Disclaimer - I'm no expert when it comes to grammar and sentence formation, but I do know what I like to read when I go to a quilt show.
Please don't drop the pronouns from your story. There's plenty of room to write "I". For example:
I know many quilters are modest people and struggle to say something positive about their own quilts!
But I urge you to be proud of your own work. You've chosen to enter it into the exhibition, so make sure your Quilt Story presents it in it's best light. Don't tell us what's wrong with it, but rather tell us some interesting facts about it. I've provided some examples below.
Most exhibitions put a limit on how long a Quilt Story can be. It's usually about 60-100 words, so you have ample room to write three short sentences. I tend to write:
- what inspired me to make this quilt
- an interesting aspect of the quilt
- anything else of interest
I made this quilt from the scraps I had accumulated over the past three years. (15 words)
is much nicer to read than
Had too many brown scraps so had to use them up. (11 words)
Here's some examples for you:
1. What inspired you to make this quilt?
- I've always enjoyed needleturn applique and I fell in love with this pattern when it was released three years ago.
- I've always wanted to make a snowball quilt and I love the fabrics used in this pattern from Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Italy book.
- My mum taught me to English Paper Piece when I was about 10 years old, and she would be delighted to see I'm still doing it now.
- I saw a beautiful blue and white quilt in the Festival of Quilts in the UK, so I came home and created my own version from all the scraps I had saved over the years.
- I decided to start using all the Liberty fabrics that I had collected over the years. I found this wonderful pattern by xxx and have happily spent the last three years sewing my Liberty pieces together.
- My granddaughter loves Elsa from Frozen, so when I saw this panel I knew I had to make it for her.
You get the drift? Tell people what drew you to your pattern or fabrics.
2. An interesting aspect of the quilt
- The quilt was a block of the month and each month I eagerly awaited the next pattern release.
- This is my first attempt at wool felt applique.
- I started this quilt in a foundation paper piecing class with xxx.
- I've recently started using rulers with my machine quilting and they've enabled to be achieve quite a different look.
- This colour palette is different to my usual style, but I love the result.
- I hand quilted my quilt with 12wt variegated thread.
- This quilt was started 10 years ago in a class with xxx. I found it again when I cleaned out my sewing room during the COVID-19 lockdown. I took it to retreat and finished it there.
- This quilt has been all around the world. I've worked on it on planes, trains and ships. It reminds me of my travels through Europe in 2018.
Tell people something about your quilt that they might not notice immediately.
3. Anything else of interest
- If you're going to give the quilt away, who is it going to? a grandchild? a wedding gift? charity?
- How long did it take you to make it?
- Are these fabrics a departure from your usual style?
The third sentence isn't essential, but it helps the reader to know a bit more about you and your quilt.
Be proud of your work. You spent many hours making this quilt, and it's hanging in an exhibition for just one weekend. Stand tall and say "Yes, I made that".
Now it's time for the Peacock Party. What have you been up to this week? Feel free to link up a recent blog post below.
