Susan Poet - quilter/quiltist

Artist Statement

As garment sewing lost its favor with me, I rekindled my interest in quilting. Little did I realize how much I did not know after my introduction to quilting 40+ years ago. It has been a great 4-year journey learning about fabric designers, dealing with color and simply learning new techniques. I have found strong support for my craft in guilds, clubs and shops, while making new friends, as well. While I will always be fond of traditional block patterns, I find myself leaning toward new and modern piecing. Certain color mixes will continue to stand out, but suddenly I am attracted to very different color combinations. It is fun and exciting to work outside of the box. I do not lean in any one direction. I simply make what I like: traditional, modern, folk art, whimsy, etc., and the learning continues!

Artistic Process

The quilting process is very straightforward. One begins with a pattern, then chooses colors for the blocks. The next choice is for much lighter fabrics called background fabrics, followed by sashing and binding fabric. When the selections are complete, the fabric must be cut. This cutting must be precise, according to the pattern. At times, acrylic templates may be available. After the fabric is cut, the pieces must be sewn with a precise X inch seam. This is called "piecing". Precision counts for straight seams in your quilt. Usually, the pieces are sewn by block, the blocks are sashed and sewn together in rows, followed by sewing the rows together. There may or may not be a border to sew. When the top is complete and pressed, one makes a "sandwich" of the top, batting and a backing. These three pieces are first basted and then stitched or "quilted" together. After quilting, the "sandwich" is squared up and bound, leaving no raw edges.

You can see more of New Artist's work at his/her site new-artist.artistwebsites.com.

©2024 New Artist. All rights reserved. Duplication is not allowed without permission.