Good Morning, Quilters!
My grandmother, Rose quilted…My Mother, Dorothy did not–until later in life.
My sisters and I quilt, but my five daughters do not….
I’ve often heard that quilting skips a generation and my family was following suit…
Until now!!!
I’m really excited to report that my five daughters–who have never been interested in quilting before–have had a change of heart!
All of them want to learn how to quilt!
WHY ARE MILLENNIALS SUDDENLY INTERESTED IN QUILTING?
What brought about this sudden interest in quilting by a new generation? (and many of their friends!)
Perhaps it’s their age? They are all out of college and have more time for hobbies.
Perhaps it’s their interest in home decorating? They all have their own houses and apartments to furnish.
Perhaps creativity must find an outlet?
Perhaps— What’s old is new again!?
Over the next few months, we will let each of them explain what motivated them to try quilting.
A NEW FEATURE—FROM NOVICE TO EXPERT
Starting next week, my daughters, Faye and Nora will introduce themselves and share their journey as they learn how to quilt. Both are true novices. They know some of the lingo, but have never done any machine stitching. Faye and Nora offer differing design esthetics, color preferences and artistic skills.
Both are willing to share their successes and failures (with a sense of humor) along the way!
I think it will help all of us review our basic skills and refine our design choices.
Once they get the ball rolling, Claire, Deirdre and Olivia will join us for several group and individual projects…and we might even get a cameo from brother, Patrick??!!
We are excited to share our family’s range of sewing skills.
We will share every step of the process!
Faye and Nora have been talking to their friends who want to learn quilting. Several of their friends don’t have a quilter in the family and they don’t know where to begin…
OUR PLAN
We will begin at the beginning…No question or topic too small!
- Where to find a sewing machine
- How to choose the best sewing machine
- How to get started stitching
- How to use a rotary cutter
- Where to find sewing/quilting help
- Essential skills every quilter should know
- Bare essential tools for quilting
- Wish List quilting tools
- How to design your first quilting project
- How to choose fabric and where to buy it
- How to choose thread
- How to start a Quilter’s Notebook
- and much, much more—share YOUR ideas!!!
THE EXPERTS–WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We hope YOU will be the EXPERTS!
We need YOUR help!
I have some of the answers…but 10,000 heads are better than one!
Between all of us, we probably have most of the answers…
THE MORE, THE MERRIER!
Would YOU like to follow along?
Do YOU have a friend or family member who is interested in quilting?
Please tell YOUR family and friends to join us!
Join us here at The Inbox Jaunt (soon to be Lori Kennedy Quilts)
Follow us on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE
and Pinterest HERE
FROM NOVICE TO EXPERT
Our goal is to build a community of quilters–from Novice to Expert--to help each other.
Whether YOU are a novice or an expert quilter, EVERYONE has something to share!
WILL YOU JOIN US?
I hope YOU are as excited about this new adventure as we are!
I hope YOU will share YOUR experience and expertise with your friends or a new generation of quilters!
I hope YOU will learn something along the way!
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
Do YOU have a family member or friend that would like to begin quilting but doesn’t know where to start?
Would YOU like to review YOUR quilt journey by following along?
Is there anything YOU think we should include in our blog posts?
Is there anything YOU would like to learn?
Questions YOU would like to ask?
We ALL would LOVE to hear!
One Proud and Excited Mama Bear,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other questions, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
49 comments
Bernadette Moran
Lori ,how wonderful to begin this next chapter in your quilting life with your daughters!
I will look forward to each entry.
Iam the only quilter in my family . I met an older woman who had quilted and sewn all of her life . Evelyn could not imagine anyone getting to my age (62) without experiencing the shear joy of quilting. She encouraged and shared her knowledge beginning with placemats and table runners for holidays.
Her advice was “choose colors you like , a sewing machine is a tool keep it in good working order, change your needle often ,look for the best quality in each quilt for that will give you a better sense of what to do next, and remember to enjoy your accomplishments.
Thankyou for all you share
Bernadette
Rowena
My Mum taught me to sew & knit, only after I had left home did she get into quilting with her mother, via a group that met in the senior centre where her mother lived. My son (only child) shows no interest (more interested in computer games!!). Looking forward to the changes coming.
Amy Roth
So happy for you, Lori, that you now get to share this wonderful hobby with your daughters! I have two sons and while they enjoyed their home ec class in school but that was as far as it went. I did have the chance to help my niece get started in quilting. She’s made 3 or 4 already. But now that she’s in college, it’s take a bit of a backseat. I am very interested to see how your daughters progress and what kinds of advice they get, and what I might learn along the way!
