July 26, 2024

My First Quilt with Jenny Kae Parks

It has been a busy July here in Devoted Quilter land, with the Merry Mini QAL and the work I've been doing on other patterns, not to mention starting a new job as a virtual assistant. Whew! No wonder it feels like the last Friday of the month snuck up on me quickly! It is the last Friday of the month, though, which means I get to share another My First Quilt interview 😊 This month Jenny Kae Parks is sharing the story of her first quilt. Jenny Kae Parks is a quilting teacher and designer.
My First Quilt with Jenny Kae Parks | DevotedQuilter.com

You can connect with Jenny at her website, on Instagram, on Facebook, and on Youtube.

And now, here's Jenny's first quilt! Isn't it pretty?
My First Quilt with Jenny Kae Parks | DevotedQuilter.com

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


2021 I made quilted placements for a project with my kids. I fell in love with the possibilities. I dove in and never looked back!

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


I made a log cabin quilt using strip piecing.
My First Quilt with Jenny Kae Parks | DevotedQuilter.com

Who taught you to make the quilt?


Elinor Burns. No lie! I used her VHS lessons on The Log Cabin. Then a friend, Patty and I got together every week to quilt. I learned a lot from her. I used to record Quilt in a Day, Simply Quilts, Love of Quilting etc and watch them when I got time to myself. And I checked out SO many books and magazines!

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


Yes!  It took few years for me to realize that they were my color trifecta. Almost every quilt I made has blue, purple and green. I have branched out, using the quilter's secret weapon aka the color wheel. 
My First Quilt with Jenny Kae Parks | DevotedQuilter.com

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


I fell hard! I was planning my next quilt while making my first one. 

Where is the quilt now?


It is hanging in my closet. I use it for presentations to guilds.
My First Quilt with Jenny Kae Parks | DevotedQuilter.com

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


Plan more time for quilting! When I have the top done, I am irritated I am not finished yet! So I skimp on the quilting to finish faster. Instead, plan at least 30% of the time is spent on quilting. For example, if it takes me 60 hours to make a quilt top, plan 20 hours to quilt, at least.

Anything else you want to share about your first quilt?


I still love it! I love the colors, the arrangement, the blocks and the feel of the washed quilt. The log cabin is one of my favorite blocks! 


Thanks for sharing your first quilt with us, Jenny! I love it, too!

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