Single Wedding Ring

Wedding Ring Block: 1988

The red seems a bit too saturated perhaps....

This was another Fort Queenscliff Quilters workshop.  We had decided to try machine stitching a block as complicated as the double wedding ring and had settled on Mary Ellen Hopkins’ “It’s Okay” method.  I finished this project and used it as a Christmas Tree skirt for our “motel” tree, which still resides with us.  

My “motel” tree was a panel (perhaps from Lincraft) which was sewn and stuffed with wadding.  Add a few bells, beads and whistles and voila! You have a tree to stuff into the car when you’re on the road at Christmas time.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 46cm diameter
Block Size: 18”
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1988
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Group Sample
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home#0 14
Pattern Name: Double Wedding Ring
Pattern Source: Mary Ellen Hopkins
Fabrics Purchased: 1986/87
Fabric Design: Christmas prints & colours
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I still love traditional double wedding ring quilts and one day I plan to do this. Oh, yes I do! Until then, Mary Ellen’s very easy machine sewn pattern made doing this group experiment easy-peasy. Even better, I had just discovered the delights of rotary cutters. 

Christmas Spirit

Christmas Tree: 1987

My fascination with speedy Seminole piecing knew no limits now and I completed many projects during & for classes at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House.  It must have been getting close to Christmas because I later put together a rather large Christmas Tablecloth (which is still hiding in my linen closet somewhere) to use up all the leftovers from two Christmas tree hangings.  Stash control at such an early stage...whoa!!

Memories

After piecing, I decorated these trees with lots (for me) of beads & sequins. So much for not enjoying embroidery.  One wallhanging was given away to St Aloysius School as a raffle prize in 1987.  It was won by Rose Nicholson.  The other was only recently donated (2008?) to the Dangar Island “Kindy Kids” who decorate our Ferry Shed for annual Christmas celebrations.  So I am not sure where it is now.  

(It seems so appropriate to have this post up at this time of year & good reason to celebrate 26 years of fiddling around with quilts! ) 

I found a photo after all!  This is my seminole tablecoth

 

Seminole Moment

Seminole Samplers: 1987

Seminole Sampler 1987

1987 was the year of Seminole production.  It began with a workshop run by one of the Fort Queenscliff Quilters (I think) and as a result we produced a sampler wall hanging with horizontal bands of Seminole strips, great for developing machinist skills!  I also had a thing for Amish designs and was into exploring patterns made with bright, solid colours. 

Most of the patterns I used were taken from a handy little supermarket publication, "Quilting and Patchwork" by Southern Cross Decorative Craft Magazines.  It was inspiring, colourful and had over 40 different quilt patterns to browse through. 

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 63x 108cm
Block Size: Various Seminole Strips
Cut in: 1987
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1987
Quilted: Not Quilted
Quilt Type: Fort Queenscliff Quilters Workshop
Quilt Finished: 1987
Exhibited:  Geelong Quilters Guild 1988
Collection: Home# 006
Pattern Name: Seminole Sampler
Pattern Source: Southern Cross Magazines
Fabrics Purchased: 1987
Fabric Design: Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: None
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
This was a great way to improve machinist skills, produce a quick quilt or wall hanging and was a fun sewing day with friends.

Bow Tie Baby

Bow Tie Baby: 1987

Baby Bow Ties made for Anna, a member of the Swan Bay Quilters, who was leaving the area to live in Bendigo.  It was also a baby present.

Anna's Baby Quilt

The group made the quilt under direction from Sue Longmore, who had also drafted the pattern for us using Ruby McKim’s 101 Patchwork Patterns.  We loved the antique feel to this book and the quilts we made up from it.  This book was also one of the few “pattern” books we could lay our hands on in the mid to late 80’s.  I can’t remember if we added our names, but we did tie rather than quilt it.  Cost $1.10 per person; hand pieced, hand quilted and tied.  Colours biscuit, blues & pinks (to cover all bases!),

Presented to Anna at our regular meeting in September 1987.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 48 x 48”
Block Size: 9”
Cut in: Aug 1987
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1987
Quilted: Hand Tied 1987
Quilt Type: Friendship
Quilt Finished: 25 Aug 1987
Exhibited: 
Collection: Gift
Pattern Name: Necktie
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim (p25)
Fabrics Purchased: 1986/87
Fabric Design: Soft prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
It didn’t cost much in either time or money to make a memorable gift. The KISS approach still produces a nice baby blanket – one that can be well used and readily washed; a bonus for busy mums.

Cloaked in Patchwork

Patchwork Jacket: 1987

Like everyone else at the time I became obsessed with having a distinctive patchwork item of clothing.  I had seen Yvonne Porcella’s colourful designs and began collecting a few books on how to make patchwork clothing.  At the time I was still making my own clothes, especially knits.  An Australian company, Knitwit had just taken off and the fabric and patterns were all top quality, not to mention easy to make.

A scanned photo not showing true colour

I was certainly pleased with the outcome and this jacket that took me to many a formal function in the late 80’s.  Today, we sadly seem to have reverted to “patchwork means a bit hippy”.  Too bad, it really did look nice…back then.  Class run at QNH by Sue Longmore on strip patchwork.

Who could forget this great book & inspiring clothing?

Each pattern piece was strip pieced over backing and ultra-thin wadding.  I chose to use dusky pinks, blues and maroon.  For a bit of glam, I finished the jacket off with closures using bias button loops and cow horn buttons.  I did a little hand quilting to add to softness to the vertical strips and enhance that handcrafted feel.  In all it took about 15 hours to finish.

