what I needed was a mum
2009
Yay! The log cabin cushion is finished. On the sofa. Being utterly squashed by Abby. Good thing the inserts are feather – they plump up so beautifully.
However, this lovely cushion is only complete and comfy because Mum finished it for me. Yep. By 6.30am I was on the back porch, morning sun twinkly, cup of tea by my side, quilting away cheerfully. I added the backing cheerfully. Cut the binding cheerfully – I decided to bind the raw edges rather than sew the pieces right sides together and turn out, ’cause I thought the binding would give the cushion a nice edge – almost like piping. Sewed the binding on the wrong side cheerfully. Sewed the binding down on the right side … not so cheerful.
I may have some skill when it comes to some stitchy things, but exquisite precision is just not one of them. Mum, however, has the gift of exquisite precision. She looked over at my binding. “Hmmm … ” she said, “I do like the idea of the binding but it looks crap the way you’ve done it – it’s so crooked!” Yeah – like an 16th of an inch out here and there – but she was dead right. It looked crap. Wail! So she said what all good mums would say … “You unpick it, then whilst you tidy up the table, the pew, the floor, the kitchen and do the dishes, I’ll fix it.”
Oh she’s good. Awesomely good. I ripped it off and got to work. She reattached – with exquisite precision. She trimmed the edges – with exquisite precision. She sewed the binding down on the right side – with exquisite precision. My mum is a gem.
And I worked really hard too – I created all this lovely clean space – which the two of us then filled up over the course of the day as we stitched and patched and quilted together. I looked out the kitchen window this evening and laughed. This morning the table had been dressed in scraps of spring and flowers and soft and sweet. Tonight, just as cluttered, it sings of bright little boys, rampantly exotic beach blankets, and the silvery black elegance of halloween. How a day can change :-)
And all it needed was the firm push of a mum. Thank you my marvellous mum! See how appreciative I am – I let her have first go of my spooky, new quilting gloves. After I made her lick her fingers clean.
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What a great mum! I just love the way that binding looks. Can you please tell me how you did it?
I need to remember to wear my gloves, I just start quilting and forget to put them on. I still need to practice coordinating my foot with my hands;)
Debbie
Just found your blog- glad I did!
Your mom is a gem, a gem in quilting gloves:)
Isn’t it fun to have a passion you share with your mother. I miss mine but she left me with her gifts. Not that I am precise like she was but I have a healthier bit of color and style. Together we would have made a perfect pair much like you and your mom. Too bad I started really quilting a lot after she left the earth. But I think she sees my work.
how wonderful to have your mum nearby to help. my gram is the most amazing quilter but she is 1500 miles away… love your blog! xo