Egyptian Inspiration

Cairo Stars: 2002  (Started: 2000)

Cairo Stars - a quick fix & fun experiment

The colours for this quilt were inspired by a poster of Egyptian museum pieces – all ochres, turquoise and yellows.  It looked so exotic and I was up for something “completely different”.  I had also seen a star pattern I was interested in trying out, but in the end I was too lazy to draft it up so went with a less complicated design.  I chose two blocks – a simple 4 patch and a star from 1937 (in a Jinny Beyer book)  I hadn’t done much in the way of patchwork in 2000, so this was the perfect remedy.  Nice ‘n easy to piece and in only a few days I had a sunny, scrappy top. 

The top had a wide border area perfect for hand quilting and having been inspired by a course I had recently finished with Luixin Newman (Hand Quilting, 19