Appalachian History Appalachian History Course Project Slide Course Project Slide

ShowShowQuiltingQuilting

By: Sydney JohnsonBy: Sydney Johnson

8:20 Spring Block8:20 Spring Block

A Quilt Ripe for the Making..A Quilt Ripe for the Making..

I chose to make an American flag quilt for I chose to make an American flag quilt for several reasons. First, I thought it would several reasons. First, I thought it would be very fitting considering our current be very fitting considering our current situation in Iraq. Second, it provided a situation in Iraq. Second, it provided a great challenge. Going into this project, I great challenge. Going into this project, I realized that this quilt was going to take realized that this quilt was going to take tremendous time and effort, and I have to tremendous time and effort, and I have to admit– the promise of hard work and admit– the promise of hard work and dedication excited me. I wanted to dedication excited me. I wanted to produce a quilt that I could look back on produce a quilt that I could look back on and be proud of. In a sense, this project and be proud of. In a sense, this project was far more than just another school was far more than just another school assignment for me.assignment for me.

The quilting process begins by making “squares”. Squares are The quilting process begins by making “squares”. Squares are the patterns that you actually see on the quilt. All of the squares the patterns that you actually see on the quilt. All of the squares are eventually sewn into what my grandmother calls the “top”. A are eventually sewn into what my grandmother calls the “top”. A “top” is basically just a fancy word for the quilt without the warm “top” is basically just a fancy word for the quilt without the warm

lining added on. lining added on. Below are pictures of me making the squares for my quilt.Below are pictures of me making the squares for my quilt.

I never actually realized how time consuming quilting was until I sat down and made one for myself.

Sometimes the needle and thread gets stuck and you have to start all over. Being a beginner, this happened to me a lot, and I started to become frustrated, but I knew the end result would all be worth it.

The next step in the quilt making process is to cut out The next step in the quilt making process is to cut out the strips you wants to border the squares. To do the strips you wants to border the squares. To do this, you use a cutting board that is marked off to this, you use a cutting board that is marked off to

make measuring easier.make measuring easier.

I learned that this process is very challenging, and most of it requires that you use a tremendous amount of math skills. You have to be able to calculate the area of your quilt in order to make sure you prepare enough fabric to go all the way around the perimeter of your pattern. I soon realized that the phrase my mother always told me, “Math is necessary for even the simplest things” is actually true.

After all of the squares are assembled, it’s time to make After all of the squares are assembled, it’s time to make the “top”. To make the top, you have to sew the strips you the “top”. To make the top, you have to sew the strips you cut out to the squares and then sew the squares together cut out to the squares and then sew the squares together

with a sewing machine.with a sewing machine.

At first, I was very At first, I was very apprehensive about apprehensive about

using a sewing machine. using a sewing machine. Until recently, I hadn’t Until recently, I hadn’t used a sewing machine used a sewing machine

since I attempted to since I attempted to make clothes for my make clothes for my

Barbie dolls in the sixth Barbie dolls in the sixth grade. It may sound grade. It may sound

silly to state that I was silly to state that I was more sewing machine more sewing machine literate at a younger literate at a younger

age, but that’s how it is. age, but that’s how it is. Here is a picture showing Here is a picture showing

my immediate concerns my immediate concerns about getting my hands about getting my hands

near a needle that near a needle that moves faster than my moves faster than my grandmother drives on grandmother drives on

the highway.the highway.

Can’t you see the tension in my shoulders and the worry in my eyes? My mother got a kick out of this picture.

Sewing the squares together proved to be a whole lot easier Sewing the squares together proved to be a whole lot easier than I had previously thought. It turns out that it only took me than I had previously thought. It turns out that it only took me

two days to sew the top together. The following week was two days to sew the top together. The following week was what took the longest. I had to make sure that all of the what took the longest. I had to make sure that all of the

squares lined up and that the American flag was pinned on squares lined up and that the American flag was pinned on straight. I then sewed the warm lining in and put the straight. I then sewed the warm lining in and put the

decorative backing onto the top. decorative backing onto the top.

As I stated earlier, the sewing machine was more intimidating

than anything. It was actually fun once I got the hang of it.

The final step after sewing the backing on was to The final step after sewing the backing on was to do some decorative tie stitches on top to ensure do some decorative tie stitches on top to ensure that homemade look. I never thought the day that homemade look. I never thought the day

would come when I would finally be able to would come when I would finally be able to stretch the quilt over my couch and take my stretch the quilt over my couch and take my

picture beside of it.picture beside of it.

Finally, after nearly a month of working on this quilt, I Finally, after nearly a month of working on this quilt, I could spread the final product out and get the “golden could spread the final product out and get the “golden

picture” of me beside of the complete project.picture” of me beside of the complete project.