Well, I had some very interesting comments on the subject of "Tie Offs", including some from a couple of heavy hitters in the Quilting World. I appreciate all of what so many of you had to say. It seems that the consensus is that leaving tie offs is not all that typical. I certainly do not enjoy the process of working them into a quilt, particularly a large one, and many of you agreed with me. However, that being said, I have been thinking.
Are we just lazy? Is it our desire just to shop for fabric, piece the tops and have the other more tedious aspects of the quilting farmed out? Quilting is supposed to be a lengthy process, and I see more and more quick piecing, enormous blocks, idiotically simple blocks and speedy techniques touted in the quilting magazines. Today's quilting has moved very far away from the quilting that our grandmothers and great grandmothers did. There are few of us who hand piece and hand quilt any more. We are all eager for faster, easier, and assembly line methods. I know I am always in search for the latest gizmo that is going to assist me in cranking those quilts out faster and faster. The biggest change is that quilting used to be a Thrifty Activity. Quilters a generation or two ago didn't go out and lay down $100 for a fat quarter bundle to make a designer quilt. They used scraps. Scraps from old clothes, curtains, tablecloths and feed sacks. What ever has happened to us? At least the tradition of women getting together to sew hasn't changed all that much. We may not sit around a quilting frame stitching together, but at least we gather for retreats and regular Sew-Ins.
I realize that our lives today are much different than the lives our grandmothers and great grandmothers lived, but they were pretty much as busy as we are. I know that sounds radical, but compare Great Grandma Higgins who had to pump the water for baths, laundry, and cooking out in the yard. Who had to wash the clothes in a galvanized tub with a washing board and hang it all up in the yard. Who had, yes it's true, 12 children. Who had to bake bread, sew her own and her kids clothes, cook three meals a day, and tend to the garden. I know my time is limited by having to get dressed in a suit and drive 12 miles to my 8 hour a day office job, but do I really have less time for my quilting than Grandma Higgins or Grandma Clark did?
Who ever would have thought that such a thing as tie offs would get me to thinking?
48 responses to “Quilting, Then and Now”
What a thoughtful post. I think we are just a (sad) generation of instant gratification. Why make cupcakes when you can go to one of many gourmet shops popping up and spend $2.00 on one? Why make a dinner from scratch when you can go to Boston Market and pick it up for $9.99?
I feel an unease when ever I see scrap booking supplies – it used to be about being creative and inventive and now it’s all matching paper lines with the trims and accoutrements to match. Pre cut out shapes and layouts. Sucks the creativity right out of it.
What a thoughtful post. I think we are just a (sad) generation of instant gratification. Why make cupcakes when you can go to one of many gourmet shops popping up and spend $2.00 on one? Why make a dinner from scratch when you can go to Boston Market and pick it up for $9.99?
I feel an unease when ever I see scrap booking supplies – it used to be about being creative and inventive and now it’s all matching paper lines with the trims and accoutrements to match. Pre cut out shapes and layouts. Sucks the creativity right out of it.
Wow… well said! And how very true! You have given me a lot to think about. GREAT post.
Wow… well said! And how very true! You have given me a lot to think about. GREAT post.
Great post, Nicole! Very well said and all so very true!! Lots to reflect upon. We need to slow down and enjoy the whole process from beginning to end. Even the tedious hand work. I know I sure enjoy the whole process!!!
Great post, Nicole! Very well said and all so very true!! Lots to reflect upon. We need to slow down and enjoy the whole process from beginning to end. Even the tedious hand work. I know I sure enjoy the whole process!!!
Your point is well taken for sure. But, there is another side to this and it was true then as it is now. Quilting a quilt for another, by hand or machine, gave/gives women money to feed their children etc. etc. As just one example of many, widowed women in mining towns in the US and the UK have become professional quilters and also professional quilt markers and pattern designers, offering quilt owners a choice. It goes on and on, but I don’t believe I have ever heard of a professional tie-offer. 🙂 Perhaps with the economic situation we are facing, a new job is on the horizon.
Your point is well taken for sure. But, there is another side to this and it was true then as it is now. Quilting a quilt for another, by hand or machine, gave/gives women money to feed their children etc. etc. As just one example of many, widowed women in mining towns in the US and the UK have become professional quilters and also professional quilt markers and pattern designers, offering quilt owners a choice. It goes on and on, but I don’t believe I have ever heard of a professional tie-offer. 🙂 Perhaps with the economic situation we are facing, a new job is on the horizon.
