joy in the process
There is a creative flow and calm rhythm to quilting and each step in the process cultivates a kind of meditative mindfulness. In searching for the right combinations of colors and feeling for the right textures, I am captivated by the flow of the fabrics. While I love mixing paints on a palette, blending together beautiful textiles is my preferred medium with which to play. Quilting may appear to be an antiquated art, but don’t be fooled, playing with fabric is always fun. Exploring your existing fabric collection at home or making a trip to a fabric store can be considered hobbies by themselves.
Once the fabric palette is in place, it’s time to cut! Though this is the least forgiving of all steps, it is one the most mindful steps quilt making. Pick your scissors or rotary cutter, measure twice, *say a prayer*, cut once. This step requires the most “in the zone” type of rhythm. Little reminders to myself include *Say focused! *Eye on the Omnigrid! *Don’t slice finger with rotary cutter!* While this step may be slow, it is such a happy moment when all the pieces are shaped and ready to be sewn.
Piecing quilt tops has such an energetic rhythm. Putting the pedal to the metal, it’s sewing machine time! Sometimes you end up playing a game of “thread chicken,” which always ups the ante when sewing (I do a little dance when I win). Quilt making is an act of faith as you slowly but surely see all of the tiny parts come together as a whole. Trusting in the process, something big and beautiful will unfold, one small stitch at a time. It is a hope that all the fragments, mismatched pieces of fabric and unravelling ends will, with time and perseverance, be crafted into something lovely.
When piecing, the flow starts to oscillate between the sewing machine and the ironing board. Ironing is so soothing; it feels so good to press a freshly-sewn seam and see things coming together. Though piecing and ironing is one of the most relaxing parts of quilting, the occasional intermission for seam ripping may pose a slight annoyance, but these intermissions are just hidden lessons in patience, working through mistakes and troubleshooting sewing machine mishaps. The next step is the ever-dreaded part of the quilting process—basting. Melodramatically speaking, basting is the bane of the quilting experience. It’s somewhat tedious. And perhaps slightly intimidating. On a positive note, it does prompt me to slow down and practice my stretches as I bend and reach across my quilt sandwich on the floor.
When it is time to quilt, whether machine quilting or hand quilting, both are fun and allow you to be creative in your stitches and design. I love the feeling of hand quilting and the look of the big chunky stitches you can make with a needle & thread. Taking the time to hand quilt is a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon or cold evening as the “quilt-in-progress” keeps you cozy & warm while making it. I love how quilting by hand is such an intentional and rhythmic craft. By the time the quilting is done, I am beyond enthusiastic to bind the quilt! It is by far the most satisfying step. The frayed, rough edges become enclosed in the binding. Bound by hand-sewn chunky stitches and embroidery thread, the finishing touches feel like a threaded signature.
Once an idea scattered amongst fabrics, the long-awaited quilt brings such a sense of accomplishment. In today’s era of fast-pace living and chasing instant gratification, quilting helps me intentionally embrace a slow and beautiful life. Slowing down to create something over time yields more joy than most any impulse purchase ever could. Intentional, hand-crafted items are sentimental and full of heart & soul sewn into the stitches and the process of quilting makes space and time for mindful moments and sets the pace for a slow rhythms to be fully present each step of the way.