Fearless first quilt block

by Annemart Berendse

A little bit late perhaps, but as my agenda was a too full with going to Paducah for the promotion of my book, I had no time of focusing on other things. Now I am back I have time for quilting and time for a post here!

My first patchwork was done on a Saturday night in 2001. On Saturday I went with my mother-in-law (MIL) to a quilt shop. My MIL was an avid quilter and wanted to make a quilt for me. She took me with her to select the colors. She came out of the shop with a bag full of fabrics for a quilt, and I came out with 5 FQ and no idea where to start.

My MIL promised to teach me how to make a nine patch the next day. That Saturday night I surfed the Internet and found an eight pointed star. I thought that would be way better than a nine patch! No idea what to do or where to begin, I started and finished the block that same evening. On the picture it is the blog upper right. And it has always been that way. When I am convinced that this is what I like, then I just start and see what happens. I love to be exploring!

The quilting stitches in this quilt are closer to 6 stitches on an inch, and very irregular. And I was certainly not convinced that that would ameliorate in the near future. That was 2001. In 2003 I had my first quilting class and learned the technique to make regular fine stitches. I was lured to it like a duck to water when I felt my natural stitch!

I still keep my first blocks as a proof of my learning curve. And just being back from Paducah, presenting my first book and giving an online hand quilting class for WKCTC, and now here, writing about my first block, makes me aware of where I came from. That's a great start of the day! Thanks for the opportunity!

Have fun quilting!
Annemart