Old Family Quilt Repurposed

I've been working on this for a while.  Like many of my projects, deciding what I wanted to do and developing a plan took longer than the execution.  I was given an old family quilt in January.  And it has a story.  My sister and I were both given quilts from our grandmother when we left Canada (at age 6 for me). Mine was a red print and hers was a blue paisley like design, both made with solid pieces of fabric and tied.  Little did we know at the time that old family quilts lived under those printed fabric covers.  By the time I acquired the remains of my sister's quilt (and that was how why I would describe it) all the blue fabric covering the original quilt was gone.  There were holes and tears and worn spots.  It was really beyond repair.  

I wanted to do something to preserve the memory, if not the substance,  of the quilt and explored various options.  I decided to use some of the "best" parts that remained and make mementos for family members and something for myself.  The mementos will be shared here once I gift them to their recipients.  The vest is what I made for myself.  

I used this free pattern from Purl Soho: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/02/20/corinnes-thread-quilted-vest/. First I washed the quilt by hand add Oxi clean to try and remove the yellowness.  It worked remarkably well but unfortunately it also took some of the original color (green and brown blocks became very faded).  Then, It took a considerable effort to cut this out using the best parts of the quilt.  I still had to take apart other sections and add new squares back to my vest where the fabric was the most worn, faded, or totally disintegrated.  

I added the pockets (every vest NEEDS pockets, don't you think?) and handstitching to give a little more interest.  For some reason after that, my vest went into UFO pile or timeout for many months.  This week, I resurrected the project, made and added the binding, including binding the inside seams).  Then I used my embroidery machine and a Mini Quilt Design from Designs by JuJu to make the little pin. I'm undecided about the placement of the pin, it may go up higher on one side.  But I'm very pleased that I was able to make something I will actually wear from this old family treasure.  

The pins were  so much fun to embroider (I made two today), I think I will have to make more, perhaps for our Quilt Guild's sale in March.  

 

From UFO to...

I've had a creative surge in the last couple of weeks and finished a number of projects, old and new.  At least one will remain anonymous until it is gifted later this month.   But here are the others I can share:  

1) Cozy from a Kantha quilt.  I did modify the pattern from DesignsbyHeidi considerably.  I made the neck opening smaller and simultaneously took inches out of the width of the top. My earlier muslin helped me to create a new, more fitted pattern.   It's still oversized, but doesn't overhwelm me. I modified the pocket shape a bit and made it smaller than the original pattern.   I  also added 8 1/2 inches to the sleeves and took out some of the bullk in the sleeves by grading from about the elbow down an adding buttons at the wrist.  Since I used french seams I ended up with a top that can be worn 4 different ways!  Thanks Heidi for a great design and the tips you've given me along the way.  

This satisfying project makes me want to make another piece of clothing with a Kantha.  I'm currently reviewing design ideas.  

2) Kawandi lap sized quilt.    This is something I started in April after completing a smaller Kawandi piece (blues in my earlier post). It's completely hand sewn and I tried to follow the traditional Kawandi methods. in creating it.   This meant I added pieces from the outside in, sewing with large running stitches.  I added four "Phula" (flowers) on the corners as I finished the first row of fabric pieces.  I used double gauze on the back and some recycled scarves inside.  The quilt has quite a lovely feel to it.  I did find it more and more difficult to stitch as I got further from the outside edges.  

If you want to know more about Kawandi, I have added a link to the article I put together.  The link is on the right of this blog.  

3) One of the most satisfying and unique completions was a political banner I made for outside my studio.  It was adapted from the Kamala Quilt by Modern Quilt Studio.  The original quilt design is larger and has 5 repeats of "Kamala".  Modern Quilt Studio offers it as a free download but asks you to make a $10 to the Harriz/Walz campaign as payment.  Since I don't consider myself to be a quilter, I was challenged by mydecision to make the quilt blocks smaller for the banner, in fact I ended up creating a spreadsheet in order to get the correct dimensions.  For the first time ever I used the scanning feature on my Brother Dream Machine to scan my own handwriting and add the text in embroidery.   

