A very good friend Charu shared the picture of a 'bookshelf' quilt that she had come across, and I immediately promised to make a similar one for her. This time, I have been watching myself while I go through the preparations, and I've realised that there is a process I follow not just for the actual quilt-making, but even for the preparation. As of today, almost a week after the decision was made, I have just pieced together enough pieces for three of the four bookshelves that the quilt will have.
The first two days were just spent looking at various similar quilts online. Then came a period when I stood in front of my fabric stash, admiring my collection, and sort of identifying the pieces that would be cut into strips. I realised that I could make each book with a different fabric, which meant I needed just a strip of fabric from many different prints. I started taking out the fabric pieces and then the entire process slowed down considerably. Almost every piece of cloth in that cupboard came with its history - the circumstances under which I had come across that particular piece, which quilt it had been used in, who I had been shopping with at that time, then on to which city I had been in and so on. I needed to take out each piece, hold it, do some thinking/reminiscing and then either put it back as unsuitable or keep it aside for cutting later. The process also included thinking of the friend for whom I was going to make the quilt, colours that I thought she may like or dislike; this seems to be something I am deducing based on what I know of her as it's not something we have ever discussed. All the earth colours, multiple shades of red and blue have passed muster, as have many block-printed swatches. I have forced myself to add some yellow prints just to brighten up the quilt, even though it is not one of my favourite colours.
The actual piecing of a quilt is truly such a pleasurable piece of work. I have my favourite music on almost all the time. For this quilt, I have been listening to a podcast series (Desert Island Discs) that Charu gave me as it seemed only apt that I listen to her collection while working on her quilt. I do not have to make any conversation with anyone, and I am able to enjoy my thoughts - first about Charu who is becoming such a special friend, how she came into my life when I was not young, breaking all myths about how one didn't make good fast friends as adults and only childhood/college friends stuck on through life, then onto thoughts of her son and mine who were schoolmates, and on and on. Lots of very happy thoughts are going into the quilt, and I can only hope Charu will love it when it's done and ready, hopefully in the next few days.
I will still need to go shopping for the perfect fabric for the sash, borders and back -- but then that's another entirely different project. Right now, I should be concentrating on the fourth shelf of the bookshelf.
The first two days were just spent looking at various similar quilts online. Then came a period when I stood in front of my fabric stash, admiring my collection, and sort of identifying the pieces that would be cut into strips. I realised that I could make each book with a different fabric, which meant I needed just a strip of fabric from many different prints. I started taking out the fabric pieces and then the entire process slowed down considerably. Almost every piece of cloth in that cupboard came with its history - the circumstances under which I had come across that particular piece, which quilt it had been used in, who I had been shopping with at that time, then on to which city I had been in and so on. I needed to take out each piece, hold it, do some thinking/reminiscing and then either put it back as unsuitable or keep it aside for cutting later. The process also included thinking of the friend for whom I was going to make the quilt, colours that I thought she may like or dislike; this seems to be something I am deducing based on what I know of her as it's not something we have ever discussed. All the earth colours, multiple shades of red and blue have passed muster, as have many block-printed swatches. I have forced myself to add some yellow prints just to brighten up the quilt, even though it is not one of my favourite colours.
The actual piecing of a quilt is truly such a pleasurable piece of work. I have my favourite music on almost all the time. For this quilt, I have been listening to a podcast series (Desert Island Discs) that Charu gave me as it seemed only apt that I listen to her collection while working on her quilt. I do not have to make any conversation with anyone, and I am able to enjoy my thoughts - first about Charu who is becoming such a special friend, how she came into my life when I was not young, breaking all myths about how one didn't make good fast friends as adults and only childhood/college friends stuck on through life, then onto thoughts of her son and mine who were schoolmates, and on and on. Lots of very happy thoughts are going into the quilt, and I can only hope Charu will love it when it's done and ready, hopefully in the next few days.
I will still need to go shopping for the perfect fabric for the sash, borders and back -- but then that's another entirely different project. Right now, I should be concentrating on the fourth shelf of the bookshelf.
