Maybe gone but not forgotten

I was all set to start quilting my next project (the 3 quilts I briefly mentioned last time)

https://wasthatadinosaurcouk.uk/2025/04/17/how-can-it-already-be-mid-april/

What stopped me?

I got distracted by finding the first quilt top I made after being “certified” blind in October 2017.

https://wasthatadinosaur.wordpress.com/2019/11/01/finally-registered/

The paperwork was filled out at the hospital and that paperwork went to the local county council so I can ask for any help (training/ equipment) I needed to live my life.

The photo above is of the quilt top (on the right). I’d started cutting the pieces for it February 2016, and cut a few at a time until just before my sight loss was diagnosed when I put them carefully away each different fabric was put in its own folded paper “envelope” with the number of pieces written upon it as seen in the photo below.

On 6 May 2019 after months of playing with small squares to learn my accurate seam allowance I finally started to sew these shapes (called tumblers because of their resemblance to a drinking glass).

Unfortunately at the time I didn’t have a design wall nor an area I could arrange the pieces for a balanced arrangement of the fabrics.

I’ve spent May preparing a backing (on the left in the first photo)… I was at first disappointed to find I’d cut the perfect fabrics into strips… but… as I have been sewing the strips together I’ve realised just how the fabrics help tell the story of my sight loss journey.

I’m sure you might be thinking the almost monochrome back will make a stark contrast to the front of the quilt. And that is part of the story.

The fabric on the front is a collection by a designer called Valori Wells.

This fabric collection called Cocoon with its butterflies, geometrics, florals, and the colours ranging from bright vibrancy to monochrome on the front very much represents how full my life is now.

The fabrics on the back come from various designers and unrelated collections yet each print has a personal significance. The vertical stripes are alternating between a print representing the murmuration of a a flock of birds and a variety of feathers.

Like the murmuration I go with the flow, ever adapting, changing to help myself remain safe, and independent. The feathers are a reminder to never allow fear to clip my wings.

The horizontal stripes are a text print of inspirational black words on a white background (qualities I strive to have as a woman of faith) and a print of bare branches beginning to bud in the spring (white on a grey background).

The words remind me how much I trust in my Saviour Jesus Christ and in my Heavenly Father. The branches remind me however bleak the winter there’s a promise of spring…

I still need to find some more fabric as a the current size of the backing is too close to the size of the quilt top. To allow adequate space so that all the quilt is covered on the back after stitching through the layers the back, and wadding need to be at least 4 inches bigger than the top all the way around even though that extra will be cut off before binding and finishing the quilt.

(What is cut off isn’t wasted as it will be used in other projects).

I’m hoping that by the end of June this quilt which reflects my metamorphosis from scared to confident will be finished and in use.

Until next time