My Husband Is A Quilter

My husband is a quilter. He's been quilting his own quilts from start to finish for about two years now. He got into quilting in the same way he started birding. At first he would only look at birds that were blue such as an Indigo Bunting. A Summer Tanager made him decide that he could look at birds that were blue or red. Soon he added Woodpeckers and wading birds, and then he was hooked.

He started quilting in the same way. First, he helped me choose fabric. The hunter in him made searching for just the right fabric great fun. In fact it was so much fun that one summer he became immersed in a scavenger hunt for a specific series of blocks. You see, one of the big box fabric stores had discontinued one of its monthly quilt block patterns so the discounts were steep! Because we were traveling anyway, he was eager to stop at every store in this chain! We picked up the blocks and fat quarters at a steep discount, and only needed to add some yardage for a beautiful quilt for his niece.

Next, he decided he could help with cutting. He got used to using the hand tools but like all men he thought power tools would be so much better! What he wanted soon turned into what we needed. Pretty quickly we had a die cutter. You wouldn't believe how many dies we have!

He built me this beautiful kitchen island. Yup, we now use it as an ironing board. A standard one just doesn't meet his needs for the size of quilts he likes to make.

He also likes "un-sewing". Yes, he will relax in front of the TV with his favorite seam ripper, but automation soon set in. He ordered a battery-powered seam ripper online and has used it ever since.

Oh, and yes of course, we have a mid-arm quilting machine on a frame. He is the primary user and I must admit that he does nice work and maintains the machine. He oils it, changes the needles, winds bobbins and quilts. His least favorite is thing is when he must stop his work because the bobbin thread has run out. In fact, "Bobbin!!" is now his favorite swear word.

He eventually learned to use a regular sewing machine. He still struggles with threading the machine because he says his fingers are "stupid". Really, they are just kind of big. He sews a pretty good 1/4 inch seam with his special foot. He knows how to install a walking foot but wishes the screw didn't require his left hand and that it would accept a standard sized screwdriver.

In one way, he does typify the stereotype of the "y" chromosome. He won't read directions. He most often won't even use a pattern, but if he does he wants me to explain it to him. He will watch a video though!

But the number one strangest, most unique trait that he possesses is that he has no UFO's! I tell the truth! He finishes every single quilt before he starts the next one! Sure I might help with a binding now and then, but he can and will make it start to finish.

He loves making donation quilts and prefers to make quilts that will someday keep someone warm. He also pitched in last week to help me make 34 masks for nursing students because, "They will someday be nurses."

I think I'll keep him!