somewhere to sit
2010
It’s not quite Sofa Cosy Chapter 3 … but it’s certainly in front of the sofa!
When you’re 12 and you want to chill out in the family room … reading, drawing, sewing dolly clothes, watching a film or some tellie with mumma and dada, playing a bit of Mario, or creating noisy chaos with the dogs … you don’t want to sit all prim and proper on the sofa. You want to sprawl on the floor. And a bit of extra comfort wouldn’t go astray. Thus – a long promised beanie cushion.
Made from a quilt top I pieced last year. Quilted on to a thrifted blanket. Backed with some nice heavy linen/cotton. Held shut with some velcro. Bound with some new Momo.
Why has it taken so many months of procrastination? Well … I was convinced it would be tricky and time consuming. And you know – it was time consuming but not awfully tricky. I think I have become too brainwashed by all those book titles out there – Quick Knitting, Quilt in a Weekend, Crafting When You Have No Time. Do you know what? That’s not my kind of crafting and personally, I don’t find it’s particularly satisfying crafting, nor do you always wind up with something that you truly love, is meaningful, and worthy of your time and effort.
Now, that’s not meant to sound all high and mighty – and I’m just as fond of saying, “It knitted up super quick!” or “It came together in an afternoon” as the next person. And quick is sometimes really necessary and good. But its not the sole criteria upon which to judge what project we should tackle next. Materials are too expensive and time too precious to just keep whipping ‘em out, rather than relishing, celebrating, exploring, growing … I’m ready to enjoy sliding backwards slowly, how ’bout you?
I saw a new knitting book the other day, and the author declared, she wasn’t interested in quick knitting. Nope. Quick knitting is simplistic, repetitive and a dependence upon it will result in limited skills and the vanishing of hundreds of years of exquisite, time-consuming, detailed skills. I say – Here! Here!
Yep – we are all busy. We all have much to do and many other demands to meet during our days, but I do truly believe … if it’s worth doing, it’s worth taking the time to really enjoy the process, explore what you can do, and love the finished product. And, I think if we slow down and take our time, test our skills, add new ones, and really think about what we are doing and why; our lives won’t feel as rushed and demanding. It will give us time to breathe, to ponder, to put thought into every stitch.
So .. I pulled out one of the quilting books that was looked at for five seconds after it arrived from Amazon and never opened again.
I sat in the sun in the sitting room with a cup of tea and slowly looked, studied, read and thought. I chose a design that wasn’t too taxing and marked other more complicated ones for practising on cushion covers.
The quilting came together sweetly and with each square, I got that little bit better. There I sat, in my little sewing shed, listening to a mesmerising radio program analysing and playing the piano concertos of Brahms, and snailed my way up and down. It was very satisfying. Then I began the cushion back – had a momentary thought of “argh! don’t know how! too many steps! too long!” – firmly banished them and set to work. Bit by bit, step by step it came together with such a sense of achievement.
Onto the inside – an old flannel sheet, sewn with French seams, filled with those dreadful beans, and sewn FIRMLY shut. ‘Cause I need to be able to take off the cover and wash it. When it was finally done, and the beans stuffed inside – I was as giddy as Anne at the thought of being allowed to host her very own afternoon tea party!
Abby was dragged from her bedroom and made test it out. Oh it looks so cheery and cosy! And, according to Abby, is so very comfy.
And so greatly yearned for by the doggies. They just cannot understand WHY it isn’t theirs.
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I love the fabrics you chose. Makes it so lovely and comfy and fun.
That is totally gorgeous! And the ZOO fabric, fantastic!! Very clever.
You continually WOW me with your good taste and talent. And I so agree about taking your time, not that I would know since I haven’t the skill to knit or quilt at any speed, but I am always telling my son “good things take time and are worth waiting for.”
This cushion is great!
I think my daughters would love me to make one!
And I totally agree with you about quick projects, they are fun to make, but do not give the same satisfaction. It is the same things about reading books.
What a beautiful bean cushion!! OH, vastly better than the yellow behemoth that came to live at our house at Christmas. It’s gorgeous! The dogs love our big yellow one too — they are sad that they don’t get more access. I laughed out loud at your comment about the books from Amazon. Guilty as charged. THAT is a good book, isn’t it? Common sense ideas, well broken down. I completely agree with you about dashing out projects. That’s not the point of why I do it although sometimes that is the method. Cheers!
I absolutely love it! What “beans” did you use?
Sometimes quick and easy is good, but part of what I love about quilts is the time & effort that goes into doing something I love. One of my favorite books is Marsha McCloskey’s Feathered Stars, subtitled “Really hard quilts that take a long time to Make.”!!! I enjoy your fabric choices too. Nice work getting noticed in Craft Gossip!
AHHHH – I have been hauling two HUGE bags of the ‘beanies’ I got on sale probably 6 months ago with the intention of making such a cushion for the DOGS! I was just concerned about the beanies getting loose. DUH – you’re so right – french seams to keep them corralled – and a lovely cover. Thanks so very much!!!!
Fantastic. Isn’t it amazing when we put stumbling blocks ahead of us and then we realize it was silly. I am very intrigued by this book. Anyway the outcome is wonderful.
oh I NEED that book – it looks amazingly brilliant! I am also very guilty of flicking through a book and adding it to the shelves. They always look nice up there, though…and it seems one day they might just come in useful.
That is quite wonderful – and it does look like you might have to make at least another for a doggie or 2, doesn’t it?
That is BEAUTIFUL. I love that the colors are so dynamic from far away, and the print close up is adorable in it’s own right. Sometimes a little procrastination is just what you need…it comes out over time, which makes it maybe a little more precious…
it is so very lovely! but oh, those poor pups. really, it must be tantamount to torture for them. what a cushion!
WOW!!! I’m lovin’ it!! ~karen
Wow! this is utterly charming…those pretty colors, perfect prints, doggies’ little paws wanting to own Abby’s cushion… LOVE!
Yes, it is really very satisfying to take the time to do things rather than rushing them to finish sooner even though we crave for that instant gratification sometimes.
Great thoughts you’ve shared. I am not a fast sewer and I like to take my time on a project, though I’ve certainly busted through to a deadline! Thank you for reminding us that the process is to be enjoyed.
Wonderful work on the cushion, it will obviously be loved and used (by more than one!) I really like that book, will have to make note of it since I seem to be stuck only in the “giant stipple” phase of machine quilting.
that is a lot of work, but it is the prettiest floor cushion i’ve ever seen.