Crazy for Kathmandu

Never a dull day

One happy boy!

Nepal – what can I say!  This was yet another wonderful experience to follow on from those great days in Delhi.  Although I did stitch – very occasionally – most of my time was spent discovering the delights of this amazing country.  If I had a day free, then I would catch a cab into old Kathmandu and walk my socks off.  Even in my local neighbourhood, there was always something happening and usually all five senses beat the drum at once! 

Our favourite activity was without doubt running (or in my case – walking with Mr Monty) with the Himalayan HH Harriers.  We would meet every Saturday, usually in different locations in the Kathmandu valley, and get a real taste for local life...err, and the beer! 

Somehow it seems unfair to devote only a few lines to Nepal but I really didn’t manage to start any new projects.  The experience of Kathmandu plus our many travels through this magnificent country rounded out quite an amazing experience in this region.   So it was with some misgiving, we prepared to leave for a life back home in Australia.  Hampered of course, by a broken leg….

It isn’t my intention to discuss our travel adventures here – that’s for Textile Tourist.  However, don’t hold your breath as it takes quite some resolve to commit to all that research, recording and photo searching/saving.  And there’s quite a lot to say!  But it will happen…..

Annette's Choice 2005

A Brighter Day: 2005

The Garam Masala Quilters were an active lot, gathering weekly and always with many projects on the go.  Meetings were always fun, we shared lots of ideas and of course, loved to find shops to satisfy our fabric obsession.

A Brighter Day Quilt made by Annette

We all loved to share our textile finds

One of our group projects (Dec 2004) was a set of exchange blocks.  We had completed a couple of blocks for departing members prior to this but had not organised a serious project that covered something for all group members to share.  I think I set the bar a bit high with my request for a fantasy bag.  My general idea was for a purse, basket etc to be appliqued (or even applied eg a photograph) to the block.  The item was then to be decorated with items that represented that "fantasy".  For example, a snake charmer's basket (very India) with said dancing snake or an African safari suitcase with grazing giraffe. Out of the 8 participants, I only managed to be given 4 blocks back.  So my lesson was not to get too creative with exchanges!   

One of my blocks made by Corinne

Sadly, those that were made, and the details of others' requests (yes, I managed to get my 7 challenges completed!) still languish in my UFO box waiting for inspiration.  However, I think I may have found a solution following my visit to the Caroline Bay Quilters Exhibition in Gosford last year...  But I have wait to see if a pattern by Linda Butcher is still available.  Meanwhile the design stage, if I'm ever to get this quilt out of the box, requires a little massaging.

This exchange sadly marked my departure from the group and India in 2005.  I was sad to leave as I was just getting to know India.  It’s a big country with such incredible diversity that even our trips around Delhi and into other states did not cover everything we wanted to see and do.  And of course, the more you look the more there is to find.

(GM exchange blocks & exchange blocks #2  UFOs both Home Collection # 046 & 047)

Getting Shirty

Tailor’s Choice, Shankar Market: 2009  (Started: 2004)

Interestingly, I've just noticed those off-centre squares. Wow!  I see why it's
recommended to stand well back from or take a photo of your quilt in the design phase!

I was attracted to this quilt which enabled me to make use of various high quality shirting fabrics available in Delhi, India.  The quilt reminds me of the many neighbourhood tailor shops with machines, electric and treadle, and all impossibly ancient. This quilt speaks of a preference for handmade designs, beautiful fabrics and made to measure quality.

I liked the simplicity of the design with its blue and white stripes but wanted to add just smidge of red for some oomph.  Squares were cut from each pattern and then recut in triangles.  The pattern is more difficult than it looks and certainly tested my skills.  Firstly, remembering to set out the design on flannel before sewing* and then accurately stitching ¼ inch seams (which of course I didn’t and had to fudge a bit – as we all do!). 

The fabrics were sourced and purchased with Annette & two other ladies from the Garam Masala Quilters in Delhi at Shankar Market.  We had seen Kaffe Fasset’s design in “Passionate Patchwork” and decided Delhi’s bounty of shirting fabrics would be well suited to it. I recall that we purchased a metre each of the required number of fabrics, adding a few extras that we personally wanted to include in our design e.g. a splash of red.

The fabric store assistants were most helpful (all men; tailoring is taken most seriously) and we could have come home with a great deal more - the choice of stripes, even in this limited colourway, was fantastic!

Being greedy (like any kid in a lolly shop), I also purchased a collection of darker, autumn colour stripes to eventually make up (maybe) into Kaffe’s Optical Squares - also in Passionate Patchwork…. 

