My First Quilt with Laura Piland

Today I'm excited to bring you the second post in the My First Quilt series, and the first one that is an actual interview. 

Do you know Laura Piland of Slice of Pi Quilts? Chances are, even if you don't know Laura, you've probably seen an Exploding Heart quilt someone made with her super popular pattern. Laura loves trying new things and coming up with ways to make quilts quickly. She also runs a deals group for quilting and sewing, so head to her website if you want to learn more about that (but read the interview first!).

You can connect with Laura in these places: Her website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

And now, here's Laura's first quilt! Isn't it cute?

What year did you make your first quilt? What prompted you to make it?

I made my first quilt in 2010. A friend of mine had a baby prematurely, and she was going to be in the NICU for quite some time. I knew I couldn't take a casserole to the NICU, so I asked my mom what else I could do. She said I should make a quilt! I had not enjoyed sewing as a kid, but I knew a quilt was the best gift for the situation. So I said, "FINE!" and went to my local JOANN store to look for fabric.

What techniques were used in that first quilt? Did you quilt it yourself?

At JOANN, I found a panel that was really for making a quiet book. It had bright colors, so I matched some solids to the panel and decided I turn it into a quilt and make it up as I went!

I used the images from the panel to piece blocks, then I fussy cut some of the shapes and appliqued the girl's name in the center block. I didn't even know the words "applique" and "fussy cutting" at the time!

I stitched in the ditch AND free-motion quilted around the designs on the quilt. I even sewed the binding on with a wavy decorative stitch. It blows even my mind that I attempted so many things on that first quilt!

Who taught you to make the quilt?

Mostly YouTube! I did make a lot of calls to my mom and my grandmother too.

Are the colours you chose for your first quilt ones you would still choose today?

Yes! The bright colors were perfect for a baby, and I'd definitely use them again!

Did you fall in love with quilting right away? Or was there a gap between making the first quilt and the next one?

I was instantly hooked! I LOVED the thrill of trying new things and figuring them out! I started another quilt immediately after finishing this one!

Where is the quilt now?

I gifted the quilt to the baby just as soon as she came home from the NICU. (Yes, it took me that long to make the quilt too!) Her mama was so thankful for the quilt, and years later, she sent me a photo of her daughter still using the quilt. Knowing the quilt is loved and appreciated is just about as addicting as making the quilt itself!

Is there anything you wish you could go back and tell yourself as you made that first quilt?

Keep going! You have no idea what this is going to lead to!

Anything else you want to share about your first quilt?

It's been 13 years and over 450 quilts since I made that first one, and I can still remember the failures and late night Google searches of the very first one. It still thrills me, and I have continued to try new things in the quilts I make to keep learning - and failing. I learn something new with every quilt I make.

Thanks for sharing your first quilt with us, Laura! I'm sure Jocelyn and her family felt your love for them in every stitch ❤

Isn't it fun to see how our quilty friends got started quilting? I'll have another My First Quilt post to share next month!