Inherited my mothers quilt studio - working on my first quilt!

10 years ago

hi all,

i wanted to introduce myself. i have been very active in the kitchen forum, this is my first visit to this forum.

my mom was an avid quilter for the past 25 years but was in ill health for some time. she passed away this summer. i inherited the contents of her quilt studio and i am now getting my own studio set up in my house.

my mom taught me how to sew, i have good general sewing skills but relatively new to quilting. i knew she loved quilting but i had no idea how passionate she was about it. her room was filled with patterns and inspirations, notes and designs. it has been an emotional time sorting through all of her treasured quilting posessions. she left behind a lot of beautiful but unfinished projects, some of which i am going to attempt to complete (UFO's i think you call them?). in her will she left me a flower basket quilt but my sister and i were puzzled as we never recalled seeing it. as we cleaned out her studio we found it, it is an applique quilt that needs to be completed!!! so this is my first quilt to try! i am very lucky to have received her Bernina 440 QE, nice
sewing desk, very large stash of fabric, patterns, a Singer Featherweight and who knows what else, am still sorting.

i miss her so much but think she would be happy to know i am getting interested in quilting.... hum, maybe that is why she left the quilt unfinished!!! mom's are soooo smart....so that is my story. i look forward to getting to know all of you and swapping stories...

thanks for listening...

babushka -cat

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Comments (20)

quiltnhen
10 years ago
Wow. I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my Mom this summer, so I can really relate. Sure packs an emotional punch. I hope you enjoy your new endeavor. This forum is filled with lovely people and plenty of help.
Welcome to a new addiction!
LindaB/CA
littlehelen_gw
10 years ago
Welcome to the forum! I'm a relative new forum member myself, only been around about two years, but always nice to great a new member. Your post touched my quilting heart... yeah, Mom's are smart! She must have known you would wander this way someday.

I also have a Bernina 440 QE; very nice machine for piecing and free motion quilting (FMQ) work. Enjoy it and the Featherweight, another great machine!

I have found everyone on this forum to be most helpful with any quilting question and full of good advice, I'm sure you'll find the same.

Do feel free at anytime to join the monthly lotto, it's great practice and lots of fun to participate. I think Marsha said it best, it's the stitch that binds the quilting forum!

Welcome!
V.
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toolgranny
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Welcome to our group. What a legacy. So sorry to hear about your Mom but she has left you a wonderful gift. Just having all the parts to begin is a real treasure.

Go slow and ask questions as you need to. We have "specialists" in all areas and will be glad to help.

Are we allowed to know where you live and your first name?

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lola99
10 years ago
Hi, welcome to the quilting forum. I'm glad you found this group. As others have said, there is a wealth of knowledge here. These wonderful ladies have saved me from disaster many times and offered lots of encouragement along the way.

I'm sorry for your loss. I hope the quilting and completion of your Mom's quilts helps the healing process.

Lola
loisflan
10 years ago
Hi, Babushka Cat. (I'm sure there's a story in your screen name.) Welcome to the Garden Web Quilting Forum. My condolences on the loss of your mom, but what a treasure she left you! I remember going through my mom's knitting needles and sewing kit. She didn't leave much, but it was still a bitter-sweet time.

You'll find everyone here helpful and kind - none of the harshness that overtakes some of the forums I been on. They are always willing to help, and they are very supportive of each other's efforts.

Again, welcome aboard. Lois from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
quiltingfox
10 years ago
I am sorry for your loss of your mom. I bet it is insightful and little fun discovering all the things your mom used in her quilting. Happy for you that you are getting to create a quilting room of your own at your own home.

Best to you,
Sandra
petalpatsy
10 years ago
Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry for your loss, and your story touches my heart. Quilting can be very meditative and soothing, and I hope the sweetness helps you remember all the good times.

This is a very nice forum. I'm a new-ish quilter, and I do mostly handwork and hand quilting. I've just barely dabbled with my machine. The other members have lots of experience with machines and everything, and everybody will help you the best can on any question you have.
nanajayne
10 years ago
Welcome...
Although I am sorry that your mother has moved on I also know that she will always live for you as you work with the things she loved. She has endowed you with love and memories as you sift through her treasures and learn new skills as you go.
It has given me pleasure as I plan to do the same for my children and know the happiness that she felt in her plans for your future.
grammyp
10 years ago
Welcome to our happy group. I am so sorry for the loss of your mother, and you are so right (moms are smart), and fortunate to get to finish some of her quilts. What a story they will have. Enjoy your new studio, and think of your mom when you sew.

beverly
bev2009
10 years ago
Welcome to the forum! I lost my mom 2 1/2 years ago and threw myself into quilting. It gave me quite time to process and adjust to missing her. I hope the quilting will do the same for you. Everyone is so helpful and kind in this group. Please let us know how you progress.

Beverly in Chesterton, Indiana
beth7happy
10 years ago
Hi BC and welcome! Some of my very fondest memories are of my mom sitting at her little machine. She spent so many hours of her life sewing..first of necessity in keeping five children in clothing! (back in the days of feed bags for fabric!). You'll miss your mom - that will never go away, but I hope you hear her whispers and feel her presence as you touch the fabrics and hear the whir of the machine. Enjoy each thought; cherish each memory!
geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
10 years ago
Hi Cat, Welcome and good for you for posting! No matter what our age is, or the age of our mom at the time, losing our mom can be traumatic. As you begin to complete the quilts, you may feel guided through the steps of what she might have had in mind. What a legacy she left for you! As you already know how to sew, you won't have a problem venturing down this new avenue. Any pictures?

