Why do we quilt or knit? Why do we create?

We just sent out another email newsletter from our website. I try to do this email every Friday and feature some of the products that we have on our website.

In addition, I like to do a conversational type letter for my customers, sort of a "chatty Cathy" communication. Sometimes it is about the weather; sometimes about family; often about the benefit of quilting and knitting. Anyone can sign up for the newsletter by accessing the signup page on our website, http://www.quiltinpigeon.com/.

But what I'd like to write a bit about today is why we quilt and knit. Most of us, men or women, really don't need to sew or knit. But lots of us came out of a heritage of making things and of making do. I think about the carpet rags that my mother and grandmother sewed. Clothing was torn into strips, folded just a certain way, ends were sewn together, and the long strip was wound into a ball. Those balls went to a weaver who made rag rugs for us.

After my husband and I married, when we would come home for a visit, my mother-in-law (or was it his grandma who would do this?) would ask if we needed a rug. She'd get out the huge roll of rag rugs, cut one or two off, and show us how to knot the ends. We'd have a wonderfully serviceable new rug to take back to our college apartment. Well, those days of needing to do rag balls are gone (although I can think right now of at least two people who still weave rugs right here in our part of Michigan!).

So, if we don't need to make things for utility and usefulness, why do we create? Let me take a stab at answering that question.

Some of what draws me to fabrics and yarns is the color. I love the depth of color in wool. I love the play of color of one fabric against another and another. I love scrappy quilts that have oodles of fabrics and yet a sense of wonderful color play.

I'm drawn by the technical skill that I have developed in both quilting and knitting. As a knitter, I'm constantly trying to hone finishing skills. I want my sweaters to be professional looking, yet hand done. As a quilter, I derive great pleaure from blocks that fit together with little fudging. I'm always pleased by miters that work, by binding that is even and runs true.

I'm drawn to both quilts and knits by the design possibilities. How can there be so many ways of putting simple geometric shapes together? Quilting captures that essence of multiplicity. How can two needles and one strand of yarn be the basis for so many stitches and surface textures and ways to increase, decrease, cable, and more?

Most of all, when I'm quilting or knitting for myself, I get lost in my work. I knit with abandon, sometimes forgetting to stand up and stretch every half hour. Especially in the morning with a cup of coffee, NPR on the radio, my Ott light over my shoulder, and the sun not up yet, I'm lost in the knitting.

With quilting, everytime I can pull up to my sewing machine and just piece is like a little vacation for me. Maybe I don't even finish a task. Still, the routine of the sewing, pressing, cutting is like a mantra that soothes and pleases.

How about you? Do you think much about why these two artforms give you satisfaction? I can come up with more reasons and so can you. How blessed we are as humans to be able to create!

Third Quilting Book Sent to Printer

Whew! Graywood's third quilting book, Potholder Play, was sent out to the printer yesterday. We made our deadline! Now we'll see the first proofs early next week. Our preparation for the proofing stage has been careful and this is our third book. Hopefully, we'll have a minimum of changes and can move to the blueline stage right away.

Our books are marketed at Quilts, Inc.'s International Quilt Markets which are held twice a year. At the three day Market we meet with customers, take orders, display our products, network with other supplier to the quilting industry, and get a sense of where the industry is going. Many shops throughout the U.S. and Canada carry our books and patterns. In addition, our products can be purchased through our website, http://www.quiltinpigeon.com

So, what happens next is this. We see actual color printouts of all the pages and covers. We make corrections and additions; we try to catch any color correcting of photos that we know will be needed. Our changes are overnighted to the printer; they send another proof. The process goes on until everything is right. Then we see a final blueline proof and approve the printing.

If all goes well (and it should) our third quilting book will be here in mid-May. That will be quite an accomplishment -- three books since May of 2006. Can you tell I'm proud of the work?!