Every step in making a quilt is a little step closer to a finish. But there is 'finished' and then there is 'finished, finished'. Too often in the past I'd breath a satisfied sigh when I'd taken the last stitch in the binding, then I'd put the quilt down and never get the other little finishing tasks done. I now consider a quilt to be finished when it is named, labelled, has a hanging mechanism, and is documented and photographed.
When I talk to other quilters and artists, each has a least favourite part of the process of making their work. For some it's the cutting out, others hate binding. Some claim they don't dislike ANY part - but I'm sure they're telling fibs! I bet there is one thing they they always put off, even if just for five minutes...
My least favourite bit varies. Quite often it's the photography. I'm getting better at it, and I've got lights now, which make the whole process easier. But it's just so much faffing around! I'd much rather sew, or dye, or audition fabrics, or anything else really. I can't say that sewing labels or hanging sleeves has ever made my heart sing, but I actually quite enjoy hand stitching binding on, when I know it makes many people groan!
Anyway, this last week, my least favourite bit has been the naming of quilts. I'm trying to come up with a name for my lastest finish.
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| Untitled as yet by Charlotte Scott 36cm x 55cm |
This quilt is relatively small and was started with offcuts from the larger quilt that I'm working on.
(In case you were wondering about my '
restart my making mojo' process that I was going through - well, it was a success! I've been working away steadily, and now it's just the usual challenges, like time managment etc)
Here's the larger quilt still in progress:
This one will need a name at some point too, but at present its working name is The Heron Maiden quilt (the HM quilt). Have you ever read any of the classic
Japanese folk stories about cranes turning into women to return the favour of being rescued from a trap? I've been telling myself those stories as I've been making the quilt, but twisting them into tales about a New Zealand white-faced heron turning into a maiden, then turning back into a heron after she loses her love, or perhaps after she tires of him, depending on how I feel on the day.
Can you see how the nameless quilt has connections to the HM quilt? The branch in the nameless quilt is the cut-away background of the branch in the bottom right of the HM quilt, and the heron is a third, brighter, version of the two herons behind the girl. The overlay of silk organza on nameless is the same piece of fabric that is used in the sky of the HM quilt. So they are nicely related.
But here is where you come in, dear reader! I'm at a total loss for a name for the untitled quilt and I'm hoping you'll help. Hit me with your ideas and help spark my naming mojo! Just as a little incentive, I'll do a random draw from all the people who leave me a suggestion in the comments section below and I'll send the winner a bundle of my hand-dyed fat quarters (and I'll send it anywhere in the world too). You'll need to be a reply-enabled commentor or add your email address to your comment so I can get in touch if you're the lucky drawee. I'll give you a week, so will be drawing on Saturday 21 April 9pm NZ time.
Please help me out, and join in the fun! Names can be as silly or as deep and meaningful as you like, but I'd love to hear from you.
COMMENTS NOW CLOSED. Thanks for all your help!!
