Amish
Houses: 2006 (Started: 1988)
I had been introduced to the exciting colours of Amish quilts and wanted to make something using these specific colour ways. I chose a traditional schoolhouse block to make up.
Gradually, I collected colours and purchased a
pack from Keepsake Quilting; probably to supplement what I had already in my
stash. I think I started the house
blocks as early as our Queenscliff days in 1988. The blocks languished for many years as I
wasn’t particularly inspired after I had made them up. They just seemed a little pedestrian, even with their night & day theme, if you
know what I mean.
I finally came up with the additional star
blocks after flicking through some old issues of Quilters Newsletter Magazine
and began to work them up from some of my leftover plains. I got to the basting stage in 2002 but it
still looked dull….
Then, back in 2006, I found some vivid stars at Craft Depot in Pennant
Hills and couldn't wait to get home to undo my basting.
This colourful backing added a bit of zing to my quilt and I started hand
quilting the house blocks and stars. Then I machine quilted the border from the back
using the stars as a guide, resulting in an interesting star shape on the
borders. Should have done this all
over!!! Always a lesson learned… Still another UFO off the pile and finished
at last!
Block Size: 12”& 6”
Cut & Pieced in: Hand 1988
Basted: 2002
Quilted: Hand & Machine 2006
Quilt Type: Amish Influence
Quilt Finished: 2006
Exhibited:
Collection: Gifted 3 Oct 2023
Pattern Name: Little School House
Pattern Source: Unknown
Fabrics Purchased: 1988
Fabric Design: Amish Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton
Lessons Learned:
Another UFO that waited many years for inspiration to strike! Sometimes it’s quite a pleasure to re-visit UFO’s. I keep them all in a separate box so that I can challenge myself to finish at least one a year. (Previously, I had a couple of boxes, so there is progress, albeit slow!!)
I had been introduced to the exciting colours of Amish quilts and wanted to make something using these specific colour ways. I chose a traditional schoolhouse block to make up.
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| Amish colours - well, sort of! |
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| Gray seems to help make colours pop |
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| Backing adds that final lift |
Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 98.5 x 167.5cmBlock Size: 12”& 6”
Cut & Pieced in: Hand 1988
Basted: 2002
Quilted: Hand & Machine 2006
Quilt Type: Amish Influence
Quilt Finished: 2006
Exhibited:
Collection: Gifted 3 Oct 2023
Pattern Name: Little School House
Pattern Source: Unknown
Fabrics Purchased: 1988
Fabric Design: Amish Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton
Lessons Learned:
Another UFO that waited many years for inspiration to strike! Sometimes it’s quite a pleasure to re-visit UFO’s. I keep them all in a separate box so that I can challenge myself to finish at least one a year. (Previously, I had a couple of boxes, so there is progress, albeit slow!!)
