Click for a larger view of Judy Gula’s finished patchwork above ”
I can still keep in mind when Bonnie K. Seeker spoke at my regional patchwork guild, the Burke chapter of Quilter’s Unlimited * of Northern Virginia. I loved her patchwork samples, patterns and also textile selections. Are you surprised? I have a really diverse task in textiles, from vintage to modern to ethnic. Bonnie struck the upcycle/repurpose interest that I have by using fabric salvaged from old clothing in her quilts. We do a great deal of repurposing of items at Artistic Artifacts, specifically me!
After listening to Bonnie talk, the very following day I bought her publication: Scraps & Shirttails: Reuse, Re-purpose, Recycle! The Art of “Quilting Green.”
Rapid Onward a number of years, and also I finally acquired enough scraps of Australian Native designed textile to try my hand at string/paper piecing. I intended to illustrate the factor that many standard patchwork patterns are best for our ethnic fabrics, including batiks and also Australian.
Paper assembling? I had no idea just how to do it … I felt in one’s bones that required I print out the template in Bonnie’s book. I selected her Virginia Strings block … her publication keeps in mind that this is traditionally knows as the Rocky Road to Kansas however because she assembled her patchwork while she was right here in Northern Virginia for a week training, and also backed it with a deal acquisition of College of Virgina material, she was motivated to call her patchwork Virginia Bound.
I published enough duplicates of the quarter block layouts to create six blocks in overall … I currently knew that I would not be creating a complete size quilt top. I pieced a couple of blocks and brought them, my publication, devices as well as scraps (together with a pair various other tasks) to my chapter’s yearly patchwork resort to get “in-person” training. Lucky for me, a fellow Burke participant at the resort had already utilized this block and supplied some suggestions:
Make your stitches short in order to make drawing the paper off easier. I can tell you that this step makes a big distinction! Bonnie likewise supplies this recommendations in her books and also on her blog site; she has a number of totally free patterns and tutorials available, such as this Flying Geese patchwork.
Develop your block rather bigger than you want it, as well as cut it down with a square theme. I was producing 8″ squares and also utilized my 8 1/2″ square, my revolving cutting floor covering and big Havel’s Rotary cutter to do the cutting.
So below we go. I assume that Bonnie advises that you start at the other end– for some reason I began with the smaller component of the kite shape. To assist me while embroidery, I did fold my template along the lines. Others will certainly map over the lines with a Sharpie to make them bolder, if they do not show via to the back of the paper.
Maintain piecing, by sewing right sides of textile strips with each other, after that turning the last one added pull back to make sure that the ideal side of the textile is facing up.
Below, I am starting to strip piece the sides of the quarter block, making use of lighter fabrics so that the last block design will show.
Using my 8 1/2″ square ruler to cut the block from the back.
The front of my trimmed square! Leaving aside the fact that my photo turned out a bit blurred, it looked pretty good to me, so I made a few even more.
I determined to maintain going … besides, it had not been like I was going to lack fabric!
Edited: My initial post finished: “Below, my patchwork top currently. I do need to say that I enjoy with how this has actually turned out. Will I create extra blocks? I am not sure yet. I might simply finish this up with a boundary and sewing.” As you can see from the picture on top of this modified blog post, yes, I DID finish it up! See my message Quilting with a Strolling Foot for added information.
My challenge to you is to take a favorite “standard” quilt pattern as well as usage non traditional textiles! Send us your photographs, whether a finished quilt, top, or assembled blocks, as well as we will share them on our blog site.
* I’m honored to claim I’m showing at the upcoming 42nd Annual Quilter’s Unlimited Patchwork Show in Chantilly, VA, May 28-31, signing up with Jane Dávila, Dominique Ehrmann, Gyleen Fitzgerald, and Cyndi Souder with an exciting schedule of courses appropriate for all levels of competence. Many people travel to our program annually, as it (rightfully) has a reputation as one of the most effective on the East Coast. Come join us!
Associated Blog posts:
Virginia’s Quilt
Block Printed Wonky Scrap Quilt
As Seen at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Event
Graphic & Improv Modern Scrap Patchwork
Quilters’ Mission & Artistic Artifacts
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