A quilter for the past sixteen years and member of MPS for five years, Miki can often be found enjoying a handwork project with a Diet Pepsi on ice while watching a good murder mystery on TV! Her favorite part of belonging to the guild is spending time with people who enjoy fabric as much as she does. Join us as we get to know Miki!
When you’re not quilting, how do you spend your time? With my 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and my Great Dane Henry.
Who taught you to quilt? My two aunts got 13 family members together to teach us to quilt so we could finish up some of the quilts my grandmother left unfinished when she passed away in 1976.
What is your favorite part of the quilting process? I enjoy designing quilts– calculating and sketching ideas for a particular piece of my fabric.
What type of quilts do you prefer? While I appreciate the skill in modern and art quilts, traditional quilts and antique quilts make my heart sing.
Which quilt that you’ve made are you most proud of? The one I’ve just completed is always the one I’m most proud of, and then I’m off to try and finish another one. However, the one I’m ultimately the most proud of is a king size Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt which I made to “match” the one my grandmother made for my cousin. It took me years to finish the top using English Paper Piecing, and I’ve set it aside now to learn how to hand quilt on other quilts before I will tackle it. All three of my daughters (none of whom have quilted since 2002 when the Aunties taught us how) have hopes of inheriting it one day so I know they all like it too!
What color do you have the most of in your fabric stash? I am fairly balanced in my stash but might have a little more green and blue, with the least black and brown.
Where do you quilt? I sew at the machine on my dining table, cut on my living room coffee table, and iron in front of the picture window in my living room. So my “work triangle” is really more of a straight line!
Tell us about your sewing machine. I sewed on an $89 Brother machine for the first 14-15 years. Since it didn’t have feed dogs that lowered or a pressure foot that could be adjusted I couldn’t actually quilt with it. I then purchased a Baby Lock Quilters a couple of years ago and couldn’t believe how wonderfully it sewed! I finally gave away my old Brother and bought a used classroom Bernina from my cousin’s shop in Yakima.
What are you working on right now? I’m working on a few too many at once right now! First, I have a group of quilts made with 30’s reproduction fabrics that I’m loving: a Dresden Plate, Double Wedding Ring, and a couple different Sunbonnet Sue quilts. I’m also trying to finish quilts for my three daughters. I’ve got a couple of Quilts of Valor tops almost done and a Children of the World quilt which I’m embroidering. I like to have at least 5-6 different projects going so I have handwork on one, cutting on another, smaller piecing, and something ready for sashings and borders. That way I can work on whatever part of quilting I’m feeling like at the time.
Next time you see her, ask Miki why she prefers the peace and quiet of nothing (no music or TV) in the background while she machine sews. Hint: it has to do with lots of children!
Submitted by Barbara S.
Discover more from Metropatch Quilt Guild
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Miki it is good to get to know you! Thank you for sharing do many details. I love the connection you have to family and how you have been involved in getting quilting into the lives of younger members.
I would have to agree with you about the quilt stash I do have more blues than any other color! Black and brown are poorly represented in the stash. Blue is not even my favorite color, go figure.
I hope see you at the next meeting to see what you have in hand to work on/with. Thank you for sharing!
Claudia
It’s fun to know more about you, Miki. I always enjoy your “positive” spirit at our meetings.
I’m lucky to be in a small quilt group with Mimi and enjoying getting to know her!