Nicole,
I really enjoyed this post – it is true that my gran had a more jobs that she would do in a day than I do (in some ways anyway) but she had a particular rhythm in her life- it was simpler and the jobs were clear cut. She canned and cooked and did those jobs because that was her role. One time late in her life she came to visit me and I didn’t want her to do anything. She got quite huffy with me and said YOu know I’m not useless. I was taken aback – I was just trying to take care of her like she had taken care of me but I think she felt like I was putting her out to pasture. She did not quilt or sew very much but she did lots of other things much better than I do. I loved her with all my heart and miss her very much even though she has been gone 5 years now.
I think some parts of the quilting process call to people more than others. I enjoy the piecing and finding the fabrics and putting it all together but my quilting is limited to meandering or quilt in the ditch. Perhaps some day I will try out some fancier stitching but right now I am enjoying the piecing part. While I don’t buy fabric bundles much or quilt kits I do collect lots of pieces of fabric. I have friends who love to scrap quilt and other friends that love to work in kits – it is interesting how different quilters are attracted to different ways of quilting.
I agree with you that the patterns are often bigger blocks and quicker patterns.
Do you ever go and look for a more challenging pattern just because you need to do something that is more intricate?
Happy quilting which ever way you choose to quilt – I know I will stop and reflect a little more about my quilting ways..
Thanks for the interesting post…
Regards,
Anna
Nicole,
I really enjoyed this post – it is true that my gran had a more jobs that she would do in a day than I do (in some ways anyway) but she had a particular rhythm in her life- it was simpler and the jobs were clear cut. She canned and cooked and did those jobs because that was her role. One time late in her life she came to visit me and I didn’t want her to do anything. She got quite huffy with me and said YOu know I’m not useless. I was taken aback – I was just trying to take care of her like she had taken care of me but I think she felt like I was putting her out to pasture. She did not quilt or sew very much but she did lots of other things much better than I do. I loved her with all my heart and miss her very much even though she has been gone 5 years now.
I think some parts of the quilting process call to people more than others. I enjoy the piecing and finding the fabrics and putting it all together but my quilting is limited to meandering or quilt in the ditch. Perhaps some day I will try out some fancier stitching but right now I am enjoying the piecing part. While I don’t buy fabric bundles much or quilt kits I do collect lots of pieces of fabric. I have friends who love to scrap quilt and other friends that love to work in kits – it is interesting how different quilters are attracted to different ways of quilting.
I agree with you that the patterns are often bigger blocks and quicker patterns.
Do you ever go and look for a more challenging pattern just because you need to do something that is more intricate?
Happy quilting which ever way you choose to quilt – I know I will stop and reflect a little more about my quilting ways..
Thanks for the interesting post…
Regards,
Anna
Very well said Nicole…a friend and I were talking the other day about that very thing…started out with fat quarter bundles, then jelly rolls of 2 1/2″ strips and 5″ charm packs…then layer cakes of 10″ squares and now honey buns of 1 1/2″ strips and half square triangle packs already cut…we are an instant gratification society…I still love the process!
Very well said Nicole…a friend and I were talking the other day about that very thing…started out with fat quarter bundles, then jelly rolls of 2 1/2″ strips and 5″ charm packs…then layer cakes of 10″ squares and now honey buns of 1 1/2″ strips and half square triangle packs already cut…we are an instant gratification society…I still love the process!
This is a fine post, Nicole. I swear there is a collective consciousness that we can tap into — both Tanya and I recently wrote similar themes.
n, np
This is a fine post, Nicole. I swear there is a collective consciousness that we can tap into — both Tanya and I recently wrote similar themes.
n, np
I saw the same simplification happening in knitting over the last 5 or 6 years. Now we’re starting to see *some* newer patterns with intricate cables or Fair Isle colorwork. Not everyone wants things fast or simple.
Love the painting in this post. Where can I find a print of that?
I saw the same simplification happening in knitting over the last 5 or 6 years. Now we’re starting to see *some* newer patterns with intricate cables or Fair Isle colorwork. Not everyone wants things fast or simple.
