Triple Rails Bound
Originally uploaded by Big Sister.
Over the February break (an unexpected privilege of working at a private school) I had a truly transcendent day. It started out rainy, but broke enough for me to meet Kyle for some waffley goodness at the Farmer's market.
I then went to the main library and did a little research on where my great-grandparents lived in the 1920s and 30s. The family story is that like all good Italians they lived in North Beach, but one time my grandpa said that he went to catechism in the Bayview. When I asked why he would go from North Beach to the Bayview for catechism he said that they lived there. Turns out for three years in the 30s they went from living in an apartment to a house in the Bayview. A few years later they returned. You go, City Directory!
My last stop in Civic Center was in the knitting and sewing sections of the library. There I found Even More Quilts for Baby: Easy as ABC, an amazing guide to creating baby quilts. Ursula Reikes walks you through exactly how to cut, piece, and assemble 20 baby quilts. That afternoon I cut out the pieces for a quilt and by the next day the quilt top was assembled. A few weeks and a walking foot later, I had made a Triple Rails quilt for a co-worker's impending daughter. Two of the fabrics might be familiar from my first quilt, but the construction and placement make for two very different quilts.
I love quilting, especially for now like this, where I have very specific instructions. I am a firm believer that you need to know who to walk before you can run, so I like how this is getting me into the rhythm of quilting so that someday my machine quilting might have a little more finesse than this:
Yikes!
Since then I have purchase all three volumes of Reikes Quilts for Baby with plans to keep practicing as long as my friends and family keep procreating. Then, maybe, I will move on to something bigger. In the meantime, this is hobby is a mean fabric stash buster.
Historical library research and quilting! Did you write this post 'specially for me? :)
Posted by: alison | March 20, 2008 at 06:45 AM
That waffle looks SO GOOD!
Posted by: Marlena | March 20, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Quilt ON sister!
Posted by: tina | March 20, 2008 at 08:38 PM
How exciting about your family history. I love learning little bits of information about the past.
Posted by: Gina | March 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
MMMMMM waffles look good!
I really like that quilt too. I am planning on trying quilting out.... what do you often stuggle with in this craft.... (this may seem odd but I am asking a few "quilt-bloggers")
Posted by: Silver Ilix | April 05, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Hi! those waffles look fabulous.
I tagged you for a meme, if you have time:
http://featherandfan.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/meme-me-me/
Posted by: orata | April 10, 2008 at 09:02 AM
I have that book and have made 7 of the quilts. It's awesome. Also Eleanor Burns has a series of books that work you through a quilt step by step and she includes yardage for lap quilts up to King size. I think they are called "Quilt in a Day".
Posted by: Nicole | April 13, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Now I'm going to make waffles for dinner tonight, they look so scrumptious!
Posted by: Kate McMullin | April 13, 2008 at 12:01 PM
(Hi, found you thru the Ravelry link at A Verb...) You probably know already about the State library behind Stonestown that specializes in geneology and State history - maybe you'll find something of interest there!
Posted by: Terry | June 16, 2008 at 07:06 AM
Great work! Just do what you love. My previous quilting addiction is now taken up by my knitting addiction, but there's NOTHING like snuggling and sleeping under a quilt you made yourself!
Posted by: Ariel | July 07, 2009 at 12:53 PM