For my first Quarantine Quilt finish, I present the Economy Block Crib quilt I made using Pemberley Fabrics from Riley Blake Designs.
I continue on the crib/baby-size quilt roll. 🙂 It always feels good to have a finish, but even more so in these weird times where so much daily stuff is out of our control.
Most of the fabric in this quilt comes from the Pemberley collection by Rachel of Citrus and Mint for Riley Blake Designs. (You can still find Pemberley fabric here, here, and here.)
This quilt was made with Economy Quilt blocks. These blocks are satisfying to make and extra fun for playing with a variety of fabric combinations.
You can find the updated tutorial for the 8" x 8" Economy Block I used here, including a free printable PDF.
I started this quilt in January and finally got it off to the Sew Shabby Quilting for quilting a couple weeks ago. I picked it up Monday night (in a safe social distance front-porch handoff.) This time I had Melissa try the Serpentine Design.
For binding I used this sweet minty print from Jen Allyson's Flower Market collection. It matches perfectly! (I explain how to bind a quilt here.) It was nice to have something to sit and bind while watching TV. Because we are watching a lot more TV.
I'm actively looking for new shows we can watch as a family while we're all sitting around together more. We've started an old season of the Amazing Race. Any other great suggestions? I'm particularly looking for entertaining educational shows for teenagers. Even the Office starts to get old when you've watched it too much.
How are things in your neck of the woods? Here's the latest peek of my sewing table. I'm proud of myself doing a decent job of keeping up on cleaning up projects as I go. I finished piecing the blue baby quilt I was working on last week and dropped that off at Sew Shabby Quilting when I picked up this quilt.
I had some leftover squares from making this Pemberley quilt, so I decided to make a quick Baby Lattice quilt too. You can see it laid out on my design wall with the white fabric ready to cut for all of the sashing.
The bag on the cutting table was from a quick trip to a local quilt shop last week. Ever since our son got sick in January, when we haven't been a Dr. appointments and labs, I've been pretty homebound along with him. Last Thurs was my birthday and my husband took the afternoon off to stay home and let me get out of the house.
It was the day we were just starting to find out how drastically life would change - that my girls' college semesters were going to go online, that there would be some form of quarantining happening, etc.
It was so nice to pretend to be 'normal' for an hour and walk around a quilt shop. I picked up 'necessary' supplies (thread for my English paper-piecing) as well as couple other things that looked pretty.
And after that I stopped at Walmart to stock up on food to get us through the next few weeks. (I hope!)
I'm so glad now that I had the chance to stop and enjoy a quilt shop as three days later I got the email saying the shop is temporarily closing for walk-in customers for the time being. 🙁
How are you handling this new, weird 'normal'? I admit to consistently feeling the whole range of emotions - sometimes within a very short time frame.
I'm a homebody and sometimes I like the thought of just being home, sewing and taking care of my house, knowing my family is safe with me.
Other times I feel totally overwhelmed with all my kids at home, trying to figure out how to keep them constructively busy, not on screens all day, and not eating all of the snacks too quickly. Last night I just felt blah and unmotivated to do anything so I took a bath and went to bed.
And then we woke up to an earthquake in Utah this morning (incredibly unusual!) and that threw a whole bunch of new emotions at all of us. (We are safe and sound, but it was one more thing to put us on edge.)
I'm trying to just allow myself to feel how I feel in that moment. I hope you can too. This is uncharted territory for most of us. Give yourself permission to feel the overwhelm and fear sometimes. It's normal AND it's better to feel it, than to resist it - that only makes it worse. Also give yourself permission to turn off the news and social media. Going for walks and doing spontaneous yoga has helped too.
And give yourself permission to not be constantly busy or productive. I think even as recently as last week I was gearing myself up to make this time super efficient and productive. And that only added to the stress and even drained my desire to sew or do other things that typically bring me comfort. I'm purposely letting go of that intensity and just taking life one day at a time.
Hang in there friends. We're all in this together. xo
Julie
Lovely quilt and to hear your "news and weather". Stay safe!
The Joyful Quilter
Thanks for letting us know that you and your family are safe. Stay well!! Good advice about allowing yourself to feel what you feel at any given moment. Sorry! No spontaneous yoga going on here.
catkiz
Like you, we were jolted awake in Murray this morning by the earthquake. I grew up in Southern California and well remember the Sylmar Quake in 1971 (which also woke me up...). But it seems more stressful this time on top of the health crisis and quarantine. I couldn’t focus on anything today. And also like you, my birthday was last week. But mine was on Saturday and it was our first day of being fully in. This is just not a good March (or year, in fact) for us. But things will get better. My new mantra is “Shaken, not stirred”.
