I've been the recipient also of the comment about "the real quilt." Hasn't convinced me one bit, however, that there is a right or wrong.

Unfortunately, most people do not give a great deal of thought that if all quilts of olden days were heirloom quilts, preserved to still be around over a hundred years later there wouldn't have bed survivors to enjoy those quilts. They would have frozen to death waiting for the quilt to be finished under quilt police rules. The "real" quilts that kept the pioneer families from freezing to death, if you lived in a frigid area like I do, were the good chunks of fabric from old coats, trousers or what ever else, maybe even pieces from another quilt, stitched together and tied. I think anyone who was thankful to have spent a warm night under one of those would laugh heartily at the definition of a "real" quilt as generally held by the quilt police. Of course, those homes needed a fire built in the morning to thaw the ice on the pail of water before they could wash. I experienced that in my younger days and the quilts that kept me warm would be totally condemned by current quilt police. I just have warm fussy feelings of getting dressed under those in the morning before I had to run across the yard to the outhouse.

One of my first "finished" quilts was meandered and someone made the comment that I had turned my quilt into a matress pad! Funny how many more "matress pads" I have made in the years since-good overall quilting that holds up well on kids' quilts!
Bev in Fort Wayne, IN

I inadvertently became a quilt police when a woman knew commented on how nicely my feathered star quilt was pieced. I zealously nattered on and on about how careful I was to cut and stitch the units exactly the right size, about making right-triangle squares slightly larger and then trimming to the exact size to create perfect points (making a not-so subtle reference to the ill-cut patch sizes in her work), about the starching, the pressing, on and on and on I tirelessly chattered, enthusiastically scattering references to rulers, thread, quilting techniques along the way. When I climbed off my soapbox a long while later, I realized that I'd intimidated and alienated her and wished to heaven to rewind time. I tried making amends without making the situation worse but she never quite warmed to me after that, for which I deserved. Obviously, I get carried away with the love of quilting, but never again will I let my zeal for a hobby make someone feel bad.

LOL! I use to be more critical of quilting I saw, till I actually got into quilting alot. Now, I know, each quilt is an adventure, & a learning experience, & really, there are no rules. If you want to do shows, then yes, maybe there are, but most of us just want to quilt, & do it for the love of quilting. So any quilt police out there are wasting their time on me. I have always sewn & now I quilt, & like sewing, I do it my way & always will, & love every minute I spend quilting!....

theothermarion wrote: Like

Didn't the pioneers use the help of their available friends and family when they had a large top to quilt by pulling together a quilting bee? I often think of my grandmothers and great grandmothers when I sit down at my wonderful computerized sewing machines. I know they would have enjoyed the technologies of today as much as I do. They were creative wonderful women and probably had "quilt police" of their own to deal with. I wonder what their quilt police scoffed at? :

kathyst2 wrote: [/quote]

A Hungarian recipe for omelets starts as 'First steal your egg,' :shock:

and some years back a couple of fencer friends were discussing getting kit, one mentioned he had got a blade with Hungarian discount, and the other replied 'you stole it?' Actually it was bought with the Hungarian team's discount card

Rosemary

Lorchen wrote:



The real kicker is if the pioneers had long arm quilters they would have used them too. Many people used laundry service, seamstresses, millners, etc. When available. They would have used a long arm quilter .... if available.

Lorchen wrote:
GOOD ANSWER!!

I was told off by a quilter because I sometimes take large quilt tops intended for a bed to a longarm quilter for a nice overall panto. patterns. Apparently I'm not a 'real quilter' until I 'learn to do it all myself'. I just looked at her, smiled, and said: 'Well, at least my quilts get finish!'

I have to admit that I quite like the quilt police. Let's face it, they keep providing us with plenty to talk and smile about!

Margo, back in the olden days, way way before my time, didn't recipes start out by saying, "first catch your rabbit"?

I did ask the woman who said that only hand quilting was acceptable, to take a look at Diane Gaudynski's quilting.
Probably that didn't convince her either!

Kathy



I wonder if that woman considers the products of today's chef's not "real" food because the don't start by building a fire???? [/quote]

Margo wrote:
Fab Margo!

Love your comment Margo. I have not had any direct encounters with the quilt police...I'm sure they take one look at my wall art quilts, mostly made without a ruler (except when I square it up) machine appliqued and quilted and go running from the room.

I love your comment Margo! (And I am on facebook too much, I was lookin for the "like" button.)