Creating a Quilt

When I was in third grade, my paternal grandmother sent each of us four kids a quilt, each similar but slightly different. Mine was lavender. They became our companions, accompanying us on road trip vacations, joining us on the couch for Saturday morning cartoons and lying on our bed.

Grandma slowly worked to make a quilt like this for each of her 13 grandchildren. When we graduated high school, we received another one to take to the dorms. She kept working, creating new ones for other friends, family, loved ones, and managed to make three for her great grandchildren.

I always thought it was an amazing skill, to create this beautiful and useful works of art. So in April, I took a beginner’s quilting class. I’ve always said I would try it at least once, to discover whether I had the ability to make wonderful and memorable gifts for people. Given my lack of sewing experience, it was difficult. Ignorantly, I delved into the world of rotary cutters and fat quarters.

Creating even a small quilt in four weeks is a challenge, especially because it turned out to be one of my busiest months of work all year. In fact, I did not quite finish during the final class, because I had forgotten my binding material at home. But I have finally finished!

While any quilter could spot the multitude of mistakes, I am proud of my first creation. Although my grandmother is not here to see it, I think she would be proud, too.