4) Finally a knitting UFO.  I started this project, called Islands in the Stream,  back in May, and I had periods of inactivity with this project that prolonged its completion for months.  Pictured below is the shawl while it is being blocked.  It's still much too warm here in Arizona to wear it yet.  For other knitters, you can find more details of the yarn I used, etc. on my Ravelry page: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/homemadeoriginal/islands-in-the-stream#

Creative Paralysis or How New UFOs are Made

Laptop Sleeve

Sometimes, I get stuck during my creative process and if I'm not careful I can end up with another UFO (unfinished object) to add to my growing collection.    In this case, too many options to consider has me a bit stuck.  I'm currently working on a "Cozy" top, pattern by Heidi Emmert. using a Kantha quilt I purchased for this purpose. Here is a link to the pattern info:  https://designsbyheidi.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/anytime-is-a-good-time-to-get-cozy/

I actually made a "muslin" earlier which probably doesn't really count as a muslin as I used some fabric I've had a long time in my stash and I hope to actually wear the finished product.  

Years ago, there was a SAS Fabric store in Tucson and they had great bargains....tables and tables of fabric bolts and pieces, notions, etc.  All at discount prices.  This fabric came from there and probably cost $3 a yard.  It's a lovely weight of woven fabric that has a nice hand.  Earlier this week I was looking for fabric to make a laptop sleeve since my MacBook Air is a little too big for the previous laptop case I made.  I found this fabric in a box and proceeded to make a new cover.  In the process I thought maybe I have enough of this fabric left to make the "muslin" Cozy before cutting into the Kantha quilt I purchased to make the pattern.    

Cozy "muslin"

As I proceeded I had to make some modifications to my first Cozy...making a large pleat in the center front and back to take out fullness and shortening the collar plus putting the pockets in the side seams.  I'm happy with the final product and ready to tackle Cozy #2 except I can't decide how to lay out the pattern on the quilt, which parts I want to use.  Should I make the collar go in the same direction as the front or not?  What sort of pockets should I make.  I don't think I want just simple patch pockets but I also don't want in seam pockets because I plan to use (another decision) French seams or Flat felled seams to make this Cozy reversible.  

Kantha for my second cozy

As I tried to figure of the pockets,  I searched online and in some books in my library and sketched out some different pocket options.  I was also reminded of this apron I made which has unique shaped pockets that I really like.  (I used my embroidery machine and design software to embellish them).  

Decisions decisions...but I think it's finally time to take the plunge and scissors and move ahead!  

Rabbit Holes February-July 2024

I've taken another long hiatus since my last post in 2023, but as I continue to go down new creative "rabbit holes" I had the urge to share some of my recent creations.  I hope to post again soon about the most recent ones.  These were all completed February-July.  

Kawandi means quilt. A spool of thread and a needle, some fabric, and mindful stitching combined with a simple technique are the only elements needed for this age-old art of quilting. A kawandi is a utility quilt made by members of the Siddi community of India and Pakistan. Kawandi was brought to Western India and Pakistan by immigrants from Africa over 800 years ago. 

Smaller pieces of fabric are sewn onto a sari or other backing working from the outside edges inwards, often in a counter-clockwise direction. They usually start in one corner, and work their way around, adding pieces as they go with a simple running stitch. There are no raw edges, but typically put phulla (flowers) in the corner of the quilt that are folded triangles of fabric with raw edges.  

After learning about Kawandi and experimenting by making this small piece,  I led a guild study group session on this technique which involved putting together a handout and demonstrating the technique to the group.   Now, I'm working on a larger Kawandi that will be lap blanket sized.  Well to be honest, it's currently in "timeout" as I work on other things.    

English Paper Piecing:  Inspired by The Last Homely House on Youtube I taught myself to do English paper piecing which involves and completed several projects using small hexagons that are hand sewn together.   

Needle Case (pattern from Etsy store:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewingRoomSecrets

I also made this notebook cover.  I sized it to fit a composition book so I can replace the pages once I've filled them.  

