Our Spotlight Quilter this month is Dr. Michael Elinski, who is an enthusiastic longarmer who helps us complete quilts by quilting and binding them.. Read on to learn his unique story and his important reminder to all our wonderful volunteers who donate quilt tops and quilt kits…
I taught myself to sew in 2012 by watching YouTube videos, taking online sewing classes, and reading sewing and quilting books. At first I quilted on a domestic sewing machine, using “stitch in the ditch” or simple patterns. Often, I sent out my large quilts to long arm quilters, because I wanted a nicer, professionally finished quilting job.
In 2017, I was offered a very affordable longarm quilting setup, and began to practice on the frame and a Coronet 16” long arm quilting machine. I was then encouraged to start quilting for Quilts Beyond Borders to continue learning while doing some good work for a fine benevolent nonprofit organization. That is when I met QBB Regional Coordinator, Karen Matheson, after being directed to her from the Quilts Beyond Borders email. Her encouragement and the educational material she shared truly helped me start and built up my confidence.
The first package of 5 quilt kits arrived in January 2018 and seemed a bit overwhelming to me, but I quilted and bound them. I’ve been long arm quilting now for just over one year, am feeling more comfortable with the process, and I am motivated to continue quilting for QBB and helping people in need, with the ability to provide them with a quilt to wrap around themselves, when times are down. For the recipient of the quilt, I hope the quilt represents the feeling that someone in the world cares for them, when they really need a hug.
The quilt means that you are not alone in the world and that you must never give up on hope. I especially enjoy quilting for the children who are among the recipients of these quilts, trying to make their quilts look and feel as cheerful and loving as possible. My favorite part of quilting is the ability to make a quilt from the very beginning of the process to the final binding. I love the assembly of the quilt top, batting, and backing, so that the handmade quilts become the symbol of love which they are meant to be, quilted by long arm machine with a joyous design and finally bound, so that it lasts for years to come.
My passion for quilting also comes after decades of chronic illness which forced the agonizing decision to give up my lifelong medical profession due to pain and medication side effects. Now that I quilt, I feel more worthwhile. Quilting also helps me maintain my health. I am grateful to still be helping others, after I had to make this dramatic transition in my life. Quilting makes me feel whole again.
However, there are some challenges while supporting Quilts Without Borders. Some quilts kits I receive do not come with enough backing material for me to properly mount the quilt on my frame. Therefore, I need to spend more time sewing fabric extensions on the backings to reach the quilt frame bars. As the Quilt Dimensions and Criteria page on the QBB site states, each quilt kit needs backing and batting at least 8″ wider and longer than your quilt top. (4” larger on each side). For example a 42” x 60” quilt top needs a back and batting that is 50” x 68”. This example photo of a quilting frame setup should help you visualize why the backing and batting need to be larger than the top:
The other challenge is that many quilt tops come to me with the binding strips not sewn together. That means another hour of sewing to make the binding usable.
If these two issues were resolved, QBB could likely increase the number of quilts that are completed each year. That would mean more people get a hug from the quilt that keeps them feeling warm, loved, and cared about.
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Michael, we appreciate you and all the wonderful work you’ve done for Quilts Beyond Borders! Happy Valentine’s Day!