Love the painting in this post. Where can I find a print of that?
Excellent post! I’ve been wrestling with the quilting issue myself. Although I longarm quilt for others, I want to make the effort to hand quilt for myself. However, time is always a factor…mainly because the computer is a major time sucker. I have to make the decision to “step away from the box” and as you can see, I haven’t done very well with that.
I guess we just have to make the choices that are best for us. And now I will turn this machine off for awhile! :o) Thanks for this thought provoking post!
Excellent post! I’ve been wrestling with the quilting issue myself. Although I longarm quilt for others, I want to make the effort to hand quilt for myself. However, time is always a factor…mainly because the computer is a major time sucker. I have to make the decision to “step away from the box” and as you can see, I haven’t done very well with that.
I guess we just have to make the choices that are best for us. And now I will turn this machine off for awhile! :o) Thanks for this thought provoking post!
Wonderful post and I agree. I just transitioned from scissor cutting all my pieces to a rotary cutter and I was racked with guilt because I thought I was cheating.
While all the new tools and tricks of the trade are great we must take time to thank our mothers and grandmothers for the painstaking tasks the use to perform without a care.
Can you imagine smocking with a pleater?
Shadow embroidery without a computerized machine?
Sewing without electricity?
An iron that has a cord?
Very thought provoking…
Marlene
Wonderful post and I agree. I just transitioned from scissor cutting all my pieces to a rotary cutter and I was racked with guilt because I thought I was cheating.
While all the new tools and tricks of the trade are great we must take time to thank our mothers and grandmothers for the painstaking tasks the use to perform without a care.
Can you imagine smocking with a pleater?
Shadow embroidery without a computerized machine?
Sewing without electricity?
An iron that has a cord?
Very thought provoking…
Marlene
Marvelous post ~ I try to remind myself (constantly) that my quilting is about the journey itself, not necessarily the results (although a bit of instant gratification every now and then is a bonus)… and when I find myself becoming too impatient, I circle back through the thought process again, often changing projects to get my feet back under me. Obviously many of us struggle with the slow cloth desire in a fast cloth world.
Marvelous post ~ I try to remind myself (constantly) that my quilting is about the journey itself, not necessarily the results (although a bit of instant gratification every now and then is a bonus)… and when I find myself becoming too impatient, I circle back through the thought process again, often changing projects to get my feet back under me. Obviously many of us struggle with the slow cloth desire in a fast cloth world.
I totally get what you’re saying. I don’t send my quilts out to be quilted, because then I feel like I’m cheating – like I didn’t totally do the whole quilt.
That being said, I do like the new “bigger” sized pieces of patterns because it allows some of the new fabrics to be shown off. I’m sure it’s just a trend, and in five or ten years, we’ll be seeing smaller patches in quilts being the the “in” thing.
I totally get what you’re saying. I don’t send my quilts out to be quilted, because then I feel like I’m cheating – like I didn’t totally do the whole quilt.
That being said, I do like the new “bigger” sized pieces of patterns because it allows some of the new fabrics to be shown off. I’m sure it’s just a trend, and in five or ten years, we’ll be seeing smaller patches in quilts being the the “in” thing.
The thoughts reflected in your post are somewhat reassuring to me – I thought I was so behind the times – have no desire to own or use a longarm machine, when others I know are drooling over them. It is indeed, for me, the journey that is the most rewarding part of my quilting. I hand-quilt (although I have sent a few out to be machine-quilted when the pile of tops gets too high) and am an occasional hand-piecer – so relaxing – just let your thoughts wander as you stitch away. We have become such a fast-paced society, it’s nice to have a hobby that lets us really be creative and relax and enjoy the process.
The thoughts reflected in your post are somewhat reassuring to me – I thought I was so behind the times – have no desire to own or use a longarm machine, when others I know are drooling over them. It is indeed, for me, the journey that is the most rewarding part of my quilting. I hand-quilt (although I have sent a few out to be machine-quilted when the pile of tops gets too high) and am an occasional hand-piecer – so relaxing – just let your thoughts wander as you stitch away. We have become such a fast-paced society, it’s nice to have a hobby that lets us really be creative and relax and enjoy the process.
