One of a Kind

I like the way it starts. It pops up as an image in my head, then a flood of possibilities and patterns circulate. I think of the child I am making a quilt for and what their future holds. I imagine their parents holding them in a one of a kind blanket. A piece that they will keep with them for years as a token of their kid’s childhood.

I started making quilts when I was 18 years old. My high school sweetheart’s mother, Marilyn, was an avid quilter and created amazing pieces. I loved going into her studio and watching her work on different projects. When my friend became pregnant, I wanted to make her child something uniquely hers. I went to Marilyn and asked her to teach me and she happily took me under her wing. She taught me how to cut, sew, and craft a quilt from beginning to end. I felt like a seamstress as I took hours and hours dedicating my time to my 1st blanket. Day after day I would go over to my high school boyfriend’s house and work with his mother creating and developing my skill that I would still use over 10 years later.

Going to the fabric store is one of my favorite parts. Walking through the isles of fabric stacked high towering above me. There is a specific section in my favorite outlet that has baby patterns printed on cotton fabric. I pull out multiple heavy rolls and stack them by each other and I look and picture what I can do. I group them together making sure the colors go with each other. I start to picture what I want in my head. I give them to a worker who measures them out and cuts me yards of possibilities. I pay for my new pieces and get them straight to the wash. Depending what I get I usually try to find my centerpiece. What do I want to be the focal point? For one of my last projects I had bought a panel of a teddy bear swinging from a tree. I used that as a centerpiece and created a polka dot border my cousin had chosen.

It’s like a sort of meditation, taking the time to measure and using my scissors or rotary blade to cut through the fabric. Shifting pieces around to see what sort of patterns I could make. What kind of story was I telling and how it would all fit. Then finally sewing it all together to make it all one piece. If you ever saw a quilt or have had a chance to own one take a closer look and appreciate the time it took for it to be created. As with anything artistic it takes time, heart and dedication to construct. With any one of my blankets I hope my heart shows the most to the person I give it to. I only craft blankets for friends or family members because I think crafting such a project is very personal. I have to know the person and get a feeling of who their child will be. Like for my nephew, I knew he would be a very adventurous little kid who’d be beyond fearless. I made sure to incorporate airplanes because I know he’s going to soar one day.

Whenever I complete a quilt, a wave of satisfaction rolls over me. I wash and dry it to ensure the stitching holds. Then I wrap it up in a cotton ribbon and pack it in a gift bag. Seeing the faces of the parents and their loved ones always brings a smile to my face. But the best part is seeing those kids' happiness as they keep warm in their one of a kind blanket.