Sewing Photo By Bruce Turner
How awesome is it that for our Digital Learning Course we get to explore an area where we want to learn something new or expand our knowledge in! After reading about this assignment, my mind starting think of all the possibilities that I could explore and do! Immediately, my mind went to sewing and quilting! This is an area where I want to learn more. Quilting these days seems to be a favorite past time of many! There are several quilt shops in our area, tons of ideas on Pinterest and to do be honest, I have a collection of patterns and projects that I have purchased in the “hopes” of completing someday!
Pictures of some of my completed projects. Photos by me.
I first started to sew a couple of year ago. Growing up, my parents were busy with children, work and life, so teaching me how to sew was not a priority on their list. Being inspired by the quilt shop in our area and other quilters, I wanted to learn! I took a beginners sewing class at our local quilt shop to help me learn the basics. I instantly fell in love and was hooked to be sitting at a sewing machine and piecing together fabric. I was able to purchase a sewing machine, cutting mat and rotary cutter for my sewing projects. Many people ask, “Why would you buy a yard of fabric, cut it up into little pieces and then sew it all back together again?” I just smile and say, “Because its fun and it can be challenging to do!” I made my first quilt, it was a row quilt. Very simple strips and piecing and I tied it together. I was so proud of my accomplishment! Then I have made a couple of quilts and always ready to make another! I have also made a few pillows and hand sewing projects. I found that hand projects are more flexible, as I could sit on the couch or take them into the car on road trips. For the past few years, my hobby has gone away or like in blog we read, gone asleep! So I am beyond thrilled to try a new sewing pattern and devote some time into making a project and rekindle and awaken my love for sewing and hand projects!
Quilting and sewing is something that I want to teach my daughters how to do. I would like to teach them the basics and if they are not interested in sewing, that is fine. My husband and I have always wanted to expose our children to an array of experiences in life. Everything from sewing, cooking, fishing, carpentry to how to maintain their cars. In addition, it is my personal goal to make quilts for my daughters. I would like to create them as heirlooms for our family and its my goal that they would pass them down to their children. Likewise, another goal is to make quilts for my nieces and nephews when they arrive in our families. I am a little behind, as I have three!
Opportunities like these will only help myself and my classmates grow as students. By allowing for time to explore our areas of interest, we will continue to learn, play and help put a focus on our long term goals in life. I am excited to start this project and I am also excited to read what my peers are seeking to learn from this experience.
JaimeBurkink 
Jaime, I am so glad you are getting to pursue a path you have wanted but not had enough time for! Opportunities like these should be made more available to us in our daily lives, and they are! We just feel there is something more pressing that steers us another way, but not this semester! I would actually suggest, since you have two hours every week, you could shadow at one of your local quilt shops to learn some tips and tricks to help you with your own projects!
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Thanks Avery for your comments to my blog post. I am excited to get started with my sewing projects. You are right, opportunities like these should be more available to us, its exciting that we can during this semester.
Thanks Jaime
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Hi Jaime! I commented on your tweet about your project but I like your blog as well. I think this would be a great thing to learn because there is so much you can do with it. Personally, I do not enjoy sewing because I always get frustrated with the machine but my older sister LOVES it!
Good luck!
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Thanks Christa for comments to my blog post. I have also been frustrated with the sewing machine, so I just take a break and come back with fresh eyes! 🙂 I am glad that your sister likes to sew. What does she like to sew, clothes or quilting?
Jaime
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She mainly likes quilting but will fix clothes when needed!
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That is so nice that she can fix clothes, its amazing how some clothing can need repair!
Jaime
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I think that it is awesome that you want to learn how to sew and quilt. I think that it is a craft that used to be done a lot more and we need to be teaching the next generation how to do it. Teaching your daughters how to do it is going to create quality time together and also teaching them a skill that they will be able to use forever. My parents were also very busy growing up because they were constantly taking us to practice, games, school, and they worked on top of it. I always enjoyed the times I got to spend with my parents. My mom taught me how to play cards and my dad taught me how to play golf. I still love doing these activities with them. Sewing and quilting with your daughters as you get older will be great memories. I love the idea!
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Thanks Tate for your comments. I am excited to start my new sewing project! I am also excited to share the time with my daughters and teach them some basics too.
Jaime
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Jamie I love that you put so much thought into what you want to do for your independent learning project! I grew up with a grandmother who runs a drapery and quilting business and I have always been fascinated with what she is capable off. A few years ago my mom got a long arm quilting machine and I love to experiment with it! Good luck and have fun! I can’t wait to see what you create!
Brittney
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Thanks Brittney for your nice comments. I am jealous that your mom has a long arm quilting machine! I think that would be so much fun to experiment with! Are you also a quilter?
Jaime
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What a wonderful project! My mom is a quilter–though I think she likes collecting fabric best of all! I have never really learned to sew and never considered it because I like hobbies that are a little more flexible and portable. I’d never thought of hand sewing. Brilliant! I might look into that. I’d love something I could do while sitting on the couch being present for boring tv shows that I don’t really want to watch but that my son really wants me to watch! Your completed projects are really nice–I love that row quilt. Are you familiar with the quilts of Gee’s Bend? I just read a nonfiction picture book about them–a community of women who quilt in Alabama and have a distinctive quilting style. If you Google Gee’s Bend quilts, you’ll see tons of cool images.
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I have never heard of Gee’s Bend quilts! I will look them up! Thanks! You will have to look into hand projects! The possibilities are endless!! Wool felt projects are really popular right now and fun to work on! Jaime
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I think that it is really cool that you want to teach your daughters to quilt. My mom taught me to sew when I was younger and it has always been a helpful skill throughout my life. I think that teaching your kids and encouraging your students to learn different and new tings helps them grow so much, not just in their skills but also how they see the world.
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Thanks William for your comments! I think that it is awesome that your mom taught you how to sew! I almost think that sewing has become a lost art! I am excited to teach my girls to sew, and if they enjoy it and want to continue on when they get older that great and if not, thats okay too! Jaime
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