Weaving:  In the past month, I finally warped my neglected 4 harness Gilmore loom to make two sets of towels.  Tying the second warp on to the first one proved a bit problematic, but I think I know what mistakes I made so won't have to repeat them again.  The draft is Keep It Simple towels from Handwoven, Summer 1985.  I made the labels for the towels with my embroidery machine (Brother Dream Machine).  My notes about the project can be found on Ravelry

ry:  https://ravel.me/homemadeoriginal/xcf5p6

Machine Embroidery:  

Designs on a denim jackets for a friend and granddaughter: 

Gilmore Girls design on a bag for my granddaughter's birthday:

In the hoop bag, design from Parker on the Porch:

Collage Art

It's been a long while since I've posted on this blog, but I wanted to document my recent creations in fabric collage.  A few months ago, I attended a four day Fiber Art retreat taught by Deb Deaton of DJs Fiber Arts.  

Her techniques include raw edge appliqué, free motion quilting, painting the background with transparent fabric paints, and other multi media techniques (use of roving, thread, pens, pastels, etc.). I loved going down this creative "rabbit hole" so much that I have now created three art quilts in less than two months.  

The first, Saguaro, was completed mostly during the August retreat using Deb's pattern.  

My next project involved using a free pattern from Maxine Tarsey.  This one is called "Blue Tit" which is apparently a UK bird.  Maxine has a Facebook group called Fabric Collage Patterns. She has a monthly subscription plan for her collage patterns.   I've decided not to purchase it, even though it is very reasonably priced because I am more interested in creating new pieces from my original designs. Maxine's Youtube videos do provide great step by step instructions for her design process as well as the creation of specific patterns.    

Blue Tit was completed over two weeks in September and would have been done sooner but I had a four-day trip to Denver during that time.  To say I was driven to complete it and see it finished is probably accurate.  With this piece, I decided to use Lite Steam a Seam2 as my fusible as I had been a bit frustrated with the Misty fuse I used for the Saguaro piece.  There are advantages and disadvantages of different fusible products and it is clear that different quilt artists have their favorites.  I may be still trying to find mine.  

After getting some experience using prepared patterns, I was ready to try my hand at creating my own design.  I have a previous neighbor who is an excellent amateur photographer known for his bird photos.  I was excited when he granted me permission to use his photos for my collage art.  I had a hard time deciding between a couple of photos, but settled on the Rufous Hummingbird.

I used Affinity Designer II app on my IPAD (free trial and relatively inexpensive program for IPAD) to trace a drawing of the bird.  After saving it as a pdf file, I was able to use Adobe Reader on my Mac computer to print it poster sized (tiled).    See screen shot below for settings I used.  I trimmed and taped the pages together and had a full sized pattern to use for my collage.   

Selecting fabrics for the collage was the next step using the photo as a guide.  I actually headed to the quilt store for more fabrics after this photo was taken.  Batiks work best because they are tightly woven and printed on both sides.  But I also used other cotton fabrics.  

The stamens for the Bird of Paradise flowers were made by free motion quilting onto washable stabilizer using an embroidery hoop.  I tried pinning the completed stitching on a piece of styrofoam to keep it's shape while I washed away the stabilizer.  After drying, the stamens were added to the piece. 

I also used pastels, Tsukineko Fabrico pens, and Inktense pencils to embellish the design.  I also added some cheesecloth which I colored using Inktense.  Finally, I did free motion quilting around the fabric pieces and for embellishment.  The reverse of my piece ended up looking a bit like a negative:

I faced the piece and made a sleeve for hanging.   Then I used Inkjet Printing cotton sheets by Jacquard and my inkjet printer to make the label.  The first photo shows my creation with the original photo on my IPAD and below that is the finished piece, approximately 22x28" in size and ready for hanging.  

  

The cutest little pumpkin pattern

You can find the cutest little pumpkin knitting pattern here.  I've knit up 3 of them already and am working on a larger one too.