16 August, 2014

Quilting Apnea... The Cure!

I've discovered that I suffer from a dangerous condition, quilting apnea; I hold my breath when I quilt at the longarm!  My friend Gina recently diagnosed this when we were together in a class at the AQS show in Charlotte. Gina and I were sharing a machine and quilting some feathers when I heard her telling me: "breathe, just breathe"! I laughed it off at the time. On Thursday I was quilting these long, feathered borders when I realized I had to keep stopping... just to BREATHE! She was right. The only thing I could think of to relax myself and allow breathing to happen was to sing while I quilted. One can't sing if they're not breathing, right?  I cranked up the I-pod loaded with church camp music (the only songs I could think of offhand where I knew all the words) and sang!  What a difference this made; the quilting flowed, I was breathing and my heart was happy! It was a particularly lovely afternoon on Thursday, the windows were open and a light breeze filled the space as I was quilting flowing feathers and belting out "My God Is An Awesome God" at the same time... it just doesn't get much better than that!
Life is Good!

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12 comments:

  1. 45th Parallel QuilterAugust 16, 2014 10:10 AM

    That looks like an ADORABLE quilt! LOVE that song, too!

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  2. AnnieOAugust 16, 2014 12:27 PM

    Breathing through feathers is a new technique! You enjoyed it thoroughly, it's obvious :)

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  3. Paula, the quilterAugust 16, 2014 12:46 PM

    Oh how I can hear those feathers!

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  4. Janet O.August 16, 2014 1:52 PM

    I think you have discovered a new medical condition! : )
    You did a beautiful job on the feathers!
    I need to notice next time I am quilting feathers, if I am breathing or not. Music is a good idea. That is cute that the camp songs are the ones for which you know all the words.

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  5. TrudiAugust 16, 2014 2:19 PM

    I must see if I breathe now too! Such pretty feathers too :) x

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  6. QuiltdivajulieAugust 16, 2014 3:46 PM

    What an EXCELLENT solution!

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  7. dianneAugust 16, 2014 7:35 PM

    ha ha ha!!! i breathe, but i bite my lower lip - it took me a loooong time to figure out why i looked like someone had punched me in the mouth after an afternoon of sitting in front of Sven the Viking, quilting away...

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  8. Carrie P.August 17, 2014 8:02 PM

    great idea! and a great song to sing along to!

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  9. Little PenpenAugust 18, 2014 8:53 AM

    Too cute!! My son and grandson stick their tongues out when they are concentrating. I guess singing might cure that, too. That quilt that you are working on is some kind of beautiful!!! I hope you will post pic's when it is off the longarm!

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  10. NaneAugust 18, 2014 10:30 AM

    Hey whatever works

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  11. jude's pageAugust 18, 2014 8:00 PM

    And your quilting is awesome too! Good combination.

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  12. Quilter KathyAugust 22, 2014 1:09 PM

    A great tip for machine quilting!

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