A missionary family from our church is home on furlough. I first made contact with Denise when I was gifted a huge amount of embroidery floss, and I sent some of it to her to use in their ministry (to read a post about that encounter and see a photo of a younger Olivia click here).
Shortly before Christmas Denise and I reconnected and she asked me if I would teach their now 15 year old daughter how to quilt while they are here. I was thrilled!
Olivia is a delight! She came over to discuss her project and I showed her a bunch of quilts and patterns. She then went home to think about it and do a bit of web searching. This is the pattern she decided on.
A perfect choice for a beginner. Her assignment then was to go shopping and choose her fabrics, and she did a great job! On her second visit she learned all about rotary cutting.
She cut the 5 1/2″ strips for the 4 patches and sewed the strips together. On her third visit she crosscut the pairs and started laying them out with alternating 10 1/2″ squares.
She sewed the pairs into 4 patches, pressed some more and… it was time to go home. I love that she told me she didn’t want to stop 😊.
On her next visit she squared up the 4 patches. She said she even enjoyed that process (one I sometimes complain about). Then she began laying out the pattern in earnest,
until she found just the right one.
She was over half way done with piecing the blocks to one another
when it was time to go home ~ and time for her family to do some traveling around the US. When she returns to Wisconsin there are borders, quilting and binding in her future 😁! And all before her eventual return to their home in Estonia. Please stay tuned!
She reminds me so much of my 15 year old granddaughter in Washington (who actually turns 16 this week!), and Olivia and Hanna are now friends on social media. What a blessing!
SUSAN L MEYER says
What a wonderful experience, for you and for her! It is very gratifying to pass along the love of sewing to someone so willing to learn. I had much the same experience in December. My own daughter came to me and asked me to teach her to quilt. She wanted to make a quilt as a gift to a special someone in her life. She did everything from quilt design to cutting, to piecing, then to binding. I was merely the technical advisor. The funny thing about this story is that I am 68 and she is 45! And, she told me she loved it and wants to quilt again! I guess you are never to old to learn a new skill.
Mary says
A lifetime skill and relationship! How wonderful!
WANDA E KRUGER says
Oh, I can’t wait for the “rest of the story”!!
Wanda
Marcia Singer says
Good job Olivia!! Welcome to the club. And you had the very best teacher!!!
Eileen says
Awesome story…looking forward to hearing about her return, her quilt completion, and sewing/quilting in her life on the mission field. 💜
Ardene Brown says
Great story and what a good way to start with a teacher, par excellance! Such fun.
Patti N says
Wow! She did such a good job picking fabrics. They are beautiful and they go together so well.
Jodi Grzeczka says
Such a heartwarming story! I am happy to hear when I young person “gets the bug”! She certainly has the best teacher! I also am anxiously awaiting to hear “the rest of the story”!
Barb Jordan says
What a wonderful set of student and teacher. So great that your granddaughter gained a new friend!