Sewing in Circles

We drive from Edmonton to Calgary on a regular basis.  And along the way we often stop in Red Deer - to grab a tea for me, coffee for Fred.  Sometimes we top up the tank with fuel and if we have a bit of time I love to pop into another one of my favourite shops - The Red Deer Sewing Centre.

That brings me to add to my list of "things I love in a quilt shop"!  Okay so it isn't really a quilt shop - it's a sewing machine and supply shop.  First of all - they know my name.  I feel like I have a connection there, like I'm important to Karen (the owner).  She's patient and knowledgeable.  She spends time in helping me find what I'm looking for or takes the time to show me something new.

As I've continued to add feet and attachments for my sewing machine this is the place that I keep returning to - they have an excellent selection and if it isn't in they will order it for me.  I've even taken a class or two here.  This week I spent some Christmas money in acquiring a circular sewing attachment.... hmmm, never thought I would want to sew in circles!!

There's a couple of quilt shops I've decided I'm not returning to - they have hurried me out or given every indication that I'm in their way.  I've never had that feeling at The Red Deer Sewing Centre.  Customer service is what's at hand here...and for me it makes the difference.  In this day of on-line ordering I could probably be a quilter and never enter a store.  However quilting has a community element to it, a sense of working in a world where people share a particular passion.  Finding a store that understands that is both satisfying and adds to the joy of the journey.

Did I ever mention she got me hooked on an embroidery machine?  More on that another time.

What does it take to be a favourite quilt shop?

I've mentioned before that I like to seek out quilt shops as we travel. Last year when we were in Spokane, for example, I had a list of quilt shops I wanted to visit and one day we put them into our TomTom and set out to find them. We did find them all - except one that turned out to be an internet only store that was out of some one's home...but that's a blog entry for another day. If I am travelling for work I often try to allow an extra 15 - 20 minutes on the journey to make a quick stop if I know of, or come across, a quilt store en route.

Once I've found the shop, I soon know whether I am going to want to come back. How so? Here are a few of my thoughts...

I consider the fabric - does the store have a good variety?

• do they carry fabric collections?
• does the colour selection connect with the what I like to use?
• how are the fabrics displayed and organized

Does the store inspire me? - I must admit, I like to see samples of inspiration hanging on the walls, from the ceiling and other shelves or tables around the store.

• I do find that a good selection of patterns along with fabric pre-packaged in kits very enticing.

How am I treated? - is the staff friendly, helpful, available. If I am looking around or ask for something, do they tell me they are closing in 10 minutes?

 When I am in my 'quilting mode' I am looking to enter a quilting community, one where I feel like I fit. This is my hobby, where I get to spend some time doing something I can get lost in and be creative, even if only for a short period of time.

You'll will be able to follow a few more of my favourite quilt shops along the way.

The Quilt Design Wall

Once you have your quilt blocks made, the next part is to arrange the blocks in an order that is most appealing. You can do the arranging on a table, perhaps on the floor if you have some space, but a great idea is using a design wall. The video shows a design wall that you can hang letting you place the quilt blocks on it and rearrange for better placement. The video is really self-explanatory. I made this video for my friend Kathy who had asked about it.

My second quilt

After the first quilt and the learnings contained in putting that together I wanted to learn how to do triangles.  I visited Along Came Quilting where I learned they had an upcoming "block of the month" quilt that featured learning to do triangles.

In each month we picked up a new kit containing instructions and fabric for the block.  When we returned with the completed block each month we would receive one more to add to our quilt.  Over the year the quilt emerged - 12 blocks for 12 months.  Each month a new technique was tried in putting together the block.

This second quilt came out nicely and has been what we've used on the bed of the trailer since I completed it.  It is Fred's favourite.

The colours are bright and inviting and when it isn't in the trailer it can be found in the van when we're travelling in the winter - a "just in case" quilt should we need to keep warm.

Desktop Calendar for the Quilter

Christmas morning brought many wonderful gifts for quilting - a couple of new feet for my machine, some fabric, some fussy cut rulers and a new rotary cutter.  I also got a 2011 Desktop Quilter's Calendar by Debby Kratovil and Jean Ann Wright.  It has quilts and blocks of inspiration for every day of the year.  Even though we are almost 2 weeks into the year I finally got it opened today.

We've been on the road again and away from home.  However as I noted in my last post I did get to The Sugar Pine Co. and I'll mention a few others in days to come.

