Ami's AfterChat NewsletterSpecial February 1998 SupplimentAmi Needs You Underwear For A Quilt!Please Note: This newsletter was originally sent in February, 1998. It may not have improved with age. Information may be outdated and irrelevant, not to mention useless. It is here only for your enjoyment.
WELCOME The editor at Woman's Day magazine called me a few weeks ago asking if I could make them some more quilts. "Sure," I say. "No problem." They gave me three whole weeks notice; I was thrilled. No matter that I have quilt projects that have to be completed so that I can finally finish that book I'm supposed to be writing. A big impressive magazine like Woman's Day with 7 million readers wants quilts, they're going to get quilts. My name listed as DESIGNER in type the size of gnat droppings? Would you turn that down? Of course not! The editor wanted quilts made out of "found" things. Things around the house that everybody has. Like blue jeans and bandannas, T-shirts and old neck ties. (My job is not to question, just obey.) First thing I did was call my friend Mary Andrews who whipped up a quilt out of old ties. Gorgeous. She also had an awesome bow tie quilt made out of her son's old flannel shirts. Awesome. I'm almost finished with the blue jean and bandanna number and I was ready to begin the T-shirt quilt when two things happened. First, I realized I don't have enough T-shirts with logos on them that I wanted to cut up. Second, I got really silly. I started thinking of other found things. Then I started thinking of LOST things that I could make a quilt out of. And then it hit me----socks. I'm always losing socks. I don't lose a whole pair, just one sock. They probably fly out the dryer vent or get sucked into the lint trap, but they're gone and I'm left with sock widows. You too, right? Why not make a quilt out of mismatched socks? I don't have enough of those either, but if I did, boy oh boy, what a quilt. Imagine eight socks, elastic bands together, fanning out in a rosette of worn toes. Or rows of socks, heel to toe. Short socks, tall socks, white socks, dress socks. Socks with designs. Theme socks. I could call the quilt "Put A Sock In It." (I know. I really need to get out more.) Or gloves. Gloves with no mates. I save those too. I could spell out things in sign language with the fingers. Or layers and layers of gloves, wrists at the center, fingers out, placed in concentric circles like a giant flower. I could call the quilt "How Do I Glove You, Let Me Count The Ways. Or I could cut off fingers and call it "Glove Me, Glove Me Not." Then I started thinking of men's' briefs. You know, Fruit of the Loom. I had once seen a cartoon in the local paper of a quilt made out of briefs. Four pair to a block, crotches to the center, waistbands squared to the sides of the block, the leg holes and "frontal stitching" making a delightful secondary design. (No, I don't drink.) Well, it's already been done, so maybe I should try boxers. What do you think? I could call the quilt "Let Me Be Brief." OOOh, what about shirt sleeves?! Joined at the arm pit, bent at the elbow. I'd call it "Just Sleeve Me Alone." Or wait, just the cuffs! A medallion quilt made out of just the cuffs off of men's shirts. (Come on, he won't miss them!") Button one to the other and top stitched in rows on something heavy like denim. Call it "Off The Cuff." Oh, I gotta stop! Back to why this ended up in YOUR email box. I absolutely need to make the T-shirt quilt. And, the editor loved the sock quilt. I've gotta make that one too. Thought I would just send the boxer shorts quilt uninvited and if she likes it fine and if not, well that's OK too. I just thought up the glove, sleeve and cuff quilt while I was writing this email. In any case, I'm already passed my deadline. I can just squeeze it in if I pull of couple all-nighters. But I love living on the edge. (On the edge of WHAT!?) Here's what I need from you. 1. Send me logo T-shirts. As many as you have. I'll pick the best ones, cut them up for the quilt and donate the rest to charity. I don't have any preference as to logos. Shirt size is irrelevant. Whatever you've got will be fine. I don't care about the color either. Surprise me. I'm thinking king size..... 2. Got any mismatched socks? I'll take them all. Same rules. What I can't use, I'll donate. Maybe we'll even be able to match some! What are the odds? I don't care what size, color, or condition, just wash 'em first, OK? If you've got an idea for a quilt or a block, send it along. 3. I'll take your shorts too. Boxers that is. Any kind of fabric from utilitarian cotton to the sexy slinky stuff. The wilder the better. Send them anonymously if you like. I'm thinking giant half square triangles for a really simple pattern. It's really the fabric I'm interested in. 4. Shirt sleeves and gloves. Go through the closet. I'll take whatever you've got. I'm leaving for Rochester, MN a week from yesterday to present some lectures and workshops for the Quilters' Sew-Ciety. I've got to start these quilts the day I get back, so if you're going to help me out and send something, do it quick. I need it by March 4. If you want to come over and help, let me know. Now, if you're thinking to yourself "yeah, sure" just imagine. You're waiting in the check out line at the grocery, thumbing through the latest issue of Woman's Day when you turn to the person behind you, point to the picture on page 67 and announce, "Those are my socks!" How many people can do that? Now, I can't guarantee that the magazine will publish any of these quilts, but they did ask for them.....and by golly I think we ought to "Sock It To 'Em!" Please help me. Send your used clothing to:
Ami Simms
Ami Simms
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