw when I got home.

He sure did "get it"! Nice work!

Wow. Such a quick study. Wonderful job

I can only say !!! He is a super quick learner. I still fight those Lone Star look blocks. Seems like I need to get some lessons from you. haha

Wonderful! He has found a great way to keep busy and is producing amazing results. I hope he continues with his quilting. (Excellent coaching too.)

He's sure off to a great start!!!!!!!!!!

He did great! I'm in Richmond, first town down I-75 south of Lexington. I go to Sew A Lot at Hamburg for most of my stuff. If he needs anything, tell him they are great! There area also several other good stores in Lexington--Thomas Sewing Center and Quilter's Square. And Birdsong Quilting in Georgetown.

Great job with his new adventures. Good for him to learn new skills.

He really caught on quick and caught the "bug" just as quickly it seems! I hope he continues to quilt!

How exciting! He must be a chip off the old block :)

Tell your son congrats from all of us. He is a super star.

He did a wonderful job! You should certainly be a proud mom!

Looks like he's off to a good start on his quilting journey. Great job.

How wonderful that he's found this craft and that you can share!

He is a natural! Beautiful work!

wow. he is ambitious and eager to learn. a fabulous combination for a new quilter!

Wow! He must have inherited a bunch of talent from his parent!!!!

Awesome! My neighbor is catching a bit of the sewing bug but not quite as spectacularly. I offered him the use of my old 301 and some fabric so he could make masks for his extended family. Woo! Within a day he's showing me and asking me questions about facings and casings and filter pockets and fitting them especially for his mother-in-law. He's a construction guy by trade and has a repaired shoulder healing up. It's giving him ideas that he could sew for living, whether that was drapes or whatever, or for a hobby. He's finding he enjoys just playing with the fabric.

I think it was Leonf who gave me the line (which he credits to others I think) about sewing machines being power tools with needles!

That’s amazing! I’ve been quilting for many years and just recently challenged myself to make a block like that!

He is amazing and so determined. Kudos to both of you for a new shared interest............for life.

! It looks like he is a natural when it comes to quilting. It's amazing to me how a first time quilter can make something that would have taken a long time quilter ages to accomplish. I'd say he has found his place in the quilting world. Congratulations to him on a job well done with that Jenny Beyer block & congrats to you for your excellent teaching so he understands through text messages!

He surely is a fast learner! I am so glad to see that he is jumping right in. This will definitely keep him busy while at home this way. I am wondering what he will start next?

He is amazing.. Triangles are not usually for beginners. I've been quilting for 15 years and still avoid them. I hope he continues to make beautiful things.

Wow! You're right - he is amazing. Beautiful work and colors.

Thanks everyone for your kind words. He was always my Rainbow- Star child and now in his 40’s he is showing me he never let that go. What amazes me is he grabs a sheet of graph paper, sketches something he’s seeing in his mind then just grabs fabric and creates it. Usually he sends me a picture— look what I did—- sometimes I get that one....what did I do wrong? Or why won’t this work...
he challenges me.
he is talking about learning how to work on sewing machines then looking into a new job in a sewing shop of some sort- where he could fix machines and sew. I hope the right opportunity comes his way.
he needs a creative outlet- it makes him happy.

You must be so lucky to have a son this talented. Not only he quilts so well but also just look at the color combinations. He is really talented and has everything what it needs to be a great quilt designer. Best wishes for you guys.

That is phenomenal! Did he have any previous experience with sewing? He must have to be so good so quickly

not much, he and his girlfriend one summer spent time with me, making summer beach quilts. He knew how to use a machine- I used to say all the boys were natural at sitting down at a sewing machine and just getting it.
the one I ordered & sent him last November he just got out the book with it, started at the beginning- tried out every stitch, foot, feature then dove in to make his first mask.
i used to pull fabrics for a French braid quilt or bargelloand know they were not quite right. I would lay them out and wait for him or my nephew to stop by. One of them would come in I’d show them what I wanted to do and say- these are the fabrics I picked.
they would walk over start pulling out wrong ones, replace them, sometimes take the whole pile away & start over- then say there you go & leave. Could always put the perfect combination together

Wow. did not take him long to figure all this out. I am still figuring it all out.

-he certainly is a quick learner and doing very well. At least he is using his time productively. Hopefully, he will have his job back soon.

He did a fantastic job, Sewing, colors and everything. Gorgeous work.

Outstanding for sure!!!

Amazing, talented and born to quilt. I know you are proud. :)

Your family tree has strong genes in quilting, you must be so proud. He sure caught on quick and is producing amazing patterns in only a few days that takes months and years for some of us to accomplish. Way cool. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/cool.png

So cool! Some top designers started out just like this....you never know..lol