The design finished a little narrow for my liking and it took some time to decide on side panels – width and style of fabric.  I was desperate to put in some Chinoiseries style blue and white but thankfully, friends talked me into sensibly using plain blue bands. 

Pieced backing - good for using up left-overs...

I pieced the backing from remnants and an old blue & white cotton skirt I made (actually, pieced) years ago but had never worn.  A few florals were added to give the back a bit of zing.

The quilt was machine pieced then hand quilted sashiko style using thread purchased in Japan on a trip with Yvonne (2000).  The result has an essential “beach house” vibe.

* A lesson in designing with colour - Kaffe Fasset Workshop in Sydney 2000 

On Exhibition - Australia Day 2010

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 145 x 217cm
Block Sizes: 3 sizes: 9”; 6”; 3”various
Cut in: 2004 Delhi
Pieced & Basted: 2006 Kathmandu Machine
Quilted: 2009 Sydney
Quilt Type: Own Design
Quilt Finished: 2009 Sydney
Exhibited: Australia Day, 2010
Collection: Home# 048
Pattern Name: Shirt-Stripe Boxes p130
Pattern Source: Passionate Patchwork, Kaffe Fasset
Fabrics Purchased: Shirting 1200Rs each bundle; Shankar Market, India 2004
Fabric Design: Shirt Stripes
Fabric Style: Men’s shirting
Materials Type: Garam Masala Quilters & friends
Wadding Type: Cotton
Backing: Pieced using left-over remnants   

Meeting Mr Singh

Mr Singh & I: 2006  (Started: 2004)

This piece is one of my all-time favourites.  I purchased the fabrics (florals) at Nehru Place, specifically from HP Singh and Amit Textiles (Mr Jain).  Shankar Market provided me with an amazing variety of shirt stripes and a man’s lunghi (said "loone ghee"- a sarong) which became border pieces, albeit fussy cut. 

The story begins with a photo of the Garam Masala Quilters taken at Sandra’s home in October 2004.  It was then photocopied on fabric (commercially) and given to out to all those who wanted a copy.  Mine became a central medallion for this quilt and was kindly signed for me when I left the group mid-2005.

Using the Tin Man pattern, I made the “men” in florals to represent the Garam Masala Quilters and used the stripes in each block for background zing.  I also upsized the 6” block to 9”.  Now I had a fun “group”!

This fabric mix best represented our varied backgrounds and the man’s lunghi added a slightly masculine attitude and colour.  I had wanted to move away from using American florals and use locally available fabrics – these give even traditional patterns a new fresh look.

Once pieced, I took my top into a fabric shop in Khan Market to find a stripe to bind my quilt.  The store assistants were shocked to learn that I had sewn it myself. And I suspect they did not believe me initially!  I’m not sure that they had ever come across a quilter before.  I felt proud of my achievement as they admired the “quality work, Madam”.

My quilting visitor, Yvonne, lugged over masses of cotton wadding for me so that I could get a few projects underway – basted at least!  Finally, I managed to get the piece machine quilted (with my domestic).  I’m so pleased I took Bernie Bernina away with me to India (& then on to Nepal).  It was well worth the effort to have quality tools at my disposal.

"Mr Singh & I" was eventually hung, fittingly, on a wall in our house in Kathmandu – a happy reminder of my time with the GM Quilters.

Living in Delhi was a glimpse into many worlds, one of which was that of expat life.  One woman had a tailor on staff; another decorated her home like a gorgeous gallery.  I seriously fell in love with decorating Indian style!  So yes, serious envy on all counts!!

Just for the Record:

Quilt Finished Size: 108 x 175cm
Block Sizes: 6”
Cut in: 2004
Pieced & Basted: 2004/05
Quilted: Machine 2005
Quilt Type: Friendship
Quilt Finished: 2006
Exhibited: Australia Day, 2010
Collection: Home# 045
Pattern Name: Tin Men (enlarged to 9”) p229*
Pattern Source: *101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts” by Judy Hopkins & Nancy Martin
Fabrics Purchased: India 2004/05
Fabric Design: Various florals & stripes
Fabric Style: Handwoven & Commercial Cottons
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton Batt
Backing: Cotton Sarong

Yellow for Sun Gods

Indian Sari Series #3: 2011  (Started: 2004)
Konark’s Chariot

Lesson for photographers: lighting from behind doesn't work in this instance!

I’m not sure there’s a lot more to say about this one, number three, but oh my, that’s some interesting yellow to work with.  Very sadhu (holy man)!  I fussy cut a stripped ikat to add detail to the stars and used quite a collection of fabrics.  Lastly, rather than feature one large piece, I added two borders, offset, by that strong blue. 

Ah yes, there’s still more fabric waiting to be made up to add to this series.  One day, one day…..

