Cabin Fever

House Log Cabin: 1989

Tamworth Town

I made this quilt by foundation piecing each block so that it was finished (or pre-quilted).  Following Georgia Bonesteel’s directions for her “Quilt as you Go Technique”, I stitched the blocks together to make a finished quilt. I chose this particular method as it didn’t require any further quilting once completed.  Time was of the essence when you had to produce a major work in 6 weeks.   I can’t say though that I enjoyed working this method, but what I did develop further as a theme was the use of odd, scrappy backings.

I decided to add a piped edging around the inner blocks and found adding the border to that something of a technical challenge but it all sat quite flat in the end.  I hand quilted the border. The piping adds a dimensionality to the quilt.

Lap Leftovers Floor Rug
Collection: Home# 019 (Lap Quilt)

I had so many left overs that I stitched together a baby floor rug out of them (91.5 x 125cm).  This was totally machined.  I remember really learning how to get the most out of my machines from this TAFE course, so in some ways, I was taking a giant leap from my very traditional hand piecing & quilting beginnings in Queenscliff.  Endless possibilities offered themselves and whilst I still enjoy the Zen experience of hand work, I have since used the machine to perform more mundane tasks faster. 

This quilt was completed as a major project for my Commercial Needlecraft course at Tamworth TAFE in 1989/90. Elective: Patchwork

I used kiddie prints for the back of Tamworth Town

Given that I had made a quilt for the elder son some years earlier, this one was for A (Mr Mayhem). I intended for this one to be used, hence the choice of cheaper fabrics and somewhat rugged machine stitching.  Heavy duty is a byword for boys.  (I have to laugh now to think that neither of them at the time had quilts anywhere near their beds!!!  Don't feel sorry for them.  I later made others, one of which expired from hanging rather too long on a clothes line - we are talking months here!)

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 131.5 x 226cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1989
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1989
Quilted: Machine 1989 (Quilt-as-you-go technique)
Quilt Type: Single Bed
Quilt Finished: 1989
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home# 018 (Log Cabin)
Pattern Name: Log Cabin
Pattern Source: Georgia Bonesteel
Fabrics Purchased: 1989
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains; House print
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
One of the joys of this course was the chance to trial a variety of techniques during class time. To me it was play time too. This course was not structured around finding yourself; it was a business class.  Like any apprentice, we needed to become familiar with our tools but also with managing a business or seeing scope for professional development within the trade.  To this end, I concentrated on technique and used the opportunity to determine if running a shop or teaching classes would work for me.  It most certainly was not wasted time!

Picture Pleasure

Joy Ride: 1989

Cute Katie

I saw this Koala pattern in an old McCall’s Needlework & Crafts magazine when I had been experimenting with machine applique. I had thought about doing the series (which may have been 4 cot quilts in all) but only completed Katie Koala on her balloon ride. One has to know one's limits...

I did an adventurous double binding border and used a variety of materials including leather, ribbon and lace in the machine applique project.

This quilt was completed as a major project for my Commercial Needlecraft course at Tamworth TAFE in 1989/90. Elective: Applique

Always fun with Machine Applique

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 90 x 116cm
Block Size:
Cut in: 1989
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1989
Quilted: Hand 1989
Quilt Type: TAFE Major Project
Quilt Finished: 1989
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home#0 17
Pattern Name: Katie Koala
Pattern Source: McCalls Magazine (July August 1981 p87)
Fabrics Purchased: 1989
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
This was a fun quilt to make although all that fusing with visoflix meant it was firm rather than a cuddly quilt. Also the 3D attachments made it rather unsuitable for a cot. In the end it could only be used as a wall hanging. If I made another as a cot quilt I would most certainly use needle turn applique to achieve a softer, more flexible (and thus washable) result and forget the 3D elements.     

Going Academic 1989

Tamworth TAFE: 1989-90

For now I think I have covered the best of those creative & learning years in Queenscliff.  I’m sure I’ve missed heaps and as I type I remember all the machine applique that I did too (mostly on children’s clothing) and haven’t added.  So there may be a few more posts for the late 80’s yet!

However, eventually the time came when we had to say a fond farewell to the Bellarine Peninsular and move on.  Away from the Victorian coast and out far into NSW northern slopes & plains.  Yes, Tamworth and country music’s great champion. 

We settled in well and enjoyed the companionship of a close knit community there too.  This was our first experience of living in a large, self-supporting country town.  The children added a number of outdoor activities including horse riding, soccer and BMX biking to their list of must do sports.   I went back to school. 

The Tamworth TAFE offered a two year Commercial Needlecraft course and this presented me with a couple of exciting opportunities.  First was the chance to explore a wide range of textile crafts and techniques with expert tutors.  Secondly, I had a chance to see if I could earn a living from a hobby I was passionate about.  More on that later!

So it was back to school.  This course meant I had little time to explore my own work (as it were) with a demanding schedule and rigorous assessment.  In order to complete the course in two years, each semester we had to complete (over a period of 18 weeks) a staggering list of core subjects and at least two electives.  Assessment was by reference book, class exercises and, for the electives, a major work.

We made up reference books for each subject.  It contained course notes & exercises, illustrations & diagrams, our own notes and any material we were able to source on our subject such a newspaper clippings, samples, interview notes etc.  Presenting this in a jumble was not on the cards either as we were also assessed on clarity of content and layout of work. 

Class exercises were also assessed.  We were allocated marks based on planning, possession of appropriate equipment & materials and of course on our ability to coordinate colour, threads, fabrics, stitches and design details.   

I couldn’t wait to start….

Our basement made the perfect studio.  Photo by my MIL

Needless to say, not all the work we completed on the course was relevant to my P&Q habits, and although interesting work, I won’t be posting up every detail.  Most of my binders disappeared, albeit only a couple of years ago, when I finally started to clean up my garden shed to give me room to work.   

(As an aside, I’ve decided to cover my two years in Tamworth by the various groups or organisations I belonged to.  It seems easier that way and the flow of work easier to see.)