Barbara
In my family quilting skipped two generations on my mothers side and I was the first that I know of on my fathers side of the family. I live in a rural area having to drive at least one hour to get to any town that sells at least one sewing machine and 1 1/2 hours to the nearest town that sells more than one brand sewing machine. With that in mind I say that one of the most important things about buying a machine is the store itself. The store with the best service and classes on your new machine is the deciding factor on which machine to buy, that is if they are all good quality machines.
Janet Licari
Oh My Word! I bet you are thrilled 😀 They are so lucky to have your personal help as they begin their quilting adventures! Your blog, books and classes will be perfect for them or anyone to get started. I look forward to reading about it.
Granny G
Such beautiful daughters! You are very blessed.
I have 2 grown daughters, 4 grown grandchildren, and 1 great-granddaughter who’s not quite two years old. There’s not a sewer or quilter among them! (sigh) They are businesswomen and mothers & focused on that. My grandchildren are all living too far away to try to teach them. That’s if they even showed an interest. Oh well, who knows, perhaps my great-granddaughter one day.
My own mother and maternal grandmother were experts who taught me well starting at age 7, and that was sixty years ago. Neither of them ever quilted so I don’t know where my obsession came from but I certainly do love both sewing and quilting. I’m so very grateful to them for teaching me and wish they were still here so I could tell them that again. They were wonderful, loving women and I miss them both to this day.
God bless you Lori, and your entire family. Thanks for all you teach us.
Tavette
How wonderful that they’ve decided to carry on the tradition. You have enough inspiration for both them and us. Your instructions are always so clear and no question is too small for you to answer. You’ve inspired thousands of us!
My folks were both very creative and I can still hear my dad saying “learn from the BEST” and that’s certainly what your daughters will be doing! He’d say “when you meet someone who can do what you want to learn and is good at it, don’t let go of them until you have learned everything you can”. I can hear him saying that as I type this.
I was the recipient of a beautiful Christmas tree wall hanging you made several years ago and I will treasure that forever!
Your daughters have the best of the best when it comes to quilting & all of you will have a wonderful time learning and sharing with each other. Family memories are something one never forgets. You are all SO fortunate to have each other.
Tavette – S. Fla.
Lorraine Doyno Evans
How exciting! Just think how much fun you can all have doing round robins and block exchanges. Bundles of FQ’s and jelly rolls exchanged at Christmas!! ! Early in my quilting journey I did two Nine patch exchanges over the internet. Each was a specific color. If it was yellow, you had to do a solid or tone on tone with a yellow print for the alternate color. Then you would hand in your nine patch along with the solid and print which would be the same size as the ninepatch. You then got back as many different ninepatches and fabric charms that you handed in. I participated in the yellow and purple excange. In the end this made a beautiful quilt with so many different fabrics. You guys are going to have so much fun quilting together…you can have your own retreat! I am jealous as no one else in my family quilts.
Lora Williams
Ive been a quilter for 6 years,my sister just a few yeats older has been quiltinf for many years,my great grandmother quilted,and am try to get myeldest sister to,my daughter is not in to it yet but she loves to see my finished work.i quilt for cancer,so in 6 year,i only sold a couple,but have made over 150 quilts. Thank you for your web site. Much love,Lora Williams, Wofford HeightsCal.
Robin Wright
Oh how lucky you are. I hope this means there is still hope for my four girls, they too are millennials. My youngest loves quilt shows and choosing fabrics but that is as far it goes. My grand-daughter is very interested. She is 9 and we are starting our adventure as soon as school is out. Our family has so far gone the skip a generation way.
Karen Williams
i learned to sew before I started school & am still sewing, quilting & knitting 6+ decades later! My mother was part of that “skipped generation”, & my grandmother taught the ‘Idle Hands philospophy”, so I was the family seamstress. I think we all move thru various outlets for creativity – – at least until we find what feeds your soul; I went from hand embroidery to crochet & cross-stitch before discovering machine-embroidery & machine-piecing w/ hand-quilting. My advice for someone entering this marvelous hobby is to try to be organized right from the beginning & recognize that you need to be flexible as your supplies & space requirements grow — I know many of us constantly battle the clutter demons! I had 2 sons, so the interest in my hobby was minimal (some may say lonely for me), but i have hope that one of my DILs & possibly a grand-daughter (now w/ twin girls) will ask for lessons one day soon. I look forward to your daughters’ journeys.
Barbara
I am happy to follow along & I am sure to learn something that perhaps I’ve forgotten, plus it will be a fun activity.
