Down to the Wire (aka Shut Up and Sew!)
This year, Spirit Quilts experienced a shortage of volunteers. We also had one volunteer who was hospitalized during our project (thankfully, she is home recovering well), and another whose sewing machine was temporarily broken. After we delivered the first batch of quilts to the Handi-Riders, I knew we were going to have to work like crazy to get the last of the quilts done. Yes, we quilted 30 quilts in 4 days! GO SHIRLEY, GO MOM, GO ME!
As Shirley was at home, loading quilts on her long arm with her husband, Roy, Mom and I worked for 15 hours in one day. We pinned, we ironed, we quilted, we put binding on the quilts, we made labels. My 7-year-old son, Jakob, helped as well, by taking out the safety pins once the quilts were completed.
So, here's what happens after you've been quilting for several hours straight:
1. Lots of seam ripping (even though I made a rule that there would be no seam ripping)!
2. Mom sews her thumb. (I specifically asked that no skin be sewn into the quilts.) - 10 pm
3. The word "Oops!" (This occurred all day.)
4. More seam ripping after the word "Oops!"
5. Bobbins continuously running out of thread, and not figuring out you were sewing with an empty bobbin until you were almost done with the quilt.
6. Piecing batting after the roll of 45 yards ran out!
7. A dozen cups of tea (per person).
8. Husband and kids staying out of the way.
9. Rummaging through boxes of donated fabric to find more large pieces we could use for the backs of the quilts.
10. Three quilt deliveries to the Handi-Riders before Saturday so they had enough quilts for their students on Thursday and Friday.
11. Lots of giggling. (Mostly after 9 pm, when Mom and I started getting "punchy.")
12. Reloading the CD player - we listened to the following during our quilting marathon: Anais Mitchell, The Duhks, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, U2, and yes, we even listened to my sons' Puff the Magic Dragon CD.
13. Mom trying to have an intellectual conversation over the music and loud whirring of two sewing machines - unable to hear her, my response was always, "Shut up and sew!"
14. Jakob, after he'd gone to bed, yelling, "Be quiet, I'm trying to sleep!"
15. This was followed by, "Shut up and sew!"
On Saturday morning, I drove to the Handi-Riders arenas, with the last of the quilts. Jakob and Declan helped me hand out the quilts. I was, once again, touched by how pleased the students were to receive their quilts.
As Shirley was at home, loading quilts on her long arm with her husband, Roy, Mom and I worked for 15 hours in one day. We pinned, we ironed, we quilted, we put binding on the quilts, we made labels. My 7-year-old son, Jakob, helped as well, by taking out the safety pins once the quilts were completed.
So, here's what happens after you've been quilting for several hours straight:
1. Lots of seam ripping (even though I made a rule that there would be no seam ripping)!
2. Mom sews her thumb. (I specifically asked that no skin be sewn into the quilts.) - 10 pm
3. The word "Oops!" (This occurred all day.)
4. More seam ripping after the word "Oops!"
5. Bobbins continuously running out of thread, and not figuring out you were sewing with an empty bobbin until you were almost done with the quilt.
6. Piecing batting after the roll of 45 yards ran out!
7. A dozen cups of tea (per person).
8. Husband and kids staying out of the way.
9. Rummaging through boxes of donated fabric to find more large pieces we could use for the backs of the quilts.
10. Three quilt deliveries to the Handi-Riders before Saturday so they had enough quilts for their students on Thursday and Friday.
11. Lots of giggling. (Mostly after 9 pm, when Mom and I started getting "punchy.")
12. Reloading the CD player - we listened to the following during our quilting marathon: Anais Mitchell, The Duhks, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, U2, and yes, we even listened to my sons' Puff the Magic Dragon CD.
13. Mom trying to have an intellectual conversation over the music and loud whirring of two sewing machines - unable to hear her, my response was always, "Shut up and sew!"
14. Jakob, after he'd gone to bed, yelling, "Be quiet, I'm trying to sleep!"
15. This was followed by, "Shut up and sew!"
On Saturday morning, I drove to the Handi-Riders arenas, with the last of the quilts. Jakob and Declan helped me hand out the quilts. I was, once again, touched by how pleased the students were to receive their quilts.
Labels: Anais Mitchell, Handi-Riders, kids, Project K, quilt, quilting, Sheryl Crow, Spirit Quilts, The Duhks, Tracy Chapman, U2
posted by JayaMae Gregory
2 Comments:
Ha, ha, frantic and funny, but you made the deadline so no handi-rider would be left out! Good for you.
Thanks Jaya -
I got a good laugh out of your list! You guys are awesome - thank you for blessing Handi-Riders with your generous gifts of service and quilts.
Sid
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