Jack of all trades, NO More!
My first exposure to sewing was on my grandmothers Vintage Sewing Machine, I was about 6. Out of grandmother’s upholstery fabric left overs, outfits and furnishings for the Barbie house popped up like mushrooms.
Primary school had me try crochet, cross stich, knitting, and paper crafts. Highschool electives provided opportunities for garment making and in year 10 I was introduced to Quilting. My first quilt was cut with scissors in the traditional log cabin block and backed with a preloved singe bed ensemble bed skirt! I got an A+
It took another 20 years to focus on quilting while beading, card making, jewelry making, curtains, blinds and numerous baby quilts for family occupied my spare time while working for an employer.
More recently, I felt a need to make a big change. The saying ‘Jack of all trades and master of none’ hung in my mind like a rainy day. I could not see through the clouds. A hand injury allowed me to make more time for my crafts and my attention was sparked by Tim Holtz line of fabric, Eclectic Elements. I was going to make a first quilt for ME! Quilting my first quilt on a domestic sewing machine left me hungry for more space and flexibility to doodle with thread. It wasn’t a direct journey but now I have a blissful 30″ of space to quilt in!
THAT QUILT made a massive change to my life and opened a door to a new thread shop venture that was some years away. My first purchase of Glide Linen thread to quilt my quilt for me was a massive turning point on my quilting journey.
Other craft hobbies were let go. I was so hungry for quilting ‘everything’; piecing, longarming, attending workshops, social media tutorials, building my stash and learning everything about the process of quilting. I’ve made numerous quilts for the Aussie Hero Quilts and laundry bags project, jointed a guild and will never look back to a life without textiles in my life every day.
Make IT Quilted dream became reality in 2018. Few hundred quilts and education from numerous Australian and International teachers, I feel confident in my craft and enjoy sharing it with like minded people. I found a piecing buddy and now only focus on quilting.
Entering a quilt in my first competition was nerve wrecking but many hours of doodling with thread paid off. I won the 2020 Virtual Quilt Show USA Bernina ‘Best sit down – domestic machine quilting’ award and then another one later in the year for a client’s quilt with my longarming quilting enhancement. More recently, Canberra and Queanbeyan guilds have also recognised my work with winning entries.
An innocent comment about loving to work with Glide threads, when I started purchasing them, for my quilting projects has now lead to becoming a retailer and continuing the availability of these wonderful Hab+Dash products locally in Australia. Lyn, you have left great boots to fill and I’m looking forward to the challenge and continuing your high standard of service!
I love the process of quilt making and bringing out the best in my clients’ quilts. I understand my Gammill machine’s potential to create digital or free motion, hand guided or computerised designs. I provide individual attention to each quilt, to establish a unique design for each project.
Monika McKinlay
Make IT Quilted
Kambah ACT
sales@makeitquilted.com.au