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