Great news that you are moving forward with your talent–it feels as though a family member is becoming well known. For so long you were simply “Our Lori” but we all realized that we could not keep you for ourselves. Those quilters finding you now do not know the treat that is awaiting them.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!
Marta
Ditto and Amen!!
Jamie
4 Gen of women in my family quilt. However, my sister doesn’t. And I have sons. So unless they marry amazing women that are crafty and I can teach to quilt it will be lost after I go. My poor hubsand married into a crazy crafty family. I just did my first quilt for the Texas State Fair I hope it is a prize winner.
carol randall
boys/men can quilt, too. Look at Ricky Timms – he AND his dad started quilting the same week ( but didn’t know about it til later).
Maureen B. in B.C.
Oh Lori, what a gorgeous merry band of daughters … and they all have your smile. Lucky girls!
MargeP
Wonderful plan and I will definitely put my 2 cents in if I think it will be useable. How wonderful to have your daughters getting involved in your passion. I am sure they will do great. Neither my daughter or her daughters have gotten the bug, they just love what I make for them. LOL Looking forward to your new adventure!
Darlene Cary
Lori, this will be a great adventure for you. What a blessing, to have five daughters (I have three sons and, finally, one daughter but am grateful for all of them, whether they sew or not).
I have taught beginning quilting for many years and, hopefully, have helped many, many women become addicted to this wonderful art/craft. It’s my firm belief that every quilter, whether she’s experienced or not, should attend a beginner class. You learn so much that you just don’t get when you’re self-taught. Not that you can’t learn on your own — the Internet is a wonderful thing — but the comeraderie formed with other students in a class is a huge bonus.
There are hundreds of tips and tricks out there, the first one being that if you haven’t sewn before and can’t possibly sew a straight line, practice with an unthreaded machine and a piece of lined notebook paper. By the time you’ve “sewn” on every line, you can sew straight with no problem!
If you’d like to contact me privately, I’d be happy to supply any suggestions you might need. We’ve got to keep this addictive quilting habit alive!
~~Darlene
Sue
Hi Lori, I don’t know where I came from! Nobody in my family quilted or for that matter sewed! And having 3 sons I expect to always be alone in my obsession! But my boys and husband love quilts so it’s not all bad! Not to mention my cats 😀
Your daughters are adorable. Can’t wait to follow this!
Karin
Fun, fun, fun! I do sew with my three boys but they are so little it’s still me doing most of the work. My mom doesn’t sew either.
Pam
Love to see you’re taking on the next generation. I have no daughters, but granddaughters who are sewing like their mom and mema. Just don’t forget your Tuesday tutorials! I’m always so excited when you have a new one up to try.
Janette
How wonderful……so looking forward to this journey……self taught to quilt…my first quilt was a paper piece quilt called hearts a fire. Did it in red hearts, black and white background., while my husband was going through cancer treatment..Do remember a quilt when l was young, just not sure who made it. Have learned a lot from your blog and books. “Thank you”
Dea
I have two daughters. My grandmother had two daughters. We both have/had one daughter who loves to sew (mine a quilter) and one who hardly sews on a button. Go figure.
mjkasz
I have one who enjoys sewing and quilting. She make baby gifts for her medical co-workers. The other has no interest presently but I am hoping to encourage her 2 daughters to sew and maybe quilt as they grow older ( 1 & 5 now)
Theresa Stonecipher
You are so lucky. My daughter says quilting is too stressful for her. My mom started quilting around 70 years old so there is still hope. I learned to sew at 6 years old on a little brown singer exactly like the one in your photo. If that’s your first sewing machine we must be close to the same age.
Rosemaryflower
Family and friends ❤️ this is really what life is all about.
Sewing and making is so fun.
My mom let us use her machine (now mine, Singer 316G) since we were little kids, like 9 years old!!! We made a lot of nutty stuff, and crazy clothes, even a tent. She gave us old sheets, and just left over fabric. What a blast.
Both of my girls are capable of sewing. they know how to sew. They are very busy raising babies, and I have their machines here. We live close in distance.
Lori, I am so happy you are starting a sewing party. I am eager to follow along. Life is good, and we are so blessed
Rita
How exciting! So there is still hope for my 24 year old daughter?
I`d like to know how they became interested. I`d also like to know how best to guide my sister who is now interested in learning to quilt.