What a fabulous post! I’ve been a quilter for more than 25 years and originally learned to piece, applique and quilt by hand. In fact, I didn’t even have a sewing machine until several years into the craft. When I began quilting, there were precious few fabrics to choose from and accumulating a “stash” with a good range of colors and prints took years. Many of the fabrics were small scale prints and calicoes which looked best cut into small pieces. I think we relied more on intricate block designs to create interesting quilts because the fabrics were so limiting. Today’s bright, coordinated, large scale fabrics have made it easier to create interesting quilts from the simplest of blocks. And what’s not to like about having them precut by the manufacturer into strips and squares? I do feel the emphasis today is less about the process and more about the final product. The craft seems to be more industry driven these days, rather than a traditional art passed from grandmother or mother to daughter.
What a fabulous post! I’ve been a quilter for more than 25 years and originally learned to piece, applique and quilt by hand. In fact, I didn’t even have a sewing machine until several years into the craft. When I began quilting, there were precious few fabrics to choose from and accumulating a “stash” with a good range of colors and prints took years. Many of the fabrics were small scale prints and calicoes which looked best cut into small pieces. I think we relied more on intricate block designs to create interesting quilts because the fabrics were so limiting. Today’s bright, coordinated, large scale fabrics have made it easier to create interesting quilts from the simplest of blocks. And what’s not to like about having them precut by the manufacturer into strips and squares? I do feel the emphasis today is less about the process and more about the final product. The craft seems to be more industry driven these days, rather than a traditional art passed from grandmother or mother to daughter.
I like where we are today in the quilting life cycle. There’s lots of CHOICE so that one can continue to develop her PERSONAL STYLE. I for one, am not fond of art quilts or big block quilts, so I don’t support the books etc around these. I don’t like precut and/or prematched fabrics, so I don’t buy them. I don’t believe in the prices asked for desiger fabrics, so I don’t buy them. Over time I’ve found that my STYLE is scrappy and I’ll buy books and sale fabrics to support this. Times are different, so to compare our quiltmaking with those of the past are, at least in my opinion, not comparing apples with apples. All said, thank-you for a great, thought provoking post. Great comments from others as well.
I like where we are today in the quilting life cycle. There’s lots of CHOICE so that one can continue to develop her PERSONAL STYLE. I for one, am not fond of art quilts or big block quilts, so I don’t support the books etc around these. I don’t like precut and/or prematched fabrics, so I don’t buy them. I don’t believe in the prices asked for desiger fabrics, so I don’t buy them. Over time I’ve found that my STYLE is scrappy and I’ll buy books and sale fabrics to support this. Times are different, so to compare our quiltmaking with those of the past are, at least in my opinion, not comparing apples with apples. All said, thank-you for a great, thought provoking post. Great comments from others as well.
Nicole,
You have given me some food for thought this morning. I believe that with all the advantages we have in our lives compared our ancestors, most of us should have more time to quilt. Especially since we are more often than not, quilting for pleasure, not out of necessity as was normally the case for past generations of women.
Even though I am new to quilting, I am drawn to the very difficult patterns. Well, I’ll rephrase that. For me, they would be very difficult, though I hope as my skills improve, they will be just pleasantly challenging. Now as I look through quilting magazines and books, many displaying antique patterns that I drool over to the point that I can’t possibly put them back on the shelf with all those soggy pages, so I’m forced to buy them. (I don’t think my husband truly believes that explanation for the new magazines and books constantly showing up, but he just smiles and lets me off the hook.) I do shy away from the ‘fast quilt’, ‘make this quilt in 5 hours’ type projects because they can’t hold my interest. But many of them are still beautiful quilts when completed and a project to be proud of. They are just not for me. Our grandmothers probably would have been thrilled to make a quick quilt, if they could find pieces in the rag bag that were large enough to use.
But more to the point of your post. Many of the beautiful quilts we find ourselves longing to add to our collections were designed by past generations of quilters. How they found time to sit down and hand quilt such wonderful pieces I’ll never know, but I thank the Lord they did. I remember my mother-in-law telling us how her quilts were filled with old clothing rather than cotton or wool because they couldn’t afford it. So, they took the clothing items that were too worn out to be handed on down to the next child and those pieces became the filling for their quilts. I am so thankful for everything I have that makes my life easier. Like my husband tells me each year as we start into our Utah winter, “It’s a good thing your living now and not back then, because you would have winter killed”. I believe that his assessment is correct.
