This interview is part of the Canadian Quilters Showcase series. I wanted to share with the world some of the amazing talent found here in our country. Quilters from across Canada have submitted quilts with their stories and are featured monthly. Know someone who should be showcased? Nominate them!
Meet Yvonne Teskey!
This talented quilter has been quilting for 12 years, since her retirement. She lives in Williams Lake, BC with her husband of 47 years. They have 3 children and 13 grandchildren. She belongs to and serves as the librarian for the local quilting club, The Caribou Piecemakers. When she’s not quilting her artistic drive is directed to knitting or crocheting.
Circle of Friends spoke to me, I love the use of white space in this quilt! It makes the circles pop. The quilting is spectacular and really does enhance the entire quilt.
Quilt name: Circle of Friends
Finished size: 60″ x 60″
Pieced by: Yvonne
Quilted by: ‘The true artist in this quilt is my friend Alayne, I have had several quilts done by her. I never tell her how to quilt it, rather I let her be the artist that she is’
Why did you choose this pattern? How long did it take to make this quilt? Where did you get the pattern? Fabric?
About 3 years ago a club member demonstrated a small circle of friends and I always wanted to try it. In October of 2016 I purchased the magazine Quilting Quickly and this pattern was in it. It was an interesting method of making the HST’s with 2.5′ strips. I started working on it November 2017 and finished it February 2018. It was made from a jellyroll that has been in my stash for sometime just waiting for the right pattern. I think I picked it up somewhere in our travels about 5 years ago. Sorry I don’t remember the name of the fabric.
Why do you quilt? What do you like most about it? What do you like least about it?
I love sewing all those pieces together and seeing the result, I love picking the fabrics, the colours and patterns. The thing that I least like – I think I would have to say is there is never enough time to do all the quilts and patterns that I would like to try.
Were there special people or circumstances that encouraged you to begin to quilt?
I have always liked to sew and do several other crafts, I had always wanted to try quilting but was afraid all the patterns I liked looked too intricate and complicated. So when I retired I felt I had the time to devote to learning how to quilt.
What do you do with your finished quilts?
My children, grandchildren, sister and niece each have several. I gift them to friends and I seem to have a rather large stash of them in the spare bedroom.
Have you ever made up your own patterns?
Yes No
How do you decide on the colours and fabrics that go into your quilts?
I just keep pulling fabrics from my stash, laying them out on the cutting table to see what combination I like.
What do you think of Circle of Friends? Tell us in the comments!
Do you have a quilt you’d like showcased? Submit it! Do you know someone who should be showcased? Nominate them!
My New Year’s (sorta) resolution
Congratulations Yvonne, this was such a great quilt to highlight.