I really wish I had a photo, but I have no idea where my very first quilt is.
I had been sewing on Mother's Singer 201-2 for years, but when I was in high school (1963) I used baby sitting money to purchase my first sewing machine. It was a Singer Touch and Sew that had a zig-zag stitch and "cams" that produced decorative stitches. My paternal grandmother (who was still sewing on a treadle machine) was enthralled, and she decided that we needed to make a quilt to use the decorative stitches. We did a machine buttonhole outline around raw edge shapes that she called a "Dutch Doll" design. After the 12 blocks were assembled with sashing and cornerstones, we machine quilted it! I've never looked back! When your first project is a full bed size quilt all done on the machine, using polyester fabrics and batting, you have a running start!

Lorchen--Both those quilts are darling. I don't have a story but I am very much drawn to Sue. I did a brownwork Modern Quilting Sue. Maybe there is a story after all. Through QYW i connected with a quilter whose life philosophies are so much like mine and we have become good friends though so far we have not met in person. I own a good 35mm camera and a digital was not exactly high on my priority list. I would take photos of my work and get the film put on CD so I could share. That meant waiting until 24 photos had been taken. After she upgraded her digital camera she sent it to me so she could see my works when they were hot off the sewing machine. For my thank you I sent her this wall hanging. It had to travel over 2000 miles.

I got side tracked because I was responding with a "someday" project. I do not plan to do many but I want to do a block or two that incorporate elements of our years in Northern Ontario. I plan to use the blocks found at:
http://sew-ez-alaska.com/AlaskaSunbonnet.html
to design my "memories" hanging.

I have just watched Show 805 and loved it! The relaxed and entertaining shows that inform and teach and have guests who so obviously enjoy what they are doing just float my boat!! Thank you very much, TQS!

Even though I am a German living in England with no Sunbonnet Sue in my background, I have a little story: The subject of Sunbonnet Sue kept coming up when talking to one of my best quilting buddies (also a member here). She kept making really naughty suggestions how Sue could be brought up to date. I'm sure my friend mentioned pole dancing, and also Sue in full biking leathers, Sue joining a punk band, and various other interesting activities. So, when I had a little time I made a very traditional wallhanging for my friend that shows the two of us dressed up as Sunbonnet Sues. Here it is:



About a year later my friend went to a workshop with Christine Porter. This was at a time when the book was in the planning stages. I didn't know about that. My friend then came to my place for a visit for a few days (much treasured times because a drive of about 5 hours is involved) and she gave me the little quilt that she made at Christine's workshop. Isn't it gorgeous!!

{!-- ia0 -->della's sue.jpg{!-- ia0 -->

I just love it! The book is on pre-order with Amazon and I really look forward to getting my hands on it.

So, has anybody else got a Sunbonnet Sue story to tell?