Kathy McLean
Lori – first of all, your daughters are all so pretty and what a happy day that must have been for you! My Grandma and Mom both sewed and taught me to sew at age 13 but neither of them quilted. I sewed all my life but didn’t start quilting until I was in my 50’s and now I am hooked on it, now in my mid-60’s. Unfortunately, my daughter does not enjoy sewing at all but does know how. There was a spark of interest from my granddaughter when she was littler but now has been replaced by sports. She is 14 now so there is still hope she will come back around. I truly enjoy your posts and I have taken a class from you and bought your books. You are such a treat!
Marta
How thrilling….5 more Lori’s who are each very individual and lovely. Thanks ladies for revealing your names and allowing us to share in your journeys. This endeavor will be great fun !
I have 2 daughters, one who cannot even sew on a button because her hands perspire (dermatologist explained it) and the other daughter wants to quilt after her young children are older. I am saving books, etc., for her. She sewed ballet recital costumes in high school on her own. There is one adult granddaughter who has fallen in love with embroidery and has sold a few pieces. Last week I proposed a collaboration with some of her embroidered blocks for my quilts…for pay !!
When I was a beginning quilter, I was talking about using thread I had inherited from my mom ( who sewed everything but quilts). A more mature quilter advised me re old thread. Take a 10-12 inch length of the thread in both hands, wrapped around fingers of each one. Pull as in tug of war game. If that thread breaks, it is too old to use in a quilt you expect to last any time for the future. Good advice !
Kerry Leach
What a super idea (and very pretty daughters you have) – having bungled along for a while until the internet became a mine of information, the thing that was lacking was a beginner learning the ropes. I look forward to brushing up on things I have missed and to learn more.
As for my family, my grandmother was a dab hand at everything, sewing, knitting, crochet, gardening. I still have a quilted toy blanket that she made for my toy pram, made on her treadle. I think her favourite medium was yarn though. My mother made clothes but never really enjoyed sewing. I think she was very good at it, but she likes knitting. My other grandmother I think knitted mainly. She had a lot of sons and worked full time (grandfather died aged 45) and never really had much time for anything else. Well I think the little ones kept her on her toes! She wasn’t as a prolific knitter as my maternal grandmother. Both my mother and her mother and myself are fairly arty – I think we were better at watercolour paintings. I haven’t done that in a while, but I still enjoy sketching.
I can knit but hopeless at crochet – I love all aspects of patchwork from piecing to quilting, I love hand sewing and quilting and only in recent years learnt more about machine sewing. Rubbish at first but the more I do, the more I improve (much to my OCD horror at missing points relief) and still more to learn – not done curves by machine yet. A little chicken at that I must admit!
I have tried to get my daughter interested, but while she loves picking out fabric, she just doesn’t want to sew. She has, however, knitted us a patchwork blanket! It is sewn together rather crudely, but I am so proud she kept it secret and actually finished something that she started. It has been on our bed ever since Christmas (over the top of my first completed patchwork quilt) and now we have had to take it off – too hot. Alpaca mixed with Merino yarn! I absolutely love it. Maybe I can brainwash – er I mean tempt the grandchildren if they ever happen along!
All the best to your young ladies – they’ll be having so much fun.
Carol C.
I am looking forward to this. I am mostly a self taught quilter so it is always good to go back over the basics and see what I may have missed or could do in a simpler way. My mom did not sew or quilt, I learned in home ec in high school and loved it from the start. My oldest daughter just started quilting. She asked me to teach her but I told her to go take classes at her shop and learn the correct methods.
You can certainly tell your beautiful daughters are sisters!
Cheryl Parker
I’ve taught beginning quilt twice at my church, and also taught my youngest son. Start with the piecing and accuracy. Don’t worry about the machine quilting until the piecing is learned. I piece on vintage straight stitch machines. Super straight stitches, and easy to operate and work with (unlike modern machines with all the computer stuff). I’ve never been good at free motion quilting (way too much practice time needed), but, have learned straight stitch machine quilting (along with hand quilting before that). Start with something small, for a quicker finish. Almost instant gratification, and, if free motion quilting is your goal, then, much easier to quilt, too. If they have their own homes, then, table runners or placemats are a great way to start.
Elizabeth
Yay for family quilting. My daughter can but has chosen crochet for her current creative outlet. In our house it is a good thing as I have the one sewing machine always available. Looking forward to being part of this adventure.
Susan
Wow ..glad to hear your daughters are ready to take the plunge..
My mom didn’t quilt..but she did stitch and knit
My daughters both stitch and one makes pocketbooks ..so there’s hope
Good luck to all of your beautiful girls
boe77
I have been teaching my granddaughters (13, 13, 10) how to piece. They are not here often, but we have managed to make two quilts, and the third one is in progress. It is hand appliqué, and with school out, it should get done this summer.