(The Konark Sun Temple, a 13^th c Hindu temple, takes the form of a huge chariot for the Sun God, Surya.  It symbolises the passage of time: seven horses pull the chariot on 12 pairs of wheels.  Located in Orissa.  It is spectacular!)

Machine washed & clothes-line wonky

Just for the Record: 

Quilt Finished Size: 115 x 164cm
Block Sizes: various
Cut in: 2004
Pieced & Basted: Machine Pieced 2004; Basted 2005
Quilted: Machine 2011
Quilt Type: Own Design
Quilt Finished: Jan 2011
Exhibited: Australia Day, 2011
Collection: Home# 044
Pattern Name: Army Star, p35*
Pattern Source: Own Design
Fabrics Purchased: India 2004
Fabric Design: Ikat
Fabric Style: Handwoven Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton Batt
Backing: Cottons_Indian dress fabrics

*101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts” by Judy Hopkins & Nancy Martin

Delectable Mountains

Indian Sari Series #2: 2011  (Started: 2004)
Sun Temples in the Heat Haze

Australia Day Exhibition 2011

As always, once you actually start something it doesn’t take long to want to make another.  This time I chose “Delectable Mountains” as my basic pieced panel along with a substantial and oh-so-very interesting piece of ikat fabric to make up this quilt.  Again, I was inspired by the fabrics and considered how best to use them without losing their character.  Finally, I settled on making up an interesting sari pallu design. That brings together my interests in traditional clothing, textiles and pieced designs.

To add to the effect, I pieced up a backing making do with leftovers and “interesting” bits – all purchased at Nehru Place, of course!  Needless to say, it was all machined, including the quilting.  I added a few cowrie shells for good measure.

Backing with machine quilting showing - just!

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 112 x 160cm
Block Sizes: various
Cut in: 2004
Pieced & Basted: Machine Pieced 2004; Basted 2005
Quilted: Machine 2011
Quilt Type: Own Design
Quilt Finished: 2011
Exhibited: Australia Day, 2011
Collection: Home# 043
Block Name: Delectable Mountains, p71*
Pattern Source: Own Design
Fabrics Purchased: India 2004
Fabric Design: Ikats
Fabric Style: Handwoven Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton Batt
Backing: Cottons; Indian dress fabrics

*101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts” by Judy Hopkins & Nancy Martin

(This piece looks a bit wonky as it had just
been washed but I think it better represents colour.) 

Challenging Colours & Fabrics

Indian Sari Series #1: 2010  (Started: 2004)
Garden in the Amber Fort

On display at the Australia Day Exhibition 2011

I wanted a simple block to highlight several ikat handloomed fabrics I had discovered in Nehru Place.  And feature those bold colours so loved in India!  I found an interesting design for a background in a bamboo sampler design that I adapted.  It was interesting because the plaid increased incrementally over the length of the quilt.  This seemed a great place to make a start.  I also deliberately chose an asymmetrical design – I guess that’s the Japanese influence coming out too. 

Preparing my fabrics wasn’t easy as I only had a bucket in my shower to wash them.  Here I learned about renegade dyes…. And then later about fussy cutting! The quilt went together quite easily and as always the ever-reliable Hopkins & Martin ensured my rotatory cutting was less wasteful and more accurate.  The main feature for this whole “set” of quilts however, was always going to be that fab ikat fabric.  Don't even ask about the choice of yellow - it just seemed to work...

Close-up of fabrics, quilting & those prairie points

With a few bulges...line dried

Finally I used a sarong I’d purchased in Kathmandu as backing.  The colour red has special significance especially to married women in India & Nepal.  The whole thing was machined and I managed to eventually locate some wadding to baste it together. (Wadding is not something needed in Delhi’s warm climate, although there are traditional quiltmakers – just not quilts similar to the ones we were making.)

For those interested (& as it’s quite fashionable at the moment) ikat is a resist “tie & dye” process where threads are dyed in a specific pattern before being woven to complete the design.  Here’s a few descriptions of the ikat process to follow up on:

Here's a simple description of ikat or a more complex one with lots of detail to follow up on.

 

Just for the Record:

Quilt Finished Size: 119 x 140cm
Block Sizes: various
Cut in: 27^th Jun 2004
Pieced & Basted: Machine Pieced 2004; Basted 2005
Quilted: Machine & Hand 2010
Quilt Type: Own Design
Quilt Finished: 2010
Exhibited: Australia Day, 2011
Collection: Home# 042
Pattern Name: Various
Pattern Source: Own Design
Fabrics Purchased: India 2004
Fabric Design: Ikats
Fabric Style: Handwoven Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton Batt
Backing: Cotton Sarong