The more I think about this “Modern Quilting” movement, the more I am getting upset. I LOVE the fact that new, younger, people are taking up the sewing arts — quilting being one of them. But I HATE the fact that the “queen bees” have laid down the “rules” of what it takes to be a “modern” quilter. They are trying to dictate the colors, threads and techniques that are “acceptable” to be in the modern quilt movement. Ridiculous!
Those of you who know me understand I don’t believe in “rules”. It’s against my belief — everyone is an artist and should explore their creativity WITHOUT any rules.
So, here is my take at creating a contemporary look AND breaking their rules! (Trust me — there are NO RULES!)
I love the pillow–and it is definitely all “yours”–break them rules–
I think you’re pillow is wonderful. Looks very modern to me. I love the type of work you do. In fact, hopefully, I too will be following in your footsteps soon. ( Downloaded your class) “There are no rules” – words to live by – in my sewing room that is!
oh my gosh, it’s soo beautiful! I love it – and the quilting is marvelous…even if you’re breaking the ‘rules’ – hah!
I thought the so called Modern Quilting is breaking the rules itself.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy my class!
Carol–I bought some beautiful hand dyed fabric yesterday and was wondering if you have stitched on hand dyed and what you used for the fusible web–I was thinking of using two layers of lightweight–there are some light spots and I do not know if I should cut them out or just use something darker on them–thanks
I stitch on hand-dyed cottons all the time. I use the same interfacing as I do on my batiks.
Thanks for the quick reply–I already started it and I find that the hand-dyed is not as subtle as the batiks but I am going to give it a go–thanks
Hi Carol,
I am also a “modern quilter” and I abide STRICTLY by one universal rule:
There are NO rules!
When we start to set up rules and parameters, we are diluting the artists’ ability to think ~ and act ~ “out of the box.” Who is to say where the edges of possibility lie? Guess it is the dreaded “Quilt Police” that are always quick to disdain that which they do not understand.
This is absolutely beautiful. Keep doing whatever you want, whether it is modern to someone else does not matter.
I quilt and did not know there were rules!!!
Long live the NO RULERS.
There were no rules when women made quilts from whatever fabric they could get their hands on. I agree everyone is an artist in their own way. We should welcome all quilters young and old as I have met many young girls who can’t thread a needle or sew on a button. All these rules do is discourage new quilters to quit before they get started!
Rules what rules? I quilt my own way.
Long live the NO RULERS
beautiful!
LOVE THIS pillow… it is modern and could go into any contemporary home today. As for thinking outside the box, I think every quilter should think outside the box in any quilt that they make, even if it is just making it a different size block or turning something a different direction otherwise it is not your own. kellie
I am a designer and just detest when people tell me there are rules that I need to follow!! I always happily tell them “Haven’t you heard of the new trend?….It’s called the no rules trend!”
I think what you have is wonderful! I do all kinds of piecing and my Aunt does the quilting for me. I take an idea all the time and run with it, idea being where I start. Nothing I have ever made ends up like what the “picture” looked like to start with. They are far more fabulous in my and the reciepients mind. The first true quilt I made, the class instructor thought I was unsaine with what I chose for fabric. Well, it turned out great and even she had to admit it was nice after all. That was a lot of years ago now, but many quilts later, I am still told I should follow the rules, and so should my quilter. But neither of us do and we both have great sewing businesses. So keep stitching and loving every minute of it!
If we all went by the so called ‘rules’ then how boring the quilts would be. As far as I am concerned rules were made to be broken! Well at least quilting rules anyhow. Love your work and am signing up for your class.
I love the old quilting by hand method but have noticed that alot of quilts in the past few years which are machine stitched are absolutely made to be on a wall! I have to agree that there are no rules applicable in quilting because if there were, then the quilts would not have the uniqueness that they do. But then, it’s just fun to shock people too!
Rulers are necessary in quilting…but not rules!
your work and classes are soooo inspirational,,,thankyou so much
I am self taught from books and the internet which means I have no quilt police to tell me something is done the wrong way or ‘against the rules’!
Rules are mans way to try and control others. So I say do what you want to do, be what you want to be. In my humble opinion there is no place for rules when creating.
I have been making quilts for years. Then I took a class to see what the rules were; it was the first time I ever used someone else’s design. I did learn a lot, but I am back at my own with a greater wealth of information to design from .
I love to quilt because I can “do what I want”…. the greatest form of expression. I don’t need someone else to tell me about their rules! I I enjoy attending quilt shows and seeing the ideas that are there, but I don’t want to be judged, so I don’t enter my quilts for that reason.
Rules? What rules…who’s trying to put rules on modern quilting? I love all the new and modern quilts I’m seeing… So creative, so beautiful, so inspiring. BTW, I love your pillow! I’ve been sewing/quilting for a long time and I love the new freedom and newbees to the art!
What rules? When my granny inspired me to start quilting in 1969, she never told me about any rules. I always have to chuckle when I see the younger generation of quilters giving lessons on the “correct way” to quilt. I am teaching my 2 young grand-daughters to quilt, and so not to disocurage them, I tell them that there is no wrong or right way as long as they achieve the desired end result. That’s how MY granny did it.
First off let me say, I am for no rules all the way….but….
If the item that warms your hand has certain attributes it’s called a mitten if it has other attributes it’s called a glove.
