The Making of a Quilt

An excerpt from the history written by Sharon DeGarimore 

The start of making the 2008 donation quilt began with ideas of quilts seen at the Houston Quilt Show.  Sharon DeGarimore came with lots of wonderful ideas.  After much discussion, all constructive, a trip to the fabric store was planned.  Five members headed to Harlingen.

 After driving the clerks at the store crazy the many different fabrics were chosen.  We thought we had it all together.  Wash, press and lightly starch fabric.

Cutting was our next project.  The cutting members of the team began and diligently cut on the straight grain of the fabric, allowing one thread over for cutting and sewing.  A one man team put the fabrics in order for strip sewing.  Now it was time to audition sewers.  A perfect 1/4 inch seam was key to putting everything together.  Three or four did nothing but sew, sew, sew.  Next came the pressers.  We all think we know how to iron, but correctly pressing without stretching is a lot different.  What a super job, NO PLEATS.  Strips were perfect!!!!!   Back to the cutting table went the strips and the cutters went to work on perfect 45 degree diamond strips.  The next step was so time consuming.  Each strip had to match with perfect seams.  PIN, PIN and PIN again until finally the eight center diamonds were complete.  We then needed 24 diamonds pieced for the outer ring.  I wasn’t sure I wanted to see another diamond.

 It’s January and we needed to start the appliqué.  Sharon drafted a huge circle and placed the stems for the inserts.  The stems needed to twine over and under the diamond blocks.  Quite a challenge, but Sharon was perfect.  We had to choose fabrics for the appliqué, trace the patterns and then Sharon had to teach some of the ladies how to needle turn appliqué.  There were two different blocks of tulips and lilies and of course we needed almost 500 feet of stems cut on the bias.  Vonnie to the rescue and what a job she did.  On to the flowers. Vi made the posies and Jan did the lilies.  Girls took their blocks or borders home to work on.  The fabrics chosen just weren’t outstanding enough and we called a special meeting on Sunday.  Chaos choosing fabrics so lets start with the leaves.  These were fine, but the lilies were not acceptable. Sharon decided to dye fabrics and some of us had dyed fabrics in our stash that were perfect.  They came out wonderful.  We met again at Sharon’s home and began laying out the center portion of the quilt.  Great progress!!!  Appliqué is slow. Meanwhile the outer diamonds were sewn.  As the diamonds were completed they were pressed, sized and blocked on a muslin base.  Voila!!!  They were perfect.

 Each diamond and corner block was marked for exact 1/4 inch setting.  So many set in seams.  Sharon is ecstatic.  The appliqué blocks are coming in.  She carefully measures and trims.  They have to size so the stems are in a circle.  Some un-sewing is done to make the stems and leaves fit.  Oh how tricky to make the border appliqués fit.  Borders are finally done.  Hooray! Now Sharon can put it all together.  OH NO! Some of the leaves are not traveling the correct direction.  Oh well! Just fix it.  The girls discover that realistic appliqué is really difficult, but they figured a way to make it easier by making overlays of see thru vinyl to place the petals in perfect position.

 First problem, the 12 inch borders weren’t trimmed.  They needed to be the exact same width as the diamonds and the setting blocks.  Some un-sewing again.  Shoot! The first border was too short so Sharon had to piece this.  OH MY!!  We forgot to allow for mitered borders.

 It’s quilt show time and Friday night set up.  Of course our Bee is in charge of that.  The show is all set up and then the ropes got caught and the “walls came tumbling down”.  What a mess!  OK the quilt show is over and Sharon decides the borders need to be perfect.  So un-sew, un-sew, and finally the miters are acceptable.  Whew, only the last border to piece now.  Glenda cut the strips Sharon thought she would need. She is so good and exact.  Perfect strips.  At the Bee meeting we will plan the graduation of colors for the border.  Need more strips, and more fabric.  Back to the quilt shop.  Great session!!  Everyone helped plan the colors and where to put them.  Sharon sewed, mitered and set in the corder star.  She says she finally learned how to do this correctly.  The last border has been added and the quilt is ready for the quilter.  Patti Dybdal volunteered to do the quilting over the summer.   I picked up the quilt in the fall.  Oh how wonderful!  The quilting was gorgeous and just added to the perfection of the quilt.  I applied the binding and made a label.  We will proudly present our 2008 donation quilt at the March, 2007 meeting.

 Sharon said this was a very rewarding experience, but she was so tired.  She deserved a long rest.  Without her expert planning, advice and encouragement we would never have been able to produce such a beautiful quilt. We hope the members love it as much as we do.

Sincerely,

Annette Sweet