Hello, I'm Lynda Hall of Primitive Pieces by Lynda. I've been designing quilts for patterns for almost 3 years now. Since I started my line of quilt patterns, I've been able to design and create 28. Out of those 28 patterns, 16 of them have been hand quilted by me; you see I'm a one-woman show (except for my Mom who does most of the appliqué for me). I'm not telling you this to brag, but to tell you that I'm having a whole lot of fun doing what I'm doing.
I've just recently started teaching others, and it amazes me what I see and hear. It's quite obvious right off the bat that I have horrible sewing habits; although I took home economics in school, my mother is a wonderful with a needle and my Gramma was a dressmaker. I don't press every time I sew a seam, I don't always use the same colored thread, and I don't like to cut plaids (which are my favorite) straight. I love the way it makes my quilt all g-woppied when the plaids are crooked.
You see, I love primitives and the fact that I can make a new quilt look as old as if my Gramma made it makes me happy. Remember the saying, "She did the best she could".It seems that others think exact measurements are a must, that pressing each seam takes precedent over all else and that if point and/or corner doesn't exactly come together perfect — red flags start popping up and the seam ripper once again gets over used. Can you imagine the number of people that would be in attendance if the frogger club (rip-it, rip-it, and rip-it!) ever met? I bet Martha wouldn't be there!
I listen to people,who after making a quilt are never happy with the end result...I wonder why that is? As soon as the quilt is finished they get the shoulda, coulda, woulda's. Obviously it's some kind of mechanism that gives us an out if someone says, "Maybe you should have done it..?" "You could have made it with more..." or "Wouldn't it have been better if..." When we start a hobby, it should be with one thing in mind: fun! Why would we do something that is going to take up lots of our time, hurt our fingers, and destroy our budgets, if not for enjoyment? Must we suffer through everything we do? This is supposed to be fun...we have jobs so we can suffer.
Just the cost of said hobby would be enough to rival the national debt wouldn't it? Maybe we should reassess why we go through the motions only to be unsatisfied with what we do.
Making a quilt for my pattern line has to be fun or I'm not going to do it. If a design I come up with has inset seams...they either get taken out, or someone else can make the quilt, especially if the pieces are too small, or the colors are not what will make me happy, etc., etc., etc. I really believe everyone should be true to themselves.
If when I'm making a quilt, a seam on a 9 patch doesn't come together exactly right — then that's the way it's supposed to be and I try harder the next time. If a star point gets included in the seam allowance, then isn't that the way it's supposed to be? If I appliqué a piece for a quilt and a stitch gets a little to big, or if I'm hand quilting and a stitch becomes a toe hooker is it the end of the world? I don't think so.
Have you ever done any of those things and they come out right? I think that calls for some sort of celebration...or at least a hot fudge sundae!
If you are making a border and it doesn't fit because it's to short (well, of course you measured!) then scab a piece on to make it work. If the post block isn't in the corner, who cares? If it's too long, then whack it off. Relax, smile and tell everyone you just planned it that way.
If you sew the entire quilt together and see a mistake smack dab in the middle: explain that you did that just to keep everyone on their toes and that they get the prize because they found it.
What I do know is that it's not brain surgery. There is something to be said of the person that can make a quilt and say, "Wow, good job! I really like what I did."The next time you hear yourself complain about what you're making I hope you'll think of me. Until next time! And have FUN! (article written 2004)