Exhibited at the Geelong Quilters Guild Exhibition in Jan 1988

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 78 x 79cm
Block Size: Strip
Cut in: 1987
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1987
Quilted: Hand 1987
Quilt Type: Sue Longmore Workshop
Quilt Finished: 1987
Exhibited:  Geelong Quilters Guild 1988
Collection: Garment 1
Pattern Name: Not specific
Pattern Source: Knitwit #
Fabrics Purchased: 1986/87
Fabric Design: Plains & soft prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Pellon
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
Technically it was a challenge to move from quilts to clothing. I stripped the pieces, sewing backing, batting and strips all together then cut out the jacket shapes. Hiding raw edges, making pockets and collar details were all “little problems” needing attention along the way.
 

Colourful Environments

Tropical Birds: 1987

Small wall hanging made as a result of a 1987 Geelong Quilters Guild Workshop (25/7/1987).  Fiona Gavens themed “Colourful Environments” to assist us move away from traditional patchwork.  We attempted to portray the mood of our environment using simple shapes (squares & triangles) and bold colours; for me that was mostly plains. 

Looking a little sad because it's just been
washed & hung upside down....oops!

I enjoyed stepping out of the ordinary or rather traditional patchworking process and particularly enjoyed using vibrant colours.  Overall the process was somewhat frustrating as not all of our group participants “got” the process of breaking down a picture (real) into blocks of colour (abstract).  I found the size of the main building blocks to be too large (finished 3”) to successfully be able to merge colours to get the necessary effect. However as the workshop was only one day, I understand the need to complete something reasonably sized to understand the concept.  I spent about 10 hours on this project to ensure its completion.  I just wanted to get it done!

Leaf quilting pattern shows a little better on this old photo

I added my own stamp on the project by designing a quilting pattern to complement the overall design and theme of the project.  This was also the first time I had used a binding cut on the bias to finish the quilt. Not my best work but it was worth the learning.

Exhibited at the Geelong Quilters Guild Exhibition Jan 1988.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 78 x 79cm
Block Size: 3”
Cut in: 1987
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1987
Quilted: Hand 1987
Quilt Type: Fiona Gavens Workshop
Quilt Finished: 1987
Exhibited:  Geelong Quilters Guild 1988
Collection: Home# 005
Pattern Name: Not specific
Pattern Source: Fiona Gavens
Fabrics Purchased: 1986/87
Fabric Design: Plains & bold prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
It was probably a bit early in my quilting career to be “modern” although I enjoyed the exercise.  I decided I was more excited by the graphic possibilities of traditional designs and block combinations.  I also learned to look to bold colour in preference to the somewhat timid American prints that were available at the time.

Craft Crazy

Lidded Basket: 1987

Basket of Frills

I was still into ribbons and lace (we are talking 80’s here) and I was commissioned to make my SIL a lidded basket.  I chose a sweet little basket block and lined and frilled to my heart’s content.  Made in January 1987. 

Basket Block

To continue with a theme, I learnt how to make these topiary trees too!  This one was a gift for my MIL, probably about the same vintage as the basket.

It was rather fun to make

When I look back now, I am amazed at the lack of variety we had in craft fabrics.  Spotlight and Lincraft were my favourite haunts back then.  They still are today for craft and dressmaking supplies - if there's any time left after quilting!

Smitten

Little Boys Breeches: 1987  (Started: 1986)

Back to the 80's

Joc had a scrap version of this design which I just loved and decided to make one for #1 Son.  This was my second quilt (well, finished at least).  It was all hand done, except I machined the borders on.  I worked it in navy & red with a few checks thrown in to keep that country look.  I hate to confess that I did use a bit of poly/cotton fabric in this quilt; a sacrifice to get the right “non-fading” navy colour.


Digital shows up the colour a lot better

I love the graphic quality of this quilt and was very pleased that it came out well technically – ie hanging straight.  I started piecing in late 1986 and finished it by Dec 1987 after some (guestimated) 150 hours of work. 

Block Detail

This quilt was hung in the Geelong Quilters Guild Exhibition in January 1988 an in the Tamworth Regional Art Gallery “Regional Fibre Exhibition” in September 1989.  A really nice quilt for a boy.  

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 127 x 216cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1986
Pieced & Basted: Hand 1986
Quilted: Hand 1987
Quilt Type: Single Bed
Quilt Finished: 1987
Exhibited:  Twice – see above
Collection: Home# 003
Pattern Name: Little Boys Breeches
Pattern Source: Traditional American
Fabrics Purchased: 1986
Fabric Design: Checks & plains
Fabric Style: Country
Materials Type: Cotton & some poly blend
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
Hand piecing and quilting takes time but it is relaxing and fits in well with being a busy mum. I started to add a few little of my own touches to the quilt such as the red tassel ties in the middle of each hat (circle).

By now I was really hooked and luckily exposed to some enthusiastic and skilled teachers.  Also quilting was taking off; the quilters I knew were really passionate and keen for a challenge, not to mention generous.  We saw the beginnings of the "art quilt" so techniques such as fabric manipulation (dyeing, texturizing etc) were on offer at the Geelong Quilters Guild.  Fabric designers were rising to the challenge and we saw some wonderful new fabrics on offer.  It was a fun time to discover the art and craft of quilting.