Today’s featured quilter is Stacie! Stacie  blogs at NJStacie, and was nominated in the Favorite ROYGBIV Quilt category, and I think you will love learning more about Stacie, I did!

1. When did you begin quilting?

I think I made my first full-sized quilt in 2001 or 2002.  I had a bunch of fat quarters and an idea to make all Christmas presents.  I think the most daunting part of that project was machine-quilting it – I remember thinking about the logistics of it for ages before I actually put it through the machine.

2. Why do you quilt? 

I find quilting to (usually) be very relaxing.  I love playing with color and pattern and seeing what happens – it’s great to see how different a quilt looks with a change of color, or by using a large, dominant pattern.  I’d like to tell you that I quilt as a stash-busting exercise, but I find myself buying more fabric to supplement my current stash – you know, for completion of projects :)  Also, I love the finished pieces!  I give most of my quilts away, but the ones I have kept I use constantly, and I love seeing the wear and tear on them – the softening fabric, a frayed edge here or there….signs of use and love.

3. What is your favorite quilting tip? 

Oh, just one?  I would have to say it’s “don’t overthink it!” After all, it’s only quilting.  If something goes wrong, rip it out or figure out a way to work with it, but do not get stressed out about it, ever!  I do this for fun and pleasure, and if I find it’s making me crazy or frustrated then I am obviously doing something wrong.  We’re supposed to ENJOY our hobbies, right?

My quilt festival quilt (Rainbow Vortex) was a matter of most fortuitous timing!  I had recently picked up this rainbow bundle of Kona solids, with the only “rule” of use being that they could only be used with white or black fabric.  When I started seeing pictures of the red and white quilts from the Infinite Variety quilt show, I was instantly drawn to the vortex quilt.  I started thinking about making one and drafted it out a bit, playing with the measurements in order to maintain the “motion” of the quilt.  Combined with the Kona solids, I just knew I had to try it out as a rainbow quilt.  And I’m so happy that I did!  Having thought about the quilt and the process behind it for so long, when I finally sat down to make the quilt top, it only took a few days.

5. Do you sew other things? 

I do!  My grandmother taught me how to sew when I was 8 or so, and I’ve been sewing ever since.  I sew a lot of my own clothing – I’ve been making a lot of skirts lately, some dresses, a couple of blouses.  I sewed the under-dress for my knit wedding-gown.  I sew a lot of bags.  I’ve done some home-type sewing recently, as well: pillows, curtains, reupholstered chairs, that kind of stuff.  I like the math and spatial relations behind sewing.

6. Anything else you would like us to know about you? 

I’m a bookbinder and I teach bookbinding workshops – I have a book about bookbinding coming out next year.  I knit, weave, and spin yarn.  I love the Tour de France!  I’ve recently discovered that my default backing color for quilts is Kona “Tangerine”.  I want to make All The Things.

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Thanks for sharing Stacie! Over-thinking is a common hurdle for quilters…so many WIP’s could be blamed on over-thinking!

Have a great weekend,

Amy