As you teach your daughters and share the progress, consider what is age appropriate and include hints for kids also. So far I have not let them use the rotary cutter. I am a little chicken in that area since they are not my kids and time is short.
Terri
How exciting, I have 3 daughters who enjoy my quilting but have no interest in doing it themselves. You have given all of us mama’s hope.
Martha
SEW exciting! My mom sewed but wasn’t a quilter (her mother made one top that I’m finishing 70 years later). My daughter has no interest. But I know several young women who are also interested in learning, so I”ll have them subscribe to learn with your daughters’ experiences. Thanks!
Chela's Colchas y Mas
This is exciting. I am only fours years into my quilting journey. I love designing and piecing but I have only FMQ small pieces, not my large quilts. I’m learning as I go, using blogs, YouTube, and books as resources. I have also found so many helpful people at quilt shops. I developed a friendship with the person who does my long arm. My sister is interested in learning how to quilt. The only piece of advice I have is have fun learning.
Sharon Decker
I have 3 daughters. The youngest is an enthusiastic, self-taught quilter. She has come to me with questions and for advice, but she has mostly learned on her own since she lives in Florida and I live in Illinois. The oldest lives in Pennsylvania and once told me she “was going to be rich and didn’t need to learn how to sew.” She is not rich but did spend 20 years in the military where her clothes were made for her. She has a couple of machines I have given her but doesn’t know how to thread them and hasn’t really tried. Her daughter is following in her footsteps. My middle daughter lives not far from me. She has made more than one quilt and is a wonderful sewist. However, as she states, she “is not a quilter” because she “does not do math.” I gave up arguing on that one. She also consults with me on occasion when she is “not quilting”..
Pat Knight
Quilting won’t die! What a great idea and I look forward to hearing about their adventures. Out of 12 grands, my 11 year old granddaughter is the only one, so far, who loves to sew. Let’s sll keep it going
Lori Hope
Lori, your pride and excitement absolutely jump off the page!! I’m excited to follow along, and contribute as I can. Although I’ve been quilting for years, I’ve never taken any formal classes: I get my information from you, your books, and a lot of googling.
My daughter started quilting shortly after I started (she’s always been crafty, so this was a no-brainer for her), and we have collaborated on a few gift quilts.
Can’t wait!!
Vivian Lewis
So happy to hear that your beautiful daughters are going to learn at the expert knee of their Momma! I learned about the sewing arts from my mother (not a quilter) who inspired the love of fiber in me. My grandparents were tailors. My sister has dabbled a bit and has done some quilting also, but I am the one obsessed! Hope to pass it onto the next generation sometime soon!
Carla
This is awesome! I’m definitely excited to follow along & know that your smart girls will add fun & humor to their trials along the way. My mom likes reminding me about a time when I referred to thread as string, saying the ‘machine ran out of string.’ & that I used to call the seam ripper, the ‘tool of disappointment’ as I was usually tearing out mistakes. My suggestion would be to start with a baby quilt. Cute prints to work with, can fussy cut characters/animals & since they are small they will feel accomplished completing an entire project sooner 🙂 good luck! Can’t wait!
Karen Ishii
What a great idea! I love it. You have beautiful daughters. I can’t wait. My youngest daughter showed an interest, I quickly took her to a quilt shop and bought her a machine. She has made her first quilt, a chevron quilt top, and itsi beautiful.
Christy
Exicited for you and the changes coming soon! I’ll be following along. -Christy from TX
Suellen Franze
Lori, this post has made me so happy! I am the fourth of five daughters, and our mother taught all of us to sew. She didn’t quilt (I know she would now, though), but she was an expert at garment making and embroidery. She made us fix our mistakes ourselves. You could cry all day, but you still had to do your own ripping and re-sewing. Now at age 72, I am grateful for that and for all she taught me. We five all loved all kinds of sewing and needlework all our lives. Now there are only two of us, and we are both avid quilters. I’ve learned a great deal about FMQ from you. Thank you!
worldpresscom986/GrandmaSue10
I am 76 and I can still hear the voice of my sewing teacher from high school telling me to rip. Also, I had a senior citizen neighbor, who influenced me to perfect my sewing. I am older now than she was then. May they both rest in peace.
Diane Watkins
Five daughters! Five quilters! Heaven!! What a wonderful legacy to pass on to future generations. I look forward to following their quilting journeys.
quilty2
This is great! My daughter has expressed interest so, perhaps, I can get her to quilt along with us! BTW, she calls me Momma Bear.
Thank you Lori.
Comments are closed.