The Writer’s Block–Quilts and More with Author Patrick Craig

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A Quilt for Jenna, Amish romance, Author Catherine Castle's Quilt blog, Author Patrick Craig, quilts, Rose of Sharon quilts, The Writer's Block--Quilts and More

An Amish Quilting Story From a Man?

I have to admit, when Patrick contacted me about being on The Writer’s Block–Quilts and More, I was curious. Quilting is, after all, mainly a woman’s craft. Writing Amish romance usually is, too. Then when I received Patrick’s post, I was even more intrigued at the pattern he chose for his heroine to make–A Rose of Sharon.

Since the book cover doesn’t really show a Rose of Sharon pattern, here are a couple of sites where you see the block and get free patterns:

http://www.patternsfromhistory.com/bible_quilt/bible_rose.htm

http://www.quiltviews.com/free-rose-of-sharon-table-runner-pattern-by-sharon-pederson

Now, let’s find out how a Patrick became a quilt lover and Amish romance writer.

Many of my readers have asked me how I came to write a whole romance novel about quilting.  It’s a strange and wonderful story.  The whole adventure came about when Nick Harrison, my editor at Harvest House Publishers, challenged me to send him a story idea. He told me he liked Amish stories and quilting stories. Now I knew nothing about the Amish or about quilting—absolutely nothing.  I had never read an Amish fiction novel, and I had never seen a quilt made or even seen the tools.  But I heard opportunity knocking and was determined to answer the door.

So I got on Google.  I studied everything I could find—I dove into it with abandon. As I read about it, my character’s studio became very real to me.  I could see the frame, the bolts of material, and her needles.  I could see the special rocking stitch she used.  I even saw her leather thimble.

Finally, I started my first chapter. In the story Jerusha finds very special silk material hidden away in an old chest.  Now the Amish never use silk, but Jerusha was determined to do something unique.  I wrote this line:  As she rode home she began to see the design for the quilt in her mind, and for the first time in months she felt her spirits lift.  And amazingly I began to see the design for the quilt in my own mind.

I saw a beautiful blood red rose centered on a royal blue silk square background. The backing was cream-colored and there would be over 90,000 stitches. The story began to flow out of me.

The royal blue pieces made a dark, iridescent backdrop.  The rose had hundreds of parts, all cut into the flowing shapes of petals.  The quilting pattern was the most complicated she had ever done, but she traced it out, grateful for the means to occupy her mind and keep the thoughts of Jenna from overwhelming her.  Then she laid out the cream-colored backing, placed a double layer of batting on top of it and over it all, she placed the ironed patchwork piece that she had developed over the past month.  She carefully basted the layers together, starting from the center and working out to the edges. She carefully attached one end to the quilting frame, and then slowly turned the pole until she could attach the other end.  Then she drew the quilt tight until it was stable enough to stitch on and she started to quilt.

As the quilt developed, the story developed and then a whole series developed where the quilt became the focus around which generations of an Amish family found their way through the trials of life.  And the blood red rose in what Jerusha called her “Rose of Sharon” quilt became a symbol of the shed blood of Jesus and it’s marvelous power in the lives of people who turn to God in their desperate need.

Now whenever, I see a quilt, I stop and look, for my writing journey has made me an aficionado and a true lover of fine quilts.

 

Patrick E. Craig has loved quilts since he was challenged to write a novel about an Amish quilter by his editor at Harvest House Publishers. His favorite thing about quilting is the immense dedication it takes to finish a perfect quilt that has every stitch in place, nothing puckered, and yet beautiful in design.  Patrick writes Amish Romance (one of only about six men who do) and children’s mystery stories. He is married and he and his wife Judy make their home in Idaho.  You can find his Amish quilting novel, A Quilt For Jenna, on Amazon at this link, (A Quilt For Jenna) or in your favorite Christian store.

 

 

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The Writer’s Block–Quilts and More with Author Gail Kittleson

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Author Catherine Castle's Quilt blog, Gail Kittleson, Garden Lattice Quilt, pictures of quilts, The Writer's Block--Quilts and More, tulip Quilt

Getting to the Heart of Quilting

by Gail Kittleson

Quilts speak comfort to me, though my creative gifts definitely lie elsewhere. I’m reworking a novel right now, and my heroine’s mother sent a hand-stitched quilt with her on the Oregon Trail. Meta, from a rural Iowa German community, commits herself to Garrit, ten years her senior, and his Wyoming Territory dreams.

In their wagon train, Meta meets a wonderful new friend headed for The Dalles, Oregon, and together they face unspeakable loss on the trail. In the lavender-scented folds of her mother’s quilt, my heroine finds comfort.

The pattern? Tulips in a Basket—what a cherished gift. And even more so because her mother used Papa’s trousers to fashion the baskets—Papa, who died when Meta was a little girl.

A few years ago, my husband prepared for his second twelve-month-plus deployment to Iraq, so I decided to do something for myself. A friend offered to make a quilt for cold winter night snuggling, and one day in the fabric store, she taught me the ins-and-outs.