Amy
Wasn't that crazy? Just one more layer of unsettling. I like "shaken, not stirred!"
Kay
Schools have all just just shut down in England and it feels like things are progressing quickly each day. I am worried about my older children who no longer live at home, will they have enough food in to last for a good while if necessary? I also have a health condition which means I have a suppressed immune system, so I worry about that too. When I take my dog our for a walk I am now trying to be extra grateful that I have the opportunity to do so. Enjoy your sewing, the quilt is very pretty. x
Beth Talmage
Thanks for keeping it real and sharing how you are dealing with the many emotions that are evoked by the pandemic and the rules resulting from it. I think acknowledging the anxiety it provokes and sitting with it is really good advice--it is reasonable to feel some anxiety because of this, but not to live in a state of anxiousness, so finding a balance is important. Times like these make me especially glad to be a quilter, because I have something to turn to, to keep my hands busy and also to occupy my attention when I want to turn away from more worrisome thoughts.
Robyn
Amy, thank you for your post. Here in Australia, schools are still open, but there are travel and community restrictions in place and the situation changes daily. It is a confronting time for everyone. I hope that positivity, kindness and resilience prevail and our societies learn some valuable lessons through this experience. As for tv shows, I'd recommend things like mythbusters for creative thinking and The Middle for a laugh. A bit of music & dance wouldn't go astray either! Best wishes to you and all your readers.
Amy
Great suggestions, thanks, Robyn! xo
Lodi
Thank you for the rational pep talk!
I needed that after the "GetInTheCar&DriveHomeFromFloridaAsFastAsSafelyPossible" days.
Home. I'm so grateful to have one!
Audrey Flick
So enjoy seeing your quilting projects and reading your blog about your family. Currently I'm going through breast cancer treatment and a painful case of shingles. I love sewing quilts and other small sewing projects but haven't felt well enough to spend much time doing so. Your blog helps me to stay inspired. God bless you and your family.
Barbara Opett
Great Post Amy, very well said. Love your bigger size economy block.
debbierhodes
I just saw on my local morning show that zoos and other museums etc are doing live videos and such they might look for that?
Adrienne
We're all trying like heck to get through this. It's a challenge for all of us. Everyone's way will be different. I find that quilting, and the quilting community, help to sustain me. Whatever helps to keep me calm is what I try to engage with. We will prevail. We have to stay strong. AND, WASH THOSE HANDS ... OFTEN!!!!! Best of luck to everyone out there.
Amy
Isn't it great to have a hobby and community to get us through this? You're right. We will prevail. xo
Kristi
Amy, thank you for the tutorial for the Economy Block. It will be great for stash busting. I'm glad you and your family is safe from the earthquake! If it's not one thing, it's another. Stay well and thank you for continuing to blog. I enjoy it so much!
Annie
Thanks for your words Amy, it is all pretty overwhelming and so hard to let go the stuff we can't control and focus on the positives. I am so grateful for lots of craft options to keep me sane and I'm so encouraged that folk are rallying around in a different way to support each other. Thanks for sharing.
Janet Taber
I love the Economy Block quilt! Thank you for always, always sharing something I could actually do, not just admire and feel inadequate to make. Also, I love hearing someone say to feel what we feel when we feel it. Even though we live in a relatively secluded part of the world (southern Missouri Ozarks) and feel quite sheltered, the fear of the unknown is the worst. So many in the media talk of dire possibilities and make predictions that probably (hopefully!) will never come true. It fuels a sense of panic and helplessness. But we are NOT helpless; we just need to be sensible. I hope that common sense will prevail ... and in the meantime, I will enjoy being "forced" to stay home ... and sew!
Brenda
Your baby quilt is so cute! Thank you for the encouragement! I am hoping to finish up some ufo's that have been piled up for a while. I am excited about getting some of these things off my table and into the finish pile. Stay safe everyone! Happy sewing and crafting!
Jillene
Your quilt is lovely! So is your perspective about giving space for our feelings and letting ourselves be productive or not. I personally am enjoying the time at home. Having four kids at home 24/7 means there are frustrating moments, but also sweet ones. It is wonderful to have down time and outside time. Thanks for sharing! I enjoy your blog.
