Doreen’s First Quilt: Silky

First, a little of my quiltmaking history. In 1976 I had no intention of becoming a quiltmaker. My preconceptions of quilting were built upon myth and misinformation:

1. Only Little Old Ladies on metal folding chairs in church basements made quilts. (I was 26 at the time, and 40 still looked like over-the-hill to me.)
2. “It isn’t a quilt unless every stitch is made by hand.” I had cut my teeth by sewing Barbie doll clothes, made all of my own clothes, and felt completely at ease at the sewing machine. And I already had enough handiwork (knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, counted thread) to last a life time.
3. It was already too late for me to start. I had heard rumors of quilts that were started by one generation and finished by another.
4. If, by stitching diligence, I was able to complete a top, I would have to permanently install a nine-foot square quilt frame in the middle of my living room.

This all proves that a little knowledge is dangerous, and that I was a pretty silly person. What no one could have told me was that I had all the pre-quiltmaking conditions: I already bought fabric I had no use for, and I have an unnatural attraction to office supplies.

So in January 1977, while expecting my first baby, I began my first quilt. It was my intention to be the Perfect Mother. I thought the Perfect Baby should have a quilt that it would treasure for a lifetime – and that it would be easier to repair a patchwork quilt than re-knit a thermal blanket. I chose a pattern that was easy to sew on the sewing machine (Patience Corner), basted in two layers of batting over a 1″ gingham backing, and quilted in 1/4″ stitches. The result was far from a thing of beauty, but I was hooked on quiltmaking.

Doreen Speckmann Pattern Play, C&T Publishing 1993

Much to my mom’s dismay I named my baby quilt “Silky” after my friend’s thermal blanket that was also named “Silky” because it had a silky satiny border fabric around it. I still have Silky, but she’s in pretty rough shape for a 45 year old, well loved quilt. It’s fun to see old pictures of her before she developed holes. Just look at those matching dresses my mom made us.

More Silky pictures from the olden days. I have no recollection of having a pet guinea pig when I was that age.

I still have the sampler bed quilt I’m sitting on with the mystery pet that I’m guessing was made not too long after Silky based on the fabric.

This picture was taken probably 30 years ago or so based on my semi-angry teenage look and my hair. Silky looks pretty much the same these days. You can see where I tried to “fix” it with a red patch. I also sewed some beads on it for fun.

When I was pregnant with Zoe I had no grand plans to become a Perfect Mother and make her the Perfect Baby Blanket. Heck, watched Toddlers and Tiaras when I was to help build up future motherly confidence. At least I’d be a better mom than most of the ones I saw on that scary show. I have no idea who gave me Moo Moo at my baby shower, but it turned out to be the best present I could have asked for. Moo Moo is half cow, half giraffe, is often headless, but Zoe doesn’t seem to care. She still sleeps with his beat up little blanket body every night.