Quilting with Gert

I have mentioned in previous posts how very talented my sister, Gert, is.

I have always wanted to make a denim quilt. I am not one who tosses things in the trash: I will use things somehow or take stuff to Goodwill. So when I found myself needing to get rid of several pairs of jeans, I thought, "Perfect! I'll make a quilt!"  I am not one that works well with patterns or knows the first thing about why things need to measure up exactly or that for a quilt to look good, the seams should match and at least strips/squares need to be the same length/size.  I had cut haphazard sizes of denim here and there and magically pieced them together...I tried to sew them together and my sewing machine didn't work. Yes, I actually did own a hand -me-down sewing machine.  It ended up needing work that was going to cost more than I was willing to spend - so it went to Goodwill. I am not a sewer (enter: Gert); Gert is. So she came up in May and saved the day.  And I have to say, it turned out quite nicely.

Quilt #1

So this week Gert ended up at my house for a couple of days and then I ended up going to Tucson (I was already planning to go....)...what better to do when we're together than to make another quilt?!  and another....and another. and another.  This time I actually measured the squares, cut them out carefully, then got frustrated waiting for Gert to sew, so I sat down, took a deep breath and I SEWED THE SQUARES TOGETHER.  All by myself! Honestly, I haven't sewed in a good 25 years....and I have to admit I have never enjoyed sewing, but it was kind of fun. I can proudly say I can sew a fairly straight line. And that's about it.  And sometimes straight is questionable. 

Gert kept the quilt on the right.

Carolyn chose this one as her own.

Gert had this cool fabric in her stash of stuff.
So we used it on the back of Carolyn's.

This is the one Elyse chose.

We owe a HUGE shout out to Cathy for lending us her sewing maching. I wonder if I could find a sewing machine at Goodwill....anyone have one they'd like to get rid of?! I'm inspired!  I have another quilt cut and ready to sew...