Chinese Whispers

[Rita C.]

I don't know that my son would consider himself a quilter yet, he is not talking about doing another one or anything.. but I think the seed is sewn and this little project has taken the fear out of it for him. Actually he was amazingly unafraid of the free motion process - kind of like the way kids just naturally take to computers in a fearless way.

[Constance G.]

I don't know that my son would consider himself a quilter yet, he is not talking about doing another one or anything.. but I think the seed is sewn and this little project has taken the fear out of it for him. Actually he was amazingly unafraid of the free motion process - kind of like the way kids just naturally take to computers in a fearless way.

After all it's just a machine with a computer in it, right? If you're 16, what's not to like? :P

[Renata L.]

Lois, don't know if this would work for you, but two summers ago (I had just learned basic rotary cutting and the 1/4" seam), my sister (who has over 30 years of experience) and I brought my two nieces who were then 9 and 10 years old, respectively, to my sister's quilt studio for a few days during summer vacation to teach them something about quilting. Before that, I had the girls for a month, so we went shopping for fabric for a twin-sized quilt for their beds (that's what they wanted!). I guided them on fabric choices (but they still picked their own fabrics--we looked together at what would work with the Irish Chain pattern we were going to work on). They each had their yardage list and I made sure to match their fabric choices to the list, but they had to order the yardage from the sales associate themselves. They were thrilled to be part of the whole process. As soon as we got the fabric, I mailed it to my sister and she did all the cutting.

When we got to my sister's house, we taught them the basics of how the sewing machine runs and how to be safe on it. My sister and I each took one girl under wing to stay with while they got the hang of chain-piecing. The girls learned to press as well. At the end of the day, when the girls went to sleep, my sister and I went over the work and fixed what needed to be (there wasn't much to fix though) and while the girls put the blocks together in a row, I connected the rows for them. By the time they left my sister's house to go back to their parents, their bed quilt tops were completed.

At about the halfway point of this adventure, my sister and I had turned away from the sewing machines for a second to look at the design wall. We heard this sudden whirring of the Bernina 440 and turned around to see in amazement the older of the two girls was happily chain-piecing a really good quarter inch seam but had sped up the machine and did not miss a beat! With the help of my sister, they chose their quilting design which my sister did on her HQ16 and a week later they received in the mail their quilts. They still want to quilt when they come spend their summer vacation with us. I do believe that because they were involved in the entire process, from choosing and buying fabric, they owned the process from the beginning and the journey became fun especially as they saw the quilt come together step-by-step.

[Maureen A.]

What a terrific idea Renata to actually go through all the processes of making a quilt and letting them do most of it themselves. :wink: :wink: They would have learned lot more that way than you just demonstrating. Their quilt is wonderful so another two joins the quilting world

[Maureen A.]

That sounds magical. As you say It was all their own choices and decisions from the beginnning, that truly makes it their own to be proud of. A lot of the time we need to be 'enablers' and 'introducers' to quilting or any other crafting works that we have dabbled in, but we have to be able to stand back and let them make their own choices as to what they like or want to do.

[Norma H.]

What a great story. They have learned a lot.
This remind me of two weeks ago when I went to a flower shop to by flowers for a friend. In there was a mother with her two boys age around 11-13. They were to pick flowers for a bouquet from them to someone and they got the message: you can choose what you like, the lady will say stop when you have used the money for it. And there they stood - helplessness was radiating from their faces. No one helped them saying you could try this or that. I was not in a position to say anything and that was really hard because they so needed just a little guidance. Fortunately the flower lady was very good at utilizing the flowers, they picked, so it ended up being an amazing bouquet and that I could comment. The boys lit up when I told them they had done a good job.
So Renata, thank you for not letting the girls down in the shop.

[Norma H.]

Now I have an idea for my niece...thanks

[Lois B.]

Renata, What a great well planned activity for your nieces. I am loving it. My oldest great niece could do that but her little sisters and cousins aren't quite ready. The 3 younger girls are 3, 7, & 7. We call one of the 7 year olds "spark plug" because she gets something going no matter where she is. It's fun, but it's not always good, if you get my drift. I think I need to get some of the adults in my crew up to speed so they would be able to help. They all have minimal sewing skills. To get them started it occurred to me to give them each a jelly roll and have them google jelly roll races. I wish I could host a jelly roll race party. There would be six of us so I'd have to come up with 3 more machines than I have. I'll have to give that some thought. It sure would be fun.

[Rita C.]

Renata it's wonderful to see your nieces working away on their Irish chain quilts. What a great story. They are lucky girls to have two aunties with great skills and a great sewing room to-boot!

[Constance G.]

Renata, thanks for sharing with us! What a lovely story!

[Renata L.]

Thanks everyone. My mom and aunties did the same for me with knitting when I was young, something I still do to this day and cherish the memory. We wanted to do the same for the next generation. Unfortunately, they live too far away to do this on a regular basis and neither of their moms sew.

[Lois B.]

Thanks everyone. My mom and aunties did the same for me with knitting when I was young, something I still do to this day and cherish the memory. We wanted to do the same for the next generation. Unfortunately, they live too far away to do this on a regular basis and neither of their moms sew.

But you've sown the seed. And you know if you have it in you to be a quilter that is all it takes. Don't we all know!

[Renata L.]

[Rita C.]

But you've sown the seed. And you know if you have it in you to be a quilter that is all it takes. Don't we all know!

So true Lois. My mother taught me to knit and my aunties Kitty and Terry taught me to sew and embroider. Life lessons never forgotten and now cherished memories. Renata you and your sister have created memories for your nieces that they will cherish and certainly never forget.

[Rita C.]

and they'll have their quilt forever.....!!