For this year's @ESWNtweets @science_a_thon, I'm documenting how I created my latest science story in a quilt – a story of #CoastalOptimism for southern Louisiana. Follow my #DayOfScience to learn about the benefits of an "open levee" and how the quilt comes together! pic.twitter.com/6EtItsPiez

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

Before the quilt comes the story. At @LUMCONscience #odotcomm18, I expanded my knowledge of levee systems, thanks to fieldtrips with Denise Reed & @AlexSKolker, sharing how humans can control access through earthen levees for water and fish #DayOfScience https://t.co/o47Kocm3CK

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

To tell a science story in a quilt, fabric selection is key. There are no "levee" fabrics, but I'm thankful to services like @Spoonflower where I could upload my photos and have fabrics created! Smaller images from Bayou Petit Caillou Floodgate/Highway 56 Rollergate #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/Zu6hOuHbI1

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

When I'm creating a science quilt, the time I spend the longest with is selecting the fabric – I always overthink the fabric selection! For this quilt, it was no different. Which fish fabric? Which fabric for the ocean? Which border color? Will I use any of these??? #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/FCoiKf4YrD

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

When I started telling science stories in quilts, I used to try to find the right quilt pattern to lay out the fabrics for the narrative. Lately, I've been creating my own patterns, as I've received feedback to keep the layout simple, so here's the design I sketched #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/1pFwQSxuxI

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

Now that I have my design, it's back to fabric selection to match the story. Fortunately, I have a "quilt whisperer" to consult. My husband is so supportive of my quilting science stories! I never feel 100% confident with my selections, but time to start cutting! #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/yvgGjFrphH

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

Now comes the pressing of the fabric, then the cutting… keeping in mind as I'm making this pattern up, I need to remember to measure and leave enough fabric for a seam allowance! So many steps before the actual sewing of a science quilt begins… #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/IXdJF3n1oF

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

One tweet doesn't capture the hours it took to cut/measure/sew/press/repeat, but this science quilt top came together very nicely! The four corner images show different views looking up and down the bayou from the top of one of these gates and from the water #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/lkEuKMIQrc

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

I added the red fabric for some color to brighten up the levee images, and then on to my least favorite part of science quilting – the pinning of the backing to the batting and top. To make things worse, I realized I pinned the wrong backing fabric! Ugh! Take 2… #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/SwCgc99Q0R

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

This is the fabric that goes on the back of the quilt! I learned that the residents of the local parish (Terrebonne) voted and paid for the gates themselves but would like to have funding from the federal government to improve the levee & increase its height #DayOfScience pic.twitter.com/iaVT2oGHpV

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020

Yay! It took two @science_a_thon days (not just one #DayOfScience), but I was able to complete the #quilt and share a story of how we can build levees for protection but still allow fish/water/nutrients to flow through, keeping our ecosystems healthy. #SciQuilt #SciComm pic.twitter.com/IG0stRlj7D

— Dr. G (@guertin) October 16, 2020