The calendar reminds me how quickly the days are going by, how very quickly time rushes past us.  That's one of the things I love about quilting - it is a wonderful way to spend time.  It is time slowed down, concentrated in an effort that is both satisfying and productive.

As well quilting reminds me of the time when a quilt was made, when pieces were cut and brought together in a project, I remember the effort of each part and often a new learning in it.

I've been wondering where to put my desktop calendar - I suppose it could go on my desk at work - that's the logical place, but would I get any work done.......  So many patterns, so much fabric, so little time to quilt!

The Sugar Pine Co. Canmore



It's open!



When travelling I keep my eye out for quilt shops.  Quilt shops come in lots of sizes and shapes - some are quite small, packed tightly with everything the owner can squeeze in, others are large and well layed out.  No matter to the quilter - just the right piece is always worth looking for! 

(Growing the stash is another objective of the quilter.)

 Today we were in Canmore and so we stopped into The Sugar Pine Co. - a favourite spot of mine.  And since we stopped in I was able to get a couple of pieces of fabric for a current project!

fabric galore

The Sugar Pine Co. is a favourite because of the numerous projects that are hung on the walls and around the shop.  It is truly inspiring - truly motivating.  They have very small lap quilts and large complex quilts.  As well they are very good at putting the patterns and fabric into kits so that you can duplicate what is on display. 

However if you would rather pick out your own fabrics to give the pattern a different look - well there's plenty to choose from.

Part of a quilt hanging inside

I think one of the owners now recognizes us when we walk in!  He always smiles and welcomes us.  Travelling around the province lets us see many quilt shops and this is definitely one of my favourites.

Quilting is not for the faint of heart

No one enters into quilting half hearted. 

It is the kind of hobby or art work, if I can be that elaborate in description, that requires a fearless commitment.  By the pure cost of a good sewing machine you must be willing to equip yourself with this major investment.  Secondly, by nature quilting means buying fabric - often before you need it.  A good fabric, good colours, a good sale - and there you have begun your stash!

Know what a stash is?  It's the accumulated pieces of fabric that are awaiting their call to be part of an heirloom.  It is those saved bits that will fit perfectly into a project that is started and awaits a certain look or combination.

Quilting is not for the faint of heart.  It is for those who are willing to work at detail and do it with passion knowing that the final product is worth every muttered frustration.

This recent article in The Globe & Mail by Oliver Willms outlines something of the way quilting sweeps away not only the quilter but all who share their residence.

Quilting Begins

I've always liked working with my hands.  Always liked creating something that was nice to look at and had function.  In High School I was taught to sew clothes...with some success! 
But I didn't find much joy in it.  It was more frustrating than fullfilling.

So having a sewing machine is something I've always had.  When we came to Alberta I was looking for a hobby and as we explored Calgary I stumbled across a quilt store by the name of Quilter's Cabin.  The name intrigued me so I went in... I was hooked.  The quilts were beautiful, there were wall hangings, placemats, table runners, lap quilts, there was more than just warm coverings for a bed.  They were works of art.  This seemed like something I would enjoy.

Quilter's Cabin was offering classes and so it seemed a good starting point to sign up.  I hauled out my old Kenmore machine and headed for my first lesson.  I'll leave the story of that class for another post, but let's say they weren't impressed with my machine.  However I did get this first quilt made and I was proud to piece it, put the batting and backing together and then complete the binding to finish it off.

It's a basic quilt - the purpose of this class was to learn the basics of quilting.  If you are going to quilt you need to know how to use the rotary cutter (bought my first one on clearance at Michaels!), acrylic rulers, understanding a quarter inch seam and building the blocks!  Quilting includes reading and understanding the pattern, being able to choose appropriate colours and fabrics, and knowing how much to purchase.

Quilter's Cabin no longer exists but that's where I got my start and this was my first creation.  The feeling of satisfaction that comes from seeing this from beginning to end is wonderful.

A combined effort

From concept to reality - that didn't take long now did it?  Wendy and I had had this conversation:

Me: "I have an idea."

Wendy: "What is it?"

Me: "What if we put together a blog that combined my interest in photography and blogging with your interest in quilting."

Wendy: "That sounds interesting."

Me: "What would we call it?"

Wendy: "Let me think about it, we don't need to do it now do we?"

Me: "Of course not."

24 hours later....here it is.  I love the title and the idea.  So soon you'll begin to see some photos and videos that we hope you'll find both interesting and helpful.