Liz Bergey's quilting page
I'm been a quilter since the late 1970's - though it's been a pretty spordatic effort.
My first quilt was a blue and white drunkard's path (left); a pattern not recommended for beginners because of the curved peicing. I liked it so much, that I made a second one with different colors. Because these were hand sewn, the curves were really not much of an issue. They were hand quilted by women at the Norman Senior Citizen's Center.
Moving to Utah in the early 1990's really expanded my quilting opportunities. I joined the local quilt guild, which was the first time that I got to meet other quilters. I also went to workshops and classes - and learned a bunch of new techniques, including a Japanese hand sewing technique that I still use.
(Right) This is an Amish-style sampler made of solid colors. It has a total of 49 blocks - all sewn by hand (though I paid for the hand quilting). I once hand quilted one full-sized quilt - and it was more than enough.
(Left) This is an ocean waves quilt - again with solid colors. I was making a full-sized quilt and used some of the blocks for a baby quilt for my son. My friend Emil Boron machine quilted it for me. The larger quilt is a finished top, awaiting quilting.
Eventually, I added machine piecing. I prefer old machines. My main sewing machine (right) was my great grandmother's 1904 New Home treadle (serial number 2488622). I removed and stored the drawers and refinished the wood. It has wheels and I can fit it in my car, so I sometimes haul it around to sew elsewhere. The decal set is in poor condition (silvered and worn). This machine doesn't have a top or a hinged table extender.
Looking for something more portable, I tried (and liked) hand crank sewing machines. These work great for straight-line stitching, but are not as good for curves or other stitching that requires two hands (because one hand is cranking).
Click the link below to see my other sewing machines.
This quilt was made for my daughter. We lived in New Zealand at the time and good quilt fabric was expensive (the local quilt shop owners only imported 3 meters of each fabric!). Consequently, this quilt is mostly muslin (= calico in Kiwi). There weren't a lot of orange and yellow fabrics available, so I hand-printed solid colors. Blocks are hand pieced, then sewn together with my treadle. Soon after this, I had to put away my treadle for a while because my 3-year old son was using the treadle needle to crack walnuts!
This is a Lindberg airplane quilt. My cat Heidi loves to sit on quilts, especially when they are in progress - although a finished quilt will do in a pinch.
A recent quilt made made during a weekend retreat (it was done as a mystery quilt, which was a pattern* that was kitted by Patchpwok Place, the local quilt shop*). The quilt is for my aunt.
Here one of my quilts-in-progress (which is the usual state of my quilts). This is a one-block wonder* quilt, in which a single piece of fabric is cut up and sewn back together. The fabric shown has an astronomy theme.
Other fabric creations include fabric bowls* (below) which are made from fabric-wrapped cotton clothesline and cloth wallets* (further below).
*Pattern sources:
The mystery quilt was the 'Close to my heart' pattern by Edyta Sitar (www.laundrybasketquilts.com)
One-block Wonder (book) by Maxine Rosenthal
fabric bowl: It's a wrap: Sewing fabric purses, baskets, and bowls (book) by Susan Breier
wallets: Wonder Wallet. pattern by Lazy Girl Designs (www.LazyGirlDesigns.com)
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