I don’t believe the Modern Quilt movement is saying everyone has to quilt their way, they’re just saying if it possesses certain attributes, then it fits into that category.
I particularly like the emphasis they have on quilting your own quilts. What bothers me, is people who send all their quilt tops to the longarmer and then call themselves quilters.
I’m a “no ruler” as well. I’ve only been quilting for one year and love learning and trying a variety of techniques as well as making up my own. I think there are definite design elements that can give a work a “modern” flair, but setting up non-negotiable rules does not sit well with me either. Your pillow is wonderful, and very modern to me.
Rules? I didn’t know there were any rules in Modern Quilting. If it isn’t Traditional, doesn’t it follow that anything else is Modern?
I love your pillow. As for modern quilters……I think that you would have as many definitions as you would have people. I echo the comments from others, that as a a quilter, I make up my rules that please me. I am happy with the way I do things…and the folks that receive my quilts have no complaints.
I haven’t followed a ‘rule’ ever…much to my parents’ and teachers’ dismay! Even my close friend’s are astounded at the degree to which I will test a rule…we just closed our 20 year old business, sold our home of 20 years and moved from PA where my husband and I were born & raised, to WY in our mid-fifties. I would not for a second be a quilting fanatic if I had to follow a rule. To this day, I am twisting, turning and trying new ways to achieve my goals….even if I know my ancestors are frowning down on me! I’m sure I’ll get an earful when I meet them again someday!!
Those who get so technical that they look at how something is put together miss the beauty of the piece. That’s sad for them. I love it when you can see the heart of the artist in the work they’ve done. You’re pillow is beautiful Carol!!!
Who appointed these people the Quilt Police? It’s ridiculous to put a label on anyone’s creativity and decide whether or not it is acceptable, UNLESS your quilt is entered in someone else’s competition. If you choose to do that, you are bound by their standards.
I am a relatively new to quilting and I don’t call my favorite styles anything but “mine”!
The “Quilt Police” have no power, unless you give it to them. I am a traditional quilter – but I like to change things up and have been the bane of many Quilt Police wanna bee’s. So when “they” say its wrong, you can’t do it that way, just reply: yes I can – as you can see I did. Love the pillow!
Change is SO hard for some people. I am having a blast breaking away from traditional quilting. (and remember the horror when machine piecing, then machine quilting began?) They’ll live (perhaps with smelling salts, but they’ll live).
Wow. I have found my tribe! Where did you all come from today? How did you find my blog?
I am reminded of a poem that we used to write in autograph books(remember them?):
Make new friends but keep the old
One is silver, one is gold
In regards to our quilting….lets honour the old/traditional but lets go on to embrace new ideas as well…one is silver one is gold
and as to no rules YEAH!!
I have met the quilt police head on. My ddaughter was told by the judges at the county 4-h fair that it was unacceptable to sew a binding on by machine. Not that it did not look even, smooth, full , etc. just that the way to do it is by hand. She told them to fly up a rope, That her quilts were made to be used and that machine stiched was the way to go for her. Her quilt did not go to the state fair that year because of the binding. But her photo was in the paper telling them to stuff it. :^) I have not had the oppurtunity to see these modern”rules”. But doubt if I will follow them.
Beautiful pillow. If that is breaking the rules then I guess I don’t even know what the “rules” are!
Do you hve another class?
Rules are there to make us all fit into neat little categories. Since I am neither neat nor little, I don’t follow many rules anymore. It took me about 10 years to get my mother’s voice out of my head (you can’t mix patterns and plaids) when I first started quilting. My quilts were BORING. I quit following rules and now I mix red and green and purple and orange and I’m having a ball doing it.
I teach a “Self Portraits” class but not on Craftsy. Thanks for asking!
I never WAS able to color in the lines. Just curious — how did you find my blog? Seems like someone said something since so many people commented yesterday and today.
If there are rules to follow in quilting, I guess most of us are rebels. I know I start with a pattern I like, a material I want to feature or just trying to find something different. I think that we are all artists and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love to see what others create. I love to find either old quilt squares, material, or old clothes to make effective use of my money, and have a lot of fun gathering eccentric pieces.
Keep on quilting
I am always the one who goes to a class to learn a new technique only to have everyone LOOK at the fabric I’ve brought and shake their heads. My projects scream with color and I always envision things differently. No rules with originality is the way togo.
I love quilting.My quilts will never enter a contest,they are truly amateur .If I had to adhere to the “rules”I would never experience the joy of creating.Please don’t let the elitist of this craft intimidate the rest of us.
I can’t follow a pattern to save my life! What I mean is, I start with the concept, then totally break out… “what will it look like if I do this, or how about this.” On another note, I love, love, love your stupendous stitching workshop! I’ve even made one on a placemat. Backing and batting already there.
I think many of us found you through a post on facebook. thanks everyone for the encouragement that it’s all right to do things MY way.
Hi–I am 79 years old and have been quilting since my retirement (in 1993) from teaching business in the public schools of PA. I don’t know what “rules” you are speaking of, however, I do what I like to do. I love your pillow. I’m not good at machine quilting such as stippling, but I would love to learn–I just have no patience with having to practice, practice, practice. I always want the finished product asap. I think our quilting foremothers would love our so called “modern” way of quilting if they were with us today.
Thanks for writing! I agree with you. My stitching is far from perfect but do I care? Nope!