Words Stephanie Staples
Photos Sarah Hartley Photography
It had been at least 40 years since I sat behind a sewing machine. Memories of my seventh grade teacher, Mrs. Irwin, filled my head and crooked seams and broken dreams came tumbling down into my memory bank.
Those were the days when only girls were allowed to participate in Home Ec, and it wasn’t even an option for us to take metal or woodworking.
Nonetheless, here I am willingly signing up for my own private “Home Ec” lesson, this time with Rosalie Knogler, a very patient and multi-talented woman who is as excited about quilting as I am about my grandkids (and that’s pretty excited!).
In her home, she has hundreds of quilted works-of-art for display, for use and also for sale (and I may add they are works-of-heart, too). You can see her beam as she shows the dolls, placemats, potholders, purses and of course, quilts of every size, colour and pattern imaginable. She figures she has done thousands of projects, with no two alike.
Rosalie has got her work cut out (pun intended) for her today with this sewing rookie, and while I love putting myself in a place with a beginners mindset, this Steph’s Day Out is a stretch for me. Me sitting for two hours anywhere is a big deal, never mind behind a sewing machine!
Nonetheless, it appears she is up for the challenge. As with most people who have a passion, she is happy to share it with others in the hopes that they may fall in love with it, too. In fact, when Rosalie offered up the idea for Steph’s Day Out, it wasn’t to promote her classes (she doesn’t teach anymore); it was just to promote the love of the craft.
Upon my arrival, the basic tools for the job were all laid out and ready for me: sewing machine, rotary cutter, cutting mat, quilting ruler, fabric scissors, pins, seam ripper, iron and ironing board. She had even done some pre-cutting of perfect little squares so that we could get our project done within our proposed two-hour afternoon time slot.
Quilting, I quickly learned, is more than just taking fabric apart and stitching it back together: it’s a practice in patience, precision and creativity. It’s about taking small pieces and weaving them together to create something whole, unique and beautiful. With each seam I stitched (some more crooked than others), I began to understand why quilting has been a beloved tradition for generations. I could see how, once you were proficient, it could even be a meditation, of sorts.
Rosalie, who has been quilting since 1988, extolled the benefits of the quilting community, having made lifelong friends from joining the Victoria Quilters Guild. The supportive Guild has members of all ages, stages and genders and it welcomes new members.
As for me, I left Mrs. Rosalie’s house that day not only with a newfound appreciation for the craft of quilting but also with a small project of my own – a holiday table runner. While it will not win any awards, it is full of heart and because of its imperfections, I didn’t have to convince the gift’s recipient that I made it.
Who knows? Maybe it’s time for you to dust off that old sewing machine and give quilting a try. You might just find that, like me, you’re capable of much more than you thought – and maybe even discover a new passion along the way.
In a metaphor for life, whether you’re piecing together fabric or moments, both processes result in a beautiful, unique creation that tells a story.
If you are already into quilting and are looking for a supportive community, check out Victoria Quilters Guild, Modern Quilt Guild or take lessons at local shops Sawyer Sewing Centre, Cloth Castle, The Makehouse Co-Op or The Green Thimble.
You may run into Rosalie at many of the markets around the Peninsula or you can contact her at knogler@shaw.ca to purchase her wares.
