Laura Hartrich 4/2/22 Laura Hartrich 4/2/22

Star Quilt for Jim and Deb

I’m not sure what prompted me to get started so early, but I began this quilt in January 2021, finished it in May, and finally gave it to my in-laws for Christmas. It’s double sided because I couldn’t decide between a solid version and a print version so I did both. The color palette came from a bundle of solids that I’ve had on my shelf for years (it’s Pond by Elizabeth Hartman). I tried to match the colors of the prints to the colors from the bundle. On the print side, I used a paint by number print and as many florals as I could cram in, both nods to my mother in law’s hobbies. I went with a simple sawtooth star pattern because I think it’s so classic and I wanted to make something that would look good in my in-laws’ beautiful house. I quilted it by hand, using a Baptist fan motif and some perle cotton thread. Jim and Deb have always been so good to me, and they’re the last members of my family who didn’t have a quilt from me. It felt good to finally give them one! Measures 48”x58”. Pictures by Mitch Hopper.

Laura Hartrich 4/1/22 Laura Hartrich 4/1/22

Sun Coming in the Windows

I made this at the end of 2019 as the final project for a photography class I was taking in undergrad. I quilted it in time for the deadline but was never totally happy with the finish. Finally last year I ripped out and redid the quilting. Now I’m happier and it’s officially done.

I can’t remember if we had a prompt or any parameters for the final, but this is what I did: took pictures on my phone of some of my favorite objects, textures, and shapes in my house, had them printed onto fabric and then made them into simple patchwork. I named it Sun Coming in the Windows and it’s an ode to feeling safe at home. 30”x29”

Laura Hartrich 3/31/22 Laura Hartrich 3/31/22

Back in Therapy (Increased Surface Area)

This piece was created in the summer of 2021. The patchwork came together quickly and intuitively, kind of a like a sketch. I didn’t originally intend to leave the threads exposed; I planned to bury them, but as I kept pushing them out of the way, stroking them all in the same direction, I decided they looked so interesting that I would leave them out (but tack them down with quilting). I don’t know if I invented this thread technique (probably not) but it was new to me and exciting. For this piece I was thinking about the different types of energies I experienced during Covid, surges and waves in all directions, some that buried me and others that lifted me up. I was thinking about the weight of it all eventually getting on top of me and making me realize I needed some help which led me to seek therapy after a long hiatus. Being a student of anatomy right now, these thread rays (as my friend Jenni Grover brilliantly named them) also reminded me of microvilli, structures that increase the surface area of a cell. This resonated too, as I certainly felt like my surface area increased this year and as a result I was more vulnerable to stress and irritation. I often felt stretched, flat out, on edge, like my nerves had nerves (not anatomically possible but you get the idea). It’s called Back to Therapy. Measures 21”x28”.

This piece was part of the virtual exhibit Maternochronics, put together by the talented Emily Zarse and focusing on maternal exhaustion. It also hung in the show Moments Like This, juried by Jessica Bingham, at Women Made Gallery.

Laura Hartrich 3/28/22 Laura Hartrich 3/28/22

What's Up, You Cool Baby?

In September of 2020 I had the opportunity to film a few segments for Fresh Quilting. I was so nervous! I planned my segments. I practiced a lot, over zoom with some good friends. I drove to Ohio and fretted about COVID. It all ended up fine. I was a bit doe-eyed and tongue-tied during my segments but I gave it my best shot! It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and I’m glad I did it.

One of my segments focused on making simple patchwork letters using curves, triangles, and squares. This quilt was used to demonstrate the technique on the show. When we filmed, it was in progress so I could show how I put the blocks together. Later, I finished piecing it and decided to quilt it by tying. I had tied one quilt before, using embroidery floss. This time I wanted to try yarn that would felt up and make a little poof. I ended up tying it on both sides. I also added x’s across the quilt and handquilting around the stars. I love how all the handwork looks together.

The color palette came from a print I love: Clementine by Melody Miller. The stars are made in a style I learned from Gwen Marston in her book Liberated Quiltmaking II (one of my favorite quilt books ever). I have zines for sale that show you how to make these curvy patchwork letters. The phrase, “What’s up, you cool baby?” comes from a favorite podcast, My Brother My Brother and Me. I got a kick out of putting it on a baby quilt. Measures 43”x48”, final photos by Mitch Hopper.

sketchbook showing sketch and color palette

Tie technique! I used the grid method from Sherri Lynn Wood’s excellent book. It’s cool. Basically you make lines across the quilt, taking small stitches every so often, one direction, then another, making a grid across the quilt. You can cut the yarn where it intersects, and then you’re ready to tie knots. I did two grids on the back of this quilt because I wanted lots of ties and I wanted to stagger them. I did one grid on the front, much less densely tied on that side. The last two pictures show ties before and after washing. These fuzzy wool ties remind me of wild tufts of troll hair. I thought they’d make tidy little balls but they had their own plans.

Laura Hartrich 3/27/22 Laura Hartrich 3/27/22

Table Runners featuring my Grandma's Doilies

When my grandma passed in 2016 many of her sewing supplies, projects, and textiles came to live with me, including a pile of very finely constructed doilies. I had an idea to put them on quilts for my family members, but four years later those doily quilts hadn’t made it to the top of my to-do list. It finally occurred to me that table runners might be just as appreciated and a far more attainable goal for me. I spent a week working steadily on these (and one for myself that is almost done) and finished them just in time for gift giving. They were opened over video call in true 2020 style.

I felt a little uneasy about cutting these lacy things that had clearly taken a lot of time and care to make. But I finally decided to go for it... Doilies aren’t exactly popular as home decor these days, and I thought chopping them for these runners was a better fate for them than staying packed away in boxes or drawers. Hopefully these runners will get plenty of use. And I think they really highlight her work. I hope she would approve.

I quilted these (very densely!) on my Juki. I wanted all the sections to get tacked down to prevent any snags during use. Lots of imperfect, organic echo quilting. Took a lot of time and thread, but I love the effect.