Another Quilt With the Feel of Africa

I decided that Kalahari Fire Ring was very flat and lacking in the detail that I like, so I decided to try something using the Cathedral Window block. I think these fabrics are more vibrant, and that satisfies my interpretation of African textiles. I had to dedicate a piece of fabric for the windows that was earmarked for a vest lining, because I fussy cut the windows. The repeat on the fabric was so large that I had to break it down to 3 sets of 4 windows each. The center four were one, the remaining 8 were two different cuts. I like the red/orange in the center of this a lot. The fact that the windows were cut from leaf shapes also echoed the leaf prints in the black fabric, and I like that kind of continuity in my work, if I can make it happen.

My closeups always look distorted...but this is 12.5" square

These 3 black fabrics were companion pieces that I got from a shop in Columbus Ohio, and I liked that they all felt organic in the design. My method for hanging these small pieces is to get a wooden dowel, and cut it to fit inside the sleeve. I then wrap tape around the ends and screw in eyelets. The tape prevents the wood from splitting, and I  can use a smaller dowel that doesn't distort the front of the quilt. There is no weight to speak of, so this can be hung with straight pins. They don't leave much of a mark, and it can be moved around without too much wall damage. It's how I hang all my pieces here, and it works very well. I also like that there is no visible hanging hardware.

My next Cathedral Window experiment will include rectangle blocks that impart a bit of a 3-D effect. This pattern uses a LOT of fabric and needs a LOT of hand stitching, but I like the result, so I think I'm going to work on another piece.

Vintage Goldmine

Well, I hit the mother lode of vintage fabric last weekend, and the second of four parcels arrived today. This first photo is just a VERY small sample of one auction that I won. The woman who did this work had to be an amazing person. She had so many projects started, and had taken the time to keep the groups together, many of them in zip bags. There are literally thousands of blocks, groups, pieces and parts. I am amazed at the variety of pieces in this collection.

This sewer liked what I like. I was humbled to open the box and start looking through what was there. Some of the pins were still holding pieces together, waiting to be stitched. One piece still had the needle and thread in it, where she left it. I have no idea who she was, or her name, or where she lived. But I feel like I know about her. I know the stitches on these pieces now, some by hand, some by machine. She was knowledgeable, the point and seam matching was quite nice. Some of zip bags contained cut pieces that are about an inch square, and the template is there as well, with the lead marks on it where the pencil slipped as she traced it over and over. Wow. I think I am meant to carry on where she left off, and I plan on working everything I can into clothing, green bags, and gifts for friends. Some of the bigger pieces will be quilted and bound for wall art. I have to honor what she began.

 This is the second batch, over 400 1" squares, 5 bags, sorted by color. Again, this person was busy. Some of them had been stitched together, and taken back apart. Lots of feed sack prints, amazing, vintage fabric goodness that is going to find its purpose in the now.

It's funny how this stuff is still out there. Fabric is fragile; an organic thing that doesn't last forever. Some quilts seem to have stood the test of time, others look as though the dog's had them under the porch. I have seen both, and when I came across these groups, I felt like I could save them. I could make things that would give them life, and hopefully, they will be around for a long time. The Mr. is on work travel for a month, so I have time to sew, along with painting ceilings and walls. It's going to be a good, productive 30 days. :-)

A New Twist On Cathedral Window

Cathedral Windows as a quilt pattern has always fascinated me. I tried to make one a long time ago, but in my impatience, I didn't follow the directions, and had raw edges on the blocks, and that didn't work. Enter a book on the assembly, lots of sewing experience, and the understanding of how it goes together,  and I have decided that I like it very much. The book is full of  lots of ideas that take this pattern way beyond the muslin background which was the style back in the 50s. This has a fresh and artsy twist of color, which I like. So my sensible goal was to make a 3x3 block wall quilt so I could complete something with it before I decided that I didn't like it. But that wasn't the case. There are so many beautiful fabrics and the combinations of prints for the blocks and the windows make it difficult to see where one ends and the other begins. I like that. The only down side is that the blocks take a lot of fabric, and so much of it remains unseen. That seems wasteful to me. I would love to know who invented this design. Quilts in the old days were utilitarian, and this pattern uses so much fabric, that I can't imagine it being very practical for ordinary quilters who used old clothing and scraps with which to sew. Well, hat's off to whomever came up with the idea, because its my new favorite, and this 12"x12" experiment will look nice hanging on my wall.  

PHOTOS ©pegyates/2011