Slow Down

One thing I've been trying to do with my quilting is slow down, be more thoughtful, and enjoy the process, philosophies with which I still struggle. I'm a get-it-done person, obviously, but I'm also aware that the number of years I'll be able to quilt by hand are dwindling. Also, pandemic-think. Whenever I start a project lately there's a little voice in the back of my mind muttering, "Am I even going to live long enough to finish this?"

After searching for some books on putting the brakes on my quilting process, and hopefully in the process soothe my nerves, I decided to invest in Cheryl Arkison's A Month of Sundays. The author is as much a writer as a professional quilter, and she embraces low-volume fabrics and projects that are family-oriented and deceptively simple. Although the book offers directions for sixteen different quilted and sewn projects (eight quilts, a couple bags and some other inventive things), the thoughtful writing in between the instructions is just as interesting. The book reads more like her blog, and provides insight into Ms. Arkison's process.

The photography and instructional aspects of the book are excellent, and I enjoyed reading the author's take on this type of quilting. She really explained low-volume fabrics to me in a way that I think I finally get why certain quilters love them. I think for someone who judges national quilt conference contests and does a lot of teaching she's also quite laid back and her writing style is soothing, even comforting. The problem I have with most professional quilters is how they've raised the bar so much that the trends have become utterly intimidating to beginners and makers with limited skills like me. Not so in A Month of Sundays; I felt I could easily make just about every project in the book.

My one criticism is also a back-handed compliment: for many reasons this felt more like a book for a stay at home mom with little kids (possible because the author wants to target that segment of the quilting community) and not really geared toward me as an older quilter. Yet I think younger women are who we most need to interest in quilting in order to keep this art alive, so I approve of the slant. Also, I have a grandson now, and I am thinking about childhood-friendly quilting all the time, so maybe I should be looking more in this direction and stop being so wrapped up in my old lady nonsense. :)