All I wanted was yellow, for cheer, but she said, “You must choose a contrast.” When no other color struck me, and I re-emphasized my longing for yellow, we went with shades and textures. In the end, she liked the results with the Garden Lattice pattern. I edited her memoir in exchange for her quilting, and voila!

Okay, that IS me, with my hair longer and doing its natural thing …

My mother-in-law, nearly ninety, still quilts. I so enjoy her lovely creations—such a lifelong, worthwhile vocation. Although I’ll never create a lovely quilt, I admire them and the patient skill they require.

I wonder, has anyone out there completed a quilt in either of the two patterns mentioned here?

 

About the Author:

Gail Kittleson has enjoyed quilts for decades, though her sewing skills leave a great deal to be desired. Her favorite thing about quilts is their history and the comfort they bring people, and she uses that aspect in several historical women’s fiction novels. You can learn more about Gail and her debut novel at her website.

 

 

 

 

 

The Writer’s Block–Quilts and More with Author Molly Jebber

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Amish Quilts, AmishRomance, Author Catherine Castle's Quilt blog, Author Molly Jebber, Change of Heart, Keepsake Pocket Quilts, Quilts bring smiles, The Writer's Block--Quilts and More

Keepsake Pocket Quilt

 

The wonderful women in my quilting group are teaching me to quilt. They create their own patterns and stitch beautiful quilts. I’ve always loved the colors and unique patterns in quilts since I was a child. My love of quilts inspired me to write an Amish historical series with a keepsake pocket quilt theme. My main characters work in a quilting shop. Searching for an Amish quilt, I found and purchased one from an auction with pink prints and solids and a flour sack backing. I sewed a pocket on it to show where to tuck a letter inside to a loved one. I plan to take the quilt with me to signings, and I hope it will inspire readers to want to make a keepsake pocket quilt. I plan to make my own.

Amish quilts have such detail. Their wedding, Jacob’s Ladder, and pinwheel quilts are stunning. The intricate folds in their work create a raised pattern I love. They’re soft, comfy, and pretty spread across a bed or spread over a rack. I have another quilt in pink prints and solids I’ve had for years. The more I use it, the softer it gets. It will have to fall apart before I give it up!

When my daughter, Misty was born, a sweet disabled and mentally challenged woman stitched an animal themed quilt and give it to us. It is the most precious gift we received. The stitching was crooked and the squares weren’t straight, but you can “feel” the love she put into it. Quilts bring smiles to people’s faces no matter what their design!

 

About the Author:

Molly Jebber, author, has loved quilts since she was a child. She loves the soft and warm cozy feel of the material, and she enjoys the colorful patterns. She writes inspirational Amish historical romance stories. Her keepsake pocket quilt theme series begins with “Change of Heart” released June 30^th.

Want to know more about Molly? Connect with her on her website

 

 

The Writer’s Block—Quilts and More with author Madelyn Hill

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crazy quilts, heirloom quilts, quilted Christmas Stockings, quilter/writer Madelyn Hill, quilts, The Writer's Block--Quilts and More

To me, quilts are Americana, history and family. My mother had a love hate relationship with her sewing machine. Sometimes she’d sew something and then in frustration tear it all apart. This happened when she made us quilted Christmas stockings. Each one was different and custom made for my sisters, brother, and me. I still have my stocking and hang it on the mantle each year.

Because of the Christmas stockings, I have always been drawn to quilts. I have scoured estate sales and garage sales. A friend made art from crazy quilts. Crazy quilts are a wonderful family history and I have one that has pieces from the 1800s.

My Quilt

Nine years ago my mother was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer that had metastasized to her lungs and bones. Needless to say, this devastated our family and even as I type this, I am struck about how it seems like yesterday that my mother was well. Now there are a million little reminders and treasured memories that are sometimes sad and other times humorous. Once my mother was diagnosed, she rallied and fought valiantly, living the rest of her life by volunteering and servicing others. She had started a quilt and planned on making quilts for each girl in the family. She purchased all of the material and slowly started. But with treatment and life, they were not completed. Five years into her battle, a friend from her church said she would bring women over and they would work on them together. This was much more than completing the quilts. This was community, uplifting conversations and fellowship—women coming together to support their friend. We each participated in tying the knots that held the quilt together—very fitting in my opinion. The result was four beautiful quilts in which my sisters and I treasure. This is a lasting gift my mother wanted us to have.

Daughters’ Quilts

My mother also wanted to create a quilt for my daughters. The same friend from church promised to help and we headed to the store with the girls and my mother who was nearing the end of her fight. She wanted to come, share the experience with and create those lasting memories. The girls gathered their tee shirts from sporting, school, and life events and picked out complimentary fabrics. My mom’s friend put them together and the front of the quilts were done before my mother passed away. I need to find someone to finish them, since I also have a love/hate relationship with sewing and have two broken machines sitting in the basement. But what was important were the memories, the idea of working on something together and creating not only the gift of the quilts but the gift of time and conversations with my mom.

My daughters keep telling me I have to finish the quilts. This is truly bittersweet to me. Finishing the quilts will mean my mother truly isn’t here to share the experience. Having them sit there, raw and unfinished is pushing the harsh reality of her death at bay.

