McConnell - Fresh Family Traditions : 18 Heirloom Quilts for a New Generation

Publisher: Amy Marson

Creative Director: Gailen Runge

Art Director: Kristy Zacharias

Editor: Lynn Koolish

Technical Editors: Ellen Pahl and Gailen Runge

Cover/Book Designer: April Mostek

Production Coordinator: Rue Flaherty

Production Editor: Alice Mace Nakanishi

Illustrator: Mary E. Flynn

Photo Assistant: Mary Peyton Peppo

Styled photos by Nissa Brehmer, unless otherwise noted; Instructional photos by Diane Pedersen, unless otherwise noted

Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my husband, Bill, and to my children, Billy, Candace, Chelsi, and Sean, for their always-present love and support.

Acknowledgments

Thanks so much to

My family and friends who have been so supportive of me while I was working on this book,

Lissa Alexander for the continued support and encouragement in my quilting journey,

Moda Fabrics for supplying fabrics for several of the projects in this book,

Lori Holt for supplying fabrics and for her always-wonderful inspiration,

Pam Vierra-McGinnis for supplying fabrics (and encouragement), and

Andrea Marquez, Natalia Bonner, and Gail Begay for quilting many of the projects in this book; its always a treat to see your work make the quilts come to life!

Many thanks to my blog readers who offer encouragement to me as I continue my quilting journey.

And I would especially like to thank all quilting bloggers whose willingness to share their thoughts about their craft is such an inspiration to me.

Introduction

The idea for this book came when I was nearing the completion of the rough draft stage for my first book, A Quilting Life: Creating a Handmade Home. As I was reflecting on my quilting journey and especially on the photographs of the family quilts that were taken for that book, I started looking at the family quilts as inspiration and not just as a part of my heritage. I loved the family quilts my grandmother had, and I sat down to interview her about them. I also wrote to my great-aunts, asking for photos and information about any family quilts in their possession.

I thought it would be a lot of fun to use those quilts as a stepping-off point and design my own quilts based on different aspects of these family heirlooms. I studied the family quilts to see what I could learn from them. Most were made from scraps. Most didnt have borders, or if they did have borders, they were made from the same muslin as the background. Bindings were often made of muslin as well. These quilts were made to be used by the maker and her family, or they were given as gifts.

I realized that the quilt makers managed to use the fabric and scraps that they had on hand to create the designs they imagined in their minds. Even though some of the quilts were made for regular household use, each has an artistic element. These quilts were works of love, and they inspired me. This led me to think about inspiration from many different angles and to ponder where I get motivation for my own quilting. I became aware that Im not only inspired by family quilts, vintage quilts, and block designs, but also by beautiful fabrics when deciding what to sew and what design to use. From this came Fresh Family Traditions.

Finding and Using Inspiration for Quiltmaking

As quilters we may be inspired on a daily basis by everything around us. Nature, architecture, home dcor, and even clothing influence our color and design likes and dislikes. Being aware of these influences and how to use them in designing quilts was something I appreciated learning from other quilters in various classes and lectures.

Whether you look at quilts online, in magazines, at quilt shops, or at quilt shows, there are always those quilts that instantly appeal to you. Other quilts might not inspire you. One of the best pieces of quilting advice I ever received was to make a note of my likes and dislikes in the quilts that I see. By recording this information, I was finally able to make sure that I created quilts that include the elements of design and color that I love.

Attending quilt shows and informational lectures can also be incredibly inspiring. I recently attended a quilting retreat that included several trunk shows, show-and-tell, and lectures by a variety of quilters and artists. It was fascinating to see that with every presentation, the topic of inspiration was mentioned. Every story was fascinating because the presenters were able to explain the things that influenced their designs and choices. I am convinced that all quilters are artists regardless of whether they are creating their own original designs or using someone elses patterns and fabrics. This is especially apparent to me as I teach classes and observe the fabric choices made by individual students making the same pattern.

Throughout this book, Ive included ideas and suggestions that you can use to spark your imagination. It is my hope that you will use them to create quilts that you and your family will treasure for generations.

Inspired by My Grandmothers

Family quilts made by my grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother inspired the quilts in this section of the book. Working with these treasured quilts has been immensely satisfying.

Stars over Iowa made by Emma Acelia Wakefield Fitzgarrald

Stars over Iowa is a quilt made by my great-great-grandmother Emma Acelia Wakefield Fitzgarrald. I love the variety of fabrics she used in this quilt. Im quite sure they were scraps from other sewing projects. My grandmother recalls that many of the fabrics in her grandmother Emmas quilts were scraps from the aprons and dresses that she remembers her grandmother wearing. See my Stars over Iowa interpretation ().

Bear Paw made by Emma Acelia Wakefield Fitzgarrald

When I finished my Bear Paw () and put it next to my great-great-grandmothers Bear Paw, I felt a thrill of excitement that was hard to explain. There sat two quilts of almost identical design made by women in the same family, four generations apart. It was a wonderful feeling!

Grandma Bices Baby Blocks quilt

I have fond memories of standing on a small stepladder in my great-grandmothers house in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, while she let me do the dishes at the young age of five. Since my mom wouldnt yet let me do the dishes, this was a really big deal for me! I still remember Grandma Bice, as I called her, stressing the importance of washing the dishes and rinsing them well. My great-grandmother didnt quilt a lot; she is perhaps best known in the family for her chocolate mayonnaise cake, her chicken noodle soup, and the net dish scrubs that she gave to members of the family at Christmas time.

My great-great-grandmother Emma Acelia Wakefield Fitzgarrald was very fond of Dresdens. She made so many Dresden blocks during her lifetime that upon her passing, the blocks were divided between her four daughters, with enough blocks for each daughter to make her own quilt.