THE QUILT NOTEBOOK: AN ORGANIZER AND MORE
Over the last several weeks of our Quilt Notebook series, we have concentrated on organization. We started a Quilt Notebook HERE to hold all of the information about our quilts. We made a complete list of all our ongoing projects HERE, and then we established priorities HERE. We are currently working on our Big Three quilts HERE and many of you have made great headway already–Congratulations!
GROWING AS A QUILTER
Today, we are going to change directions a bit and look at skill development. Over the next few weeks we are going to establish a system for continual improvement. In order to improve our quilting skills we must first make an honest assessment of where we are today and then decide what techniques are important for us to acquire.
Your assignment for this week: Look back at your last three to five completed quilts and ask yourself these things:
- What new techniques did I use in this quilt? If you are a beginner quilter, the new techniques may include accurate cutting and straight line piecing. If you are more advanced, the skills might include hand dyeing fabric and pattern design.
- Are there any techniques employed in this quilt that still require more practice?
- Does this quilt demonstrate mastery in any aspect of quilting? You might want to grade this on a scale of 1-5.
- Was there a technique that was difficult in the execution of this quilt–needs improvement?
- Was there some aspect of quilting I avoided in this quilt because I wasn’t sure how it was done? For example, did you use corner blocks because you don’t know how to miter a corner?
When you are doing this exercise, consider every step of the process, from pattern and fabric selection to binding and labeling.
THE QUILT NOTEBOOK
In your quilt notebook, create two lists: Mastered Skills and Techniques to Try.
On the Mastered Skills page, make a list of all the skills that you have acquired (A grade of 4 out of 5 or better). Include skills with which you are comfortable and look great in your quilt. (It doesn’t have to rise to the level of perfection, just quite good). Include the name of the quilt that demonstrates your mastery, and the date. It will be interesting to watch this list grow over months and years!
On the Techniques to Try page, create a list of skills that you are interested in learning. As you see new techniques, add to your list. Whenever you find a great example or tutorial of any of these skills, make notes on this page. Include websites, articles, books, etc for further reference. (You might consider a “Techniques to Try” board on Pinterest.) I’m going to add one today…
Now go back to your Big Three Works in Progress and write down the techniques and skills required in each of these quilts. If you are an advanced quilter, you don’t need to include the basic skills like accurate piecing- just include the skills that are somewhat challenging for you. The skill may be as simple as improved efficiency at chain piecing.
THE CHALLENGE
In order to constantly improve and develop our skills, we must try new techniques and be methodical in our efforts. The Techniques to Try page in your Quilt Notebook will help you think about and organize your skill development. It will also help you establish goals. To advance those goals:
- Try at least one new technique in every quilt.
- Try to improve your skill at one “old” technique in every quilt-better execution or improved efficiency.
- Choose quilts that challenge you a little.
- Use your quilting “free time” (when you aren’t working on The Big Three) to practice and experiment.
- Use your web-browsing and Pinterest time to research the techniques.
OPEN LINE FRIDAY
On Open Line Friday this week, I would like to have a discussion about The Essential Ten–skills every quilter must master and I would like YOUR input on choosing the most important basic quilt skills…
Tomorrow: It’s time for another Tuesday Tutorial and we’re going to rock a little green leaf..
Till next time…
Lori
NOTE-The Folk Art Quilt featured today is one of my very first quilts, circa 1998. Techniques used: Hand applique, Machine piecing, Hand quilting…
PS…All information, tutorials and images are property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog and Pin with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other uses, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Muchas Gracias!
