Gee's Bend class

[bridesmom]

I am going to a class taught by a lady from Vancouver Island on Sat to make a 'house top quilt' which is a totally improvised quilt based on the Gee's Bend style of quilting. I am so excited! Only 5 more sleeps. I have been wanting to break out of the need to follow a pattern and just go with it. I have my spare bedroom flor covered with fabric scraps and I decide what to take with me.

[HeyJudee]

Happy for you! I'd love some improv work too...but right now I'm trying to get up the energy to finish some UFO's that I have hanging around.

Will look forward to pics of your project(s)!

[Bama]

How exciting! I'm looking forward to hearing all about it. Have fun!

[Magot]

Had to Google - I thought Gee Bend was a name not a place. Some interesting freedoms represented there - I wonder how you teach that type of looseness? Some of my quilts come out that higgle-piggledy all by themselves!

[bridesmom]

From what I am understanding, it's all about improvising and allowing yourself to break all the rules and just let your imagination go. We work so hard at matching the lines, corners, etc, squaring things up, making it all perfect that I think this will be a great lesson in being able to just do whatever, however.

[LeapFrog Libby]

I think that was the whole point of showcasing the Gees Bend quilts in the first place. Those ladies could do no better, so they did what they could and made the best of it. I so admire that quality. One of my elementary teachers used to call it "stick to it-v'ness" . She used to brag in class when someone did a really hard task and completed it even though it took a lot of extra effort.

[bridesmom]

I was sharing about the class with a co-worker who is originally from Michigan area and she has one that is 100 years old! She said it's quite amazing when you see all the different types of fabric that was used and the style of putting it together. Only 2 more sleeps!