Patrice
Living in San Diego where we are now required to shelter in place. Adult kids now working from home, college student trying to figure out next step with all classes cancelled for the semester. Thank goodness for quilting for sanity and self-care.
We like to watch "Adam Ruins Everything" - sort of like mythbusters. Also Playbill.com is going to be streaming Broadway shows, some current, some from years ago. And there's always Great British Baking Show on Netflix - we might all become fabulous bakers by the end of this 🙂
Amy
Thanks Patrice! We're also fans of Great British Baking - one of my favorites!
Hang in there!
Christine Sherman
Your quilt is so pretty!
I feel like I’ve gotten nothing accomplished. Worrying about this, that and the other. Stay safe and well. Hugs to your son.
sgendel
I also feel the same way with the hours and days seeming to have no clear definition. They seem to all run into the next one and I can’t remember which day something happened. My husband’s milestone 60th was yesterday and all the plans I had made to make him feel extra special were all cancelled. So it has been disappointing in so many ways. I also am having a hard time getting into my sewing room even though I thought I would get so much done during this quarantine time. I find myself wandering aimlessly in my mind not really accomplishing much. Every potential symptom (a headache, a sneeze, a cough, an achy hand) sends fear into my heart. My husband is a firefighter/paramedic so he is on the front lines of this crisis so I have an added layer of fear that we will struggle to keep it out of our home. But we made a plan last night of how we will isolate him here at home rather than have him quarantined at a hotel which his fire department has been able to arrange for those who cannot go home after an exposure.
The one thing that sparked a little motivation in me is a post I found from a hospital system asking for fabric masks to be an acceptable alternative when their supply of the medical grade masks runs out. And they feel it will. So I managed to find a local shop where I could place an online order for some basic solid fabric and some elastic and do a curbside pickup. I plan to pull out my second sewing machine and my daughter and I are going to start making these as a simple way to help. My husband is checking with his fire department if they can accept them and if not I already have a hospital in the area that will.
Sending as positive of thoughts as possible to the quilting community! Thank goodness we have our digital connections still! I can’t wait to be able to wander through a quilt shop again!
Patricia Gay
Patricia Gay
I just discovered this blog of yours, Amy. It is terrific ! A place to share genuine thoughts & feelings with other sewers/quilters. All of your quilting info & samples are inspiring & encourage me to get with it & get some sewing done ! I've actually been doing some hand quilting (which I had put off for some time), so that feels good. With all the craziness going on now, this blog of yours is even more of a blessing. I especially appreciated the person who emphasized just going ahead & let yourself experience what you're thinking/feeling, instead of trying to deny it all. My heart goes out to those with extra burdens, esp. illness, esp. the gal dealing with not only breast cancer, but shingles, too! And the gal w/a firefighter husband - on the front lines & vulnerable to exposure to coronavirus. And you, Amy, stuck at home for so long; hope your son gets well soon. We don't know how blessed we are until we hear of others' difficulties. Blessings to all as we find our way through this mess; suggestions for outdoor time, sewing, crafting, etc. & reaching out to others will help see us through.
Amy
Thank you, Patricia. xoxo
Rosemaryflower
Amy, I enjoyed reading this. Yes indeed thank goodness you stocked up on stuff, but you are right, with kids in the house all day, it is stressful. I have been feeling overwhelmed.... even more than usual with this virus... on so many levels. What is the "next shoe to drop"?
I have been taking care of my parents since 2013 and taking care of my 96 year old daddy now since 2016 after my beloved mom went to heaven. I worry like a parent about him.
I hope we can get through this huge ordeal without too much mental damage. I also have corona virus -ophobia
worrying that I might get it and give it to hubbs who needs heart surgery in 2 months.
Keep sewing, pressing, keep the important stuff at the top of your list. Luckily you can force them to vacuum or something haha
Amy
Bless you, Rosemary, as you take care of your dad and your husband. lots of love to you! xo
Rosemaryflower
OH, and that graphic is so absolutely spot on
Diana
Amy thank you for your blog full of wonderful quilting ideas and good advice as well. Here in England we are just starting a lockdown so this afternoon I intend to get on with making a dress for my grandaughter, and I have a quilt to make! Keep yourself and your family safe. Diana