I know there are many hand quilters out there and I envy them. Counted cross stitch was my passion for years. Usually the very tiny stitch sizes. I am physically not able to sew by hand any longer, except possibly to sew a button or mend a tear…but I have sewing machine that can do that for me and probably could sing opera to me while it sewed if I knew where the opera button was.
Well Nicole, now I have much to think about when I sit down to my sewing machine this morning. I’ll also be looking though the instruction book. I just know there is an ‘Opera’ button on there someplace.
Have a great day,
Nancy
Nicole,
You have given me some food for thought this morning. I believe that with all the advantages we have in our lives compared our ancestors, most of us should have more time to quilt. Especially since we are more often than not, quilting for pleasure, not out of necessity as was normally the case for past generations of women.
Even though I am new to quilting, I am drawn to the very difficult patterns. Well, I’ll rephrase that. For me, they would be very difficult, though I hope as my skills improve, they will be just pleasantly challenging. Now as I look through quilting magazines and books, many displaying antique patterns that I drool over to the point that I can’t possibly put them back on the shelf with all those soggy pages, so I’m forced to buy them. (I don’t think my husband truly believes that explanation for the new magazines and books constantly showing up, but he just smiles and lets me off the hook.) I do shy away from the ‘fast quilt’, ‘make this quilt in 5 hours’ type projects because they can’t hold my interest. But many of them are still beautiful quilts when completed and a project to be proud of. They are just not for me. Our grandmothers probably would have been thrilled to make a quick quilt, if they could find pieces in the rag bag that were large enough to use.
But more to the point of your post. Many of the beautiful quilts we find ourselves longing to add to our collections were designed by past generations of quilters. How they found time to sit down and hand quilt such wonderful pieces I’ll never know, but I thank the Lord they did. I remember my mother-in-law telling us how her quilts were filled with old clothing rather than cotton or wool because they couldn’t afford it. So, they took the clothing items that were too worn out to be handed on down to the next child and those pieces became the filling for their quilts. I am so thankful for everything I have that makes my life easier. Like my husband tells me each year as we start into our Utah winter, “It’s a good thing your living now and not back then, because you would have winter killed”. I believe that his assessment is correct.
I know there are many hand quilters out there and I envy them. Counted cross stitch was my passion for years. Usually the very tiny stitch sizes. I am physically not able to sew by hand any longer, except possibly to sew a button or mend a tear…but I have sewing machine that can do that for me and probably could sing opera to me while it sewed if I knew where the opera button was.
Well Nicole, now I have much to think about when I sit down to my sewing machine this morning. I’ll also be looking though the instruction book. I just know there is an ‘Opera’ button on there someplace.
Have a great day,
Nancy
I’ve had some of these same thoughts lately with all of the new pre-cut fabric bundles available today. We don’t even want to rotary cut our own fabric anymore-heaven forbid we would ever have to use scissors!
That said, I have been working on quilts with many, many teeny-tiny,itty-bitty pieces that take forever to make and kind-of take the fun out of quilting some days! I finally just decided to make some of those “weekend quilts” with HUGE pieces and mostly squares and rectangles and boy, did it feel GOOD! I was able to enjoy the fruits of my labor very quickly and they were easy to quilt-up and enjoy!
Maybe the trick is to have some longer projects going to carry on the tradition and some shorter,easier projects to deal with the faster,crazier world we live in today.
Tricia
I’ve had some of these same thoughts lately with all of the new pre-cut fabric bundles available today. We don’t even want to rotary cut our own fabric anymore-heaven forbid we would ever have to use scissors!
That said, I have been working on quilts with many, many teeny-tiny,itty-bitty pieces that take forever to make and kind-of take the fun out of quilting some days! I finally just decided to make some of those “weekend quilts” with HUGE pieces and mostly squares and rectangles and boy, did it feel GOOD! I was able to enjoy the fruits of my labor very quickly and they were easy to quilt-up and enjoy!
Maybe the trick is to have some longer projects going to carry on the tradition and some shorter,easier projects to deal with the faster,crazier world we live in today.
Tricia
I find that I enjoy the process as much as the finish. The same is true for knitting. That said, I also like to do a quick quilt now and then for the gratification of seeing a completed project.
