I went downstairs to my studio intending to play around with some applique. My eyes fell on Great Grandmother’s quilt, folded on the back of the couch, waiting. I’ve been working intermittently (for a year!) on repairing one ring of hexagons in one flower of the “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” pattern. The fabric in that one ring had completely disintegrated.
“You’re not allowed to play until you finish repairing that quilt,” I told myself. “After all, the work of the repair is a kind of applique, or at least uses some of the same skills.” So I picked up my needle, ready to get to it.
The pieces I had previously replaced provide a snapshot of my learning. In other words, my stitching was progressing from embarrassingly awkward to somewhat tidy. Little did I know that when I picked up my needle I would find that my skills had taken a quantum leap forward.
Since the last time I worked on the quilt repair, I had taken Jo Avery’s online class in fabric book making. If you follow her on IG, you know she has a very distinctive style of applique, primarily stitching impressionistic birds and flowers. So I learned needle-turn applique from a master. Not only did I learn and practice the technique, but I began using the proper tools — a thin milliners needle and tiny smooth-headed applique pins.
When I picked up the needle to get started again, the first thing I realized was that I had been using an all-purpose embroidery needle, which was downright clunky compared to a milliners needle. And my long, flat-headed sewing pins were pulling puckers in the tiny hexagons that made it impossible to sew one to the next.
Fitting new hexagons into an already-completed and decades-old quilt is still tricky, fiddly work. But armed with better skills and the right tools, I feel ready to take this repair to the finish line. And I feel sure that the last hexagons in the circle will make the spirit of Great Grandmother proud of her descendant’s learning journey.
A(nother) Year of Reading 
I like to hand sew and appliqué (at least in some distant past) and so I was right there with you, squinting to see the tiny stitches. I celebrate this leap in skill! And you are so right to credit having the proper tools. It reminds me of teaching young children and how often we give them scissors that don’t cut, and sometimes cheap paints and crayons. Artists value good tools, and learning often includes realizing what you actually need. Your small moment has greater ramifications…
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I was just “gifted” 30 hexagons so I have a visual of the size of your work. And the enormity of actually sewing 10-12 stitches per inch. Tools matter. Skills matter. And the frame of mind – the “I can do it mentality” are all important! It’s the difference between planning and executing! (And I love how you prioritize the repairing first and then the playing!)
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I loved reading about your process. And there are so many times that I’m sewing with children and the right tools make it so much easier. I had them use crewel embroidering needles because I didn’t want them to get pricked by sharp points, but the their stitches came so much easier when when used the smaller and sharper needles.
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I love how this slice puts us sitting right there with you, finding the quilt and discovering that new learning has led you to renewed motivation for this project.
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Oh, Mary Lee, Thanks for telling us about the new tools and for introducing me to Jo Avery. You are an inspiration. I love that you are a mender of memories.
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I’ve got my supplies (tiny pins and milliner’s needles) and I’ve got fabric. Now I just need courage to try! I’m trying to finish knitting a sweater first, but hope to get to DreamBirds soon! I’d love to see a picture of your Grandmother’s Garden. It’s one of my FAVORITE patterns. My great grandmother was a quilter, knitter, crocheter, etc. She would get up very early to do the chores because she felt if she wasn’t at her handwork by 9:00 a.m. the day was shot! I have some pieces she crocheted, but all the quilts were used and worn out long ago. I’m sad that I never got to see one of them.
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I’ll have to share some process photos! (I thought I had, but I looked back on FB and…nope.) As for your DreamBirds — GO FOR IT! Give yourself grace, be patient with the learning curve, and have FUN!
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I know nothing about this process, and what you wrote just seems absolutely amazing to me. Thank you for sharing.
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I learned how to quilt as a teenager, but haven’t done any quilting in close to 30 years. I miss it. I loved reading about your process since it brought me back to the intense focus quilting requires.
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I have a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt that my great aunt pieced and had quilted by Amish women back in the 1930s. I recently washed it, and some of the blocks didn’t weather it well. I may have to fix it at some point, but I’m glad I get to see it every day instead of having it in a closet! Glad to see you are enjoying learning some new needlecrafts!
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