I know I will have to complete them, simply because they are too beautiful to remain otherwise. And I want my daughters to have the same treasure I have, that last gift and memory of togetherness.

On January 26, 2013 my mother passed away with her family at her side.

 

About the Author:

Quilter/writer Madelyn Hill has loved quilts since she was eight-years-old and her mother made her a quilted Christmas stocking. Throughout the years she searched estate sales and many flea markets with her mother and has purchased some lovely quilts. Madelyn has created many sewing projects from clothing to curtains to blankets. In fact, she was known as the quillow queen for a while until she broke her sewing machine. She has to send her machine off to be fixed as the pile of sewing projects is growing. When Madelyn is not sewing, she teaches by day and writes sensual, historical romances by night. You can connect with Madelyn at www.madelynhill.com

 

 

 

The Writer’s Block–Quilts and More with Author Joanne Guidoccio

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Frozen quilt, Guest author Joanne Guidoccio, pictures of quilts, Quilt show, The Writer's Block--Quilts and More, writing and quilts

Quilt Collage photo by Joanne Guidoccio

 

At the Quilt Show

It was one of those spur-of-the-moment ideas that seemingly came out of nowhere. But thinking back, I do recall hearing about the “Quilts on the Grand Show” for several weeks before the actual event. The advertisements appeared in local papers, and several establishments—including the library branches—proudly displayed the work of these talented artisans.

When I found myself with several free hours on that Saturday afternoon in early June, I headed up to Fergus, a short thirty-minute drive away. Having never quilted, I didn’t anticipate spending too much at the show and planned on visiting other shops in the area.

Pulling up into the parking lot of the Centre Wellington Sportsplex, I had to circle twice before finding an empty spot. When I entered the building, I found the foyer bustling with activity. Later, I learned that some attendees had traveled 300 miles to see this show.

As I walked around the auditorium, I felt dwarfed by the bed-sized quilts, wall hangings and other pieces that made up the 160 items on display. And I was in awe of the extraordinary workmanship displayed by the 140 artisans, one of whom was a ten-year-old junior member!

I stayed for the entire afternoon and circled the room several times, stopping to admire and take pictures of my favorite quilts. I also chatted with several artisans who shared their techniques. As I listened, I discovered many similarities between quilting and writing.

• Like the three-act story, there is a definite three-step process to quilting: beginning (preparing and cutting the fabric), middle (piecing, batting and binding), and end (quilting it all together).
• A quilt is made one piece at a time, just as a story is written one page at a time.
• While many quilts have established patterns (Log Cabin, Wedding Ring, Lone Star), some are combinations of patterns or original designs. The same applies to stories. Some authors prefer to write in one specific genre (romance, mystery, fantasy) while others (myself included) prefer to cross several genres.
• Quilters play with color, texture and composition in the same way that writers play with setting, characters and plot.
• Quilters can be nitpickers, ripping seams apart and starting over. Hmm…
• Creating a quilt is a time-intensive project and artisans get little recognition until they sell or win awards. Sound familiar?

 

About the Author:

In 2008, Joanne took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes paranormal romance, cozy mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Visit Joanne at her website

 

The Writer’s Block–Quilts and More with Author Catherine Castle

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author Catherine Castle, Easy baby quilt instructions, no-quilt quilting, The Writer's Block--Quilts and More, tied quilt

 

Easy Peasy Baby Quilt

Hi, and welcome to the first post in The Writer’s Block—Quilts and More series. I’m going to start the quilting posts off with a quick and easy way to make a baby quilt. The quilting group I belong to has a yearly service project. A number of years ago, I made this baby quilt for my service project.

photo by Catherine Castle

One of the members had a piece of quilted eyelet fabric she was giving away, so I snatched it up.  Using the pre-quilted fabric, some soft pastel ribbon, and a bit of cute flannel, I decided to make a tied quilt. Don’t you love the sweet handprints on the flannel?

After cutting the material to the proper size for a baby quilt, I secured the two pieces together by stitching the ribbons though both pieces of fabric. To ensure that the ribbon wouldn’t come loose if baby tugged or chewed on it, I stitched the knot of each bow tightly into the fabric.

When the ties were secured, I self-bound the edges of flannel to the eyelet material on the sewing machine. The soft flannel side, which would be against baby, has no ties for little finger or toes to get tangled in. See photo below.

 

I made this sweet little quilt in a single afternoon. An easy peasy quilt for a tiny bundle. With the wide variety of pre-quilted materials and a bit of cozy flannel to match, you could make a quick tied quilt for any size kid in the family.

Only three months and 18 days until Christmas. I’d love to see what you can come up with using this easy method.

 

About the Author:

Catherine Castle has had a love affair with quilts since she was young and watched her mother hand-piece squares of fabric into fascinating designs. While she loves to quilt, she has more UFOs (unfinished object) quilt tops than she has completed projects. Still she keeps buying more material and starting more projects. Someday, she’ll get them all finished. When she’s not stitching UFO quilts or gardening–two of her favorite pastimes, she writes inspirational and sweet romance. You can learn more about her and her award-winning book right here on this website or her Amazon page.