My First Quilt with Paul Leger

Yay, it's time for another My First Quilt interview! Today we're going to learn all about Paul Leger's first quilt 😊

Paul is a Canadian quilter, teacher (in both English and French), pattern designer, and Bernina ambassador. He is also a veteran (thank you for your service, Paul!), which figures into the story of his first quilt. 

You can connect with Paul at his website, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

And now, here is Paul's first quilt! Isn't it fun?

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

May 1990, I was in the Canadian Armed Forces stationed in Victoria, British Columbia when I started. When one of my Air Force shirts was too thread bare to be worn I knew it was time to replace all my shirts. It would never fail within the first month of my getting the new shirts, I'd stain or rip one or more. I would therefore not be allowed to wear them anymore. As I strongly believe any and all uniform clothing should not be donated, I would throw them away, but not before removing all the buttons. I followed my mother’s example, remove those buttons before throwing away clothing or turning them into cleaning rags. I still do it to this day. Normally with the buttons removed I'd throw the shirts away, but this time for some reason I did not. The next day it occurred to me, the shirts, well the fabric, was still new, I therefore decided to dissect those shirts and recuperate the larger pieces of fabrics. I had no ideas what I'd ever do with those fabrics, if anything. then two days later I remembered, "quilts use to be made using old clothing".   

I designed a block; it was supposed to give me a 10" x 10" block when finished. Well, everyone of my blocks were anything but 10"x 10". They measured anything from 8¾” x 8¾” to 9⅜” x 9⅜”, most were not even square. 

I must have enjoyed the process as 33 years later I’m still enjoying the whole process.

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

Was I suppose to use techniques? I just sewed as I thought I was suppose to, remember this was my first quilt. It was also only the 2nd time I used the machine. 

It was quilted by my mother, Doris Leger.

Who taught you to make the quilt?

In 1994, while stationed in Barrie, Ontario, I took my first quilting class. The class was for beginner quilters and the teacher's name is Joan Winter. The class took place in her basement. What I learned in the class became the bases for my being where I am today.  

I remember the first thing I learned in the class; Seam allowance. Remember the 1st block I designed and made? It was anything but 10” x 10”, now I knew why, I’d never considered seam allowance in any of the quilts I’d designed. The class fee was the BEST money I ever paid for a class, even to this day. 

I’m still in touch with Joan to this day.

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

I'd use some of them but not all. I'm  really drawn to bright saturated colours. They make me happy.

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

I started my second quilt within days of completing the first. Over the years there are a few gaps where few quilts were made but I'm still going strong.

Where is the quilt now?

Folded away on the top shelf of my closet along with the 2nd quilt I made. 

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

Yes. To enjoy the process and worry less about all those rules. 

Anything else you want to share about your first quilt?

I'd do it again.

Thank you for sharing your first quilt with us, Paul! I love how you repurposed those unwearable uniform shirts!