knotlexic- tying a quilt

Is there such a word as knotlexic? If there is I reckon it describes me well in my efforts to tie the machine- pieced hexagon quilt I've just finished making.

After confusing myself completely by looking at lots of diagrams and videos of how to tie a surgeons knot on the internet, I proceeded to fiddle about with a reel of perle cotton, right over left, left over right, the rabbit goes down the hole and round the tree... Just as well I was expelled from the brownies because of my subversive attitude (yes, at that age...) before we got to the knot-tying part.

The diagrams never seem to bear any resemblance to what is actually happening in my hands- their threads are helpfully colour coded and don't fray or tangle or get pounced on by a cat just at the vital moment, and the videos mostly have a soothing American voice-over which makes it all seem obvious, but as soon as I look away it all goes pear-shaped.

Crochet has the same effect on me too- something about the diagrams turns my brain to mush. A friend patiently showed me how to crochet granny squares because I'd love to make one of those retro blankets I never appreciated in the seventies when my granny used to make them for us. 

All the time my friend was sitting there I really felt I had the hang of crochet but as soon as I was on my own I ended up with either a tight wad of felted wool or an endless chain with nothing to attach it to.

One day I'll master it and be able to run up a little number from this lovely book, which I bought (new) recently. That lady on the front with the groovy 1970's hairdo must be a great-grandmother by now!

Anyway, back to knotting, and my quilt tying process reminded me of that diagram you see of the evolution of man from ape to upright. First I tried tying knots individually, then realised that would take me forever, then I realised you could sew along a whole line and then cut the thread between the ties and knot each one. This is really speedy! Also if you remember to leave the spool on the end of the cotton, then you can pull through just the right amount without waste.

I'm not even going to try telling you how to tie the knots- basically its a sort of reef knot, but with a double twist as far as I can tell, and you can look it up on t'internet! The result is looking pretty good now, although these might still not be 'proper' knots. Maybe I've invented a whole new knot? Never mind, its done now and 'that's the way it is, and that's the way its going to be' to quote my late Mum. I made the knots on the back, but I guess they could be on the front if that fitted with your design.

After all that tying myself in knots, I love how this has turned out- a real summer quilt, soft and light and washed out. I like that some of the fabrics are old and on the edge of fraying, and when they do I'll patch them with other old bits too.

heirlooms and eiderdowns

At last I've finished piecing this hexagon quilt. Sewing it by machine was quite fast once I was in the swing of it, and I've backed it just with a soft old flannelette sheet and no wadding, for a light and summery feeling. 

I'm going to tie this quilt, something I haven't tried before. Apparently you need to use a 'surgeon's knot' so it doesn't come undone, which sounds like good practise if I ever need to perform an emergency operation...

It feels worn and loved already, and it reminds me of the eiderdowns my sister and I had as children.

And eiderdowns always remind me of hydrangeas. These originally came from cuttings from my Mum's garden, making them precious indeed. 

Memories are the extra dimension in a garden, each plant or cutting reminds you of the person who gave it, and of course there is also the pleasure of giving plants in exchange to friends. And a quilt is hopefully an heirloom in the making too, especially if its made from old fabric from much loved garments.

This year the hydrangeas, which are usually pink, have flowered in every shade of pink and blue- maybe its the lovely summer weather?

The garden is glowing with pink and blue at the moment. This lychnis really is this bright magenta, wonderful with the furry silver stems and leaves.

The sweet peas are starting to produce a bunch a day of divinely scented blooms, and the best thing about sweet peas is that the more you pick, the more you get.

(Later)... my trial surgeon's knots don't seem very secure to me, probably just as well I wasn't planning on doing a spot of appendectomy anytime soon. Will have to do further research on this one I think...