A Starting Point

How a bundle of fabric reminded me that I don't need everything sorted before I begin.

My fabric bundle arrived this week for the Great Granny quilt.

The quilt is intended to coordinate with the Emma Bridgewater (I collect her mugs and dinnerware) Tulips Pink Roman Blinds. I sent Fox’s Cottage Quilt Shop in Foxton (my fav quilt shop!!) a colour brief based on the blinds and asked them to choose the fabrics for me.

The colours I suggested were soft blush pinks, rose pinks, raspberry and burgundy reds, sage and leaf greens, with just a touch of plum and aubergine. My rough plan was for the quilt to be about 40% cream (already covered by Kona Snow), 20% pinks, 20% reds, 15% greens and 5% plum and purple.

Opening the parcel was such fun. There were several fabrics I probably wouldn’t have picked myself, but together they work beautifully. I was genuinely thrilled with what they chose.

The best part is that I didn’t spend anything. The bundle was paid for with a gift voucher and accumulated shop rewards that had been sitting there waiting to be used. FUN!!

The truth is that I find choosing colours overwhelming. Not because I don’t know what I like, but because I can see too many possibilities. I start wondering if the pink should be softer, the green should be darker, or whether I should reorganise the entire stash before starting another scrap quilt.

Having the quilt shop choose a starting palette for me has been surprisingly freeing.

The funny thing is that as soon as the parcel arrived, I stopped thinking about organising and started thinking about sewing.

I’ve realised I don’t actually need to sort every scrap I own before I begin. I just need somewhere to start.

These fabrics are that starting point.

I spent a wonderful few hours pulling fabrics from my stash and scrap baskets, looking for pieces that sit comfortably beside them. Rather than organising everything, I’ve simply started making three working piles: lights, mediums and darks. It feels much more achievable than trying to tackle the entire sewing room.

I actually have two quilts I plan to make at once, one is based on Lori Holt’s Great Granny quilt. The other scrappy quilt is a Duckworth modified log cabin. My thread is already chosen too: Aurifil 50wt Natural White 2021. I am a thread snob I only use Aurifil!

Outside it was wet and cold for most of the day. Inside I spent the afternoon spreading fabrics across the table, moving them around, and listening to The Calamity Club. (If you’ve read The Help, it’s by the same author and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.)

My stash is still completely unsorted.

But for the first time in over 6 months I’m thinking about sewing. It’s good to put storm clean up on hold for a day and today, Saturday I begin my quilt… the weather has cleared and we should be splitting wood, but we both have said we need a day off.

Love Leanne