Full shot of Scott's first love--even before his beloved wife Linda came into the picture!
My first quilt? Well, I guess you could technically call it a quilt, because the top was pieced and it had three layers. Oh, and it traveled with me and landed on my bed for many years. But other than that I don’t know if it really qualifies.
I do still have it, and although it is pretty hideous, I love it like an old friend–a raggedy, shoddy, gutter-rat friend–but a friend nonetheless. Note: I didn’t say it was an heirloom. That it will never be.
I made it about 34 years ago or so right after I had finished Home Ec class in junior high. Back then, we students took both Shop and Home Ec, and because fabric was more forgiving than wood or metal, cloth has been my medium of choice since for my artistic endeavors. I don’t exactly remember why I wanted to make a quilt, but I have an idea it was my youthful fascination with the Victorian era as I saw it portrayed a lot on TV back then. In my naiveté, I happily overlooked Victorian-era ills such a tawdry medical practices, widespread child labor abuse and a lack of daily proper hygiene. It was all about the ambience and luxurious excesses of the time. And part of that opulence in my mind demanded that I have my very own crazy quilt. (And I do mean crazy.)
The only trouble was no one in my family made quilts. My mom, grandma and aunt sewed clothes like crazy, but no quilting was happening around me. Which explains this quilt’s questionable construction. First, it wasn’t quilted. It was tied. (Years later I found out that made it a “comforter,” not a “quilt.” I suspect some of you might forgive my erroneous labeling and give me the benefit of doubt with “tied quilt.”)
Note the gorgeous retro lime green fur. No Crazy Quilt would be the same without some of this!
The piecing is very not standard by today’s quilting rules. I am pretty sure most of the seams are 5/8” AND pressed open. This quilt was entirely cut from scraps from my mom’s clothing projects and I paid absolutely no attention to the grain at all. I also added some of my own “special” fabrics, such as lime green fake fur from a project from third grade and some silver lame from an old dress my grandma said I could cut into.
I don’t know what we used for batting, but it is as heavy as the lead blankets at an X-ray lab. I loved the weight of it as I was growing up. When I got married, my wife said she felt she could barely breathe under it. So for years it sat boxed up and waiting for a new home. It now graces the bed of my 19-year-old son.
Tie me a river! That's all we can say here. Still, a worthy example of a wonderful, life-filled first quilt.
It was 14 years before I ventured down the quilt-making path again. In the early 90s, I started sewing more and more. Now I can barely go a day without finding inspiration for another quilt. And yes, they are all still pretty crazy, full of pattern and color. Some things you just never outgrow.
COMMENT #1
I love it. Liberated wonkiness before it’s time.
COMMENT #2
Oh Scott! you’re describing my first quilt too — a crazy made from clothing scraps, tied not quilted, weighed a ton, sewed with 5/8 inch seams (but no lime green fur). I backed mine with mattress ticking, which was great till I washed it (20 years later) and the ticking shrank more than the top, leaving a great bulgy/droopy look. Did I mention I was self-taught, making it up as I went along? Hundreds of quilts later I have learned better technique.
COMMENT #3
Wow! Impressive first effort. Wouldn’t it be fun to showcase readers (original) first quilts.
COMMENT #4
Improv piecing, eh? 🙂 Lovely look back at your beginnings, Scott. I adore the use of multiple yarn colors. But mostly, I’m thrilled that it’s still being used. Thanks for sharing.
-t
COMMENT #5
I love it! Your creativity shines through. And it doesn’t have to be technically perfect to be considered an heirloom.
COMMENT #6
I love this story. Thanks for sharing!
I pieced my entire first quilt using a size 1 stitch, then when I was almost finished assembling the top, I sewed the two halves together front to back. It was my first quilting “trauma” and was followed by a looooong seam-ripping session with a good friend (whom I called immediately upon discovering my ass-backwards assembly job to tell her “I’m burning this quilt! There’s no recovering from such a mistake!” She helped me back from the ledge of a psychotic break by assuring me it’s not the end of the world.)
COMMENT #7
I, personally, do not see how that is not a quilt and not an heirloom quilt at that. Lime green fur was your velvet. Lame your bling. It has kept you warm and now your son. It has its own story built from your family and life. Its hidious and heavy and happening. It is definantly T.A.(totally awesome) grade level of a quilt. Perfection.
COMMENT #8
Well, I’m not sure if there really is an “official” definition of what
is a quilt and what is a comforter, but in my opinion I’m looking at a
fabulous example of a hand tied utility quilt (as opposed to a “best”
quilt that might be reserved for company). I think Scott made his
first quilt in the best quilting tradition. A desire to create
combined with a spirit of adventure and a need to be warm! I love his
scrapalicious crazy quilt!
COMMENT #9
I LOVE your first quilt and I think it’s totally awesome! The first thing I said to myself when I saw it was, “OMG, I have to make one of those!”
Scoff not Scott! That thing IS an heirloom!
COMMENT #10
Love it! Looking back allows us to see how far we have come. You do wonderful work!
COMMENT #11
You did great with that quilt – the piecing is so mod – you were way ahead of your time. I laughed when I read about your batting – I did the same with my first one, too. Thanks for sharing.
COMMENT #12
Inspired! All the memories of youth and wonder, packaged into one quilt. That IS an heirloom. Love it!
COMMENT #13
I love that quilt. I have been finding a lot of quilts online that are reminding me of my Grandma – it must be a sign that I need to make my own quilt in memory of her. She always used cut up clothes, cut up old blankets/quilts, cut up whatever material to make quilts. She pieced them simply and tied them always (as far as I know). She even sometimes put an old quilt that had seen better days into the new quilt to act as the batting! I still have a Sunbonnet Sue quilt she made me when I was a little girl, and I know my brother has his Overall Sam quilt too. They need some care so they aren’t used, but we’ll never get rid of them. In my eyes, you made a quilt.
COMMENT #14
It still looks darn good for a 30+ year old quilt!!! Good on ya Scott!