I find that I enjoy the process as much as the finish. The same is true for knitting. That said, I also like to do a quick quilt now and then for the gratification of seeing a completed project.
I enjoy both…the convenience of having a quilt finished for me…spoiled! And the quiet, long hours, communing with the quilt and really bonding with it, putting a little of my soul in it. I helped my grandmother and my mother make quilts, and they used nothing but scraps. I am thankful I can do both! and do and enjoy it so much! Thank you for a thoughtful post.
I enjoy both…the convenience of having a quilt finished for me…spoiled! And the quiet, long hours, communing with the quilt and really bonding with it, putting a little of my soul in it. I helped my grandmother and my mother make quilts, and they used nothing but scraps. I am thankful I can do both! and do and enjoy it so much! Thank you for a thoughtful post.
Good point and well made. Even just 18 or 20 years ago when I first began quilting, machine quilting was frowned upon. It was the easy way out–and I don’t remember any juried quilt shows even allowed it. Now it’s kind of an art and that’s not bad thing but some of us feel uncomfortably stuck somewhere in the middle.
Good point and well made. Even just 18 or 20 years ago when I first began quilting, machine quilting was frowned upon. It was the easy way out–and I don’t remember any juried quilt shows even allowed it. Now it’s kind of an art and that’s not bad thing but some of us feel uncomfortably stuck somewhere in the middle.
I really appreciated this post. It was very thought-provoking. I sent the link on to my family. And I love the picture.
Of course, 150+ years ago, they had to work with their hands. Sewing machines were rare and expensive. And they (mostly) quilted for utility and necessity. And I bet they thought more than once, “I wish there were some way to make this easier.” And now it is…and in our minds we long for something that we think is simpler. It wasn’t that simple back then. We are just living in our time and machines and precuts and rotary cutters are products of this time.
I really appreciated this post. It was very thought-provoking. I sent the link on to my family. And I love the picture.
Of course, 150+ years ago, they had to work with their hands. Sewing machines were rare and expensive. And they (mostly) quilted for utility and necessity. And I bet they thought more than once, “I wish there were some way to make this easier.” And now it is…and in our minds we long for something that we think is simpler. It wasn’t that simple back then. We are just living in our time and machines and precuts and rotary cutters are products of this time.
I truly enjoyed this thoughtful post, Nicole. I’ve been thinking about quilting quite a bit in recent months. I truly enjoy the entire process but have questioned the rush to get it done. We’re in such a hurry to do everything these days and are forgetting to stop and enjoy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I truly enjoyed this thoughtful post, Nicole. I’ve been thinking about quilting quite a bit in recent months. I truly enjoy the entire process but have questioned the rush to get it done. We’re in such a hurry to do everything these days and are forgetting to stop and enjoy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
What a marvelous post, Nicole! I have been thinking about the very same things lately. Sometimes in this world where everything seems to be one of instant gratification, even we as quilters get caught up in that rush. On occasion I use the pre-cut fabrics, but other times I find great peace in taking the time to cut the pieces for a quilt. I try to use my quilting time as one of leaving the world behind, and thinking nothing but ‘quilty’ thoughts, and enjoying each step of the quilt-making process. When I choose to spend my time in that way, I find myself refreshed and ready to face the rest of my day with a smile on my face and in my heart.
So, I guess it doesn’t really matter how many time-saving gadgets or fabrics we use, as long as we are enjoying our time at the sewing machine.
What a marvelous post, Nicole! I have been thinking about the very same things lately. Sometimes in this world where everything seems to be one of instant gratification, even we as quilters get caught up in that rush. On occasion I use the pre-cut fabrics, but other times I find great peace in taking the time to cut the pieces for a quilt. I try to use my quilting time as one of leaving the world behind, and thinking nothing but ‘quilty’ thoughts, and enjoying each step of the quilt-making process. When I choose to spend my time in that way, I find myself refreshed and ready to face the rest of my day with a smile on my face and in my heart.
So, I guess it doesn’t really matter how many time-saving gadgets or fabrics we use, as long as we are enjoying our time at the sewing machine.
The print in your post is by Morgan Weistling and is called the “Quilting Bee.”
you can visit his site here:
http://www.morganweistling.com/
The print in your post is by Morgan Weistling and is called the “Quilting Bee.”
you can visit his site here:
http://www.morganweistling.com/