SharonG/FL
wendyfaye
10 years ago
So sorry for your lose, but you will find a warm welcome here, I'm sure. Its so nice to see a studio being passed down a generation and kept intact. I hope it brings you comfort.

Faye (NB Canada)
babushka_cat
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you for the warm welcome and condolences, I appreciate every reply. I have unpacked more boxes from the studio: instructional books & DVD's, a ton of tools, stencils, more fabric. My mom was super good to me, I recognize this as a gift and a sign from the universe - there are no accidents!

Pasted below are pictures of the first project - the flower basket applique quilt. Sorry for the poor lighting. I remember quite some time ago she asked me what kind of quilt I would like, I told her the flower basket motif. I thought she had forgotten, but she didn't! There are 36 blocks on the diagonal. The pattern enclosed says the quilt design first appeared in the Kansas City Star in 1935. It looks like she has all the fabric cut, there is one square complete, I need to sew on the rest of the flowers then assemble and quilt. Now I need to figure out how to use the machine! I am used to my black antique singer that only does one stitch - it appears I could launch my cat to the moon with this one! i will be back soon with questions once i figure out how to actually use the machine and prepare to proceed with this project.

And the Babushka Cat himself....
vacuumfreak
10 years ago
Welcome! I am sorry for your loss! I know a bit about what you are going through because I lost my grandmother in July and inherited all her fabric.... we were the only two people in the family who sew(ed)...

Your mom had a couple of awesome machines, she obviously knew a good thing when she saw it... I got my first Bernina this year and have always coveted a Featherweight!

I simply love the basket applique (the basket matierial is perfect). And the orange kitty... I have an orange tabby too and you may well find as you delve more into this quilting thing that cats love love lying on and running over quilt blocks, whether they are sewn together or not!

As you likely already know, most of quilting just requires a straight stitch, so the black Singers will be fine for that... but you may well have to break out that Bernina and find the zig zag or blanket stitch for the applique! It's a fun process learning a new machine.... did it come with the manual? If not, or if you haven't found it yet, you can likely download one from Bernina.com

Nice to meet you.... can't wait to see pictures of the finished quilt some day!
vacuumfreak
10 years ago
Welcome! I am sorry for your loss! I know a bit about what you are going through because I lost my grandmother in July and inherited all her fabric.... we were the only two people in the family who sew(ed)...

Your mom had a couple of awesome machines, she obviously knew a good thing when she saw it... I got my first Bernina this year and have always coveted a Featherweight!

I simply love the basket applique (the basket matierial is perfect). And the orange kitty... I have an orange tabby too and you may well find as you delve more into this quilting thing that cats love love lying on and running over quilt blocks, whether they are sewn together or not!

As you likely already know, most of quilting just requires a straight stitch, so the black Singers will be fine for that... but you may well have to break out that Bernina and find the zig zag or blanket stitch for the applique! It's a fun process learning a new machine.... did it come with the manual? If not, or if you haven't found it yet, you can likely download one from Bernina.com

Nice to meet you.... can't wait to see pictures of the finished quilt some day!
babushka_cat
Original Author
10 years ago
Yes, he was on to that idea right away, pins and all!
vacuumfreak
10 years ago
I know what you mean.... this is my Jasper.... Every single time! Annoying when I'm laying pieces out that aren't sewn yet just to see how they look and he runs right through them.... I chain pieced here so not such a big deal this time...

Babushka kitty is simply adorable! He looks happy and like he's a lover just like my fat sweet boy.... Here's a sample of what you might be in for!
littlehelen_gw
10 years ago
Hi,
The flower baskets are pretty, it should make up nicely for you. Sounds like you have inherited a wealth of treasure, hopefully this will provide you years of enjoyment. While I'm allergic to cats...Babushka is awefully cute...and so is Jasper!

As for the your machine, I have the same sewing machine, the Bernina 440 QE. I would recommend that you download the instruction manual from the Bernina web site for free, which is what I did when the dealer wanted to charge me 35.00 for a copy. It's easy to use and sews like a charm. If you have any questions, I'll try to help...send me an email from my garden web my page.

happy sewing!
V.
calliope
10 years ago
My Mama passed almost seven years ago, and I am still working on her fabric stash, but with materials used for quilting and also every other type of material one could need. I started quilting about a year before she died, and my first quilt was a Christmas gift for her, I finished in February. I kept company with her as I was quilting and she watched it come together, not knowing it was for her. She had always wanted to make a quilt, and had started the blocks for a Cathedral Windows, inspired by a friend when we lived in Missouri, as state just famous for it's cottage quilt industry. When one drove through the Ozarks, it was commonplace to see them hung out on clotheslines, to catch the eye of passers-by. She had also made some yo-yos but they disappeared sometime and I've never found them. I wish you much enjoyment with your new hobby. I think you'll find yourself close to her spirit as you work, as I find myself close to my mother when I am in my sewing room, handling the fabrics she had saved over the years. I have made about thirty quilts since then, really surprising myself since making ONE quilt was on my bucket list. LOL. Welcome to the forum, and my condolences as well on your mother's passing. BTW, that is one beautiful design you will be finishing. I also have a quilt cat who loves to lay on my blocks and scatter them too. He keeps me company each morning as I sew, and prefers my sewing room to all the others in this house.