Sandra's 'test' medallion quilt design |
Erica's growing collection of blocks |
Detail of an early quilt by Sandra |
It is more than the usual 'Show and Tell' where work is held up for a few minutes and then put away quickly so that the rest of the meeting can continue!
These sessions will give the individual an opportunity to talk about the things that mean the most to them and it allows the group to spend time looking at the items in detail, to ask questions, and to admire.
4 blocks - same design - different fabric |
Sandra and Erica started off our 'I am proud of this' series - both ladies are relatively new to the art of quilt-making but they are very enthusiastic about exploring new techniques, trying new ideas and discovering all aspects of the wonderful world of quilting.
Ikea's best! |
The cost of fabric can be daunting, especially when first trying out new blocks and techniques, but Sandra has found some lovely less expensive fabrics in unexpected places like Aldi and Ikea.
We were able to have a look at many of the pieced patchwork tops that Sandra has made since starting sewing about three years ago, but she admits that the next hurdle is getting to grips with the quilting itself.
Detail of Erica's hexagon quilt |
The first piece that Erica showed was the wedding dress she had made for her daughter and then we were treated to a delightful display of a wide range of patchwork cushions and bags (images on Facebook).
Some time ago, Erica was given a box of paper-pieced hexagons, the style of fabric suggesting that they probably date back to 1970's. At first she was not sure what to do with them all but by adding the calming cream hexagons, Erica came up with this fresh 'modern' arrangement.
The result is a stunningly impressive quilt that measures about 55 x 85 inches - just right to drape over a single bed. A little technical information for the curious - it is all hand pieced and hand quilted, with a backing in dark green and cream strips.
Embroidered quilt label |
It is good to see the label on the back that hints at the story behind this quilt; it seems to complete the piece and make it much more significant. And it reminds us all to label our own quilts to ensure their stories live on too.
Detail of Amish quilt made by Chris and Erica |
Erica is proud of the fact that, even though making her daughter’s wedding dress put her off sewing for a while, when she started patchwork and quilting classes her love of stitching returned and that she loves learning new things.
Thanks ladies for a fascinating glimpse into your sewing worlds.
More images on Facebook
Look out for the next in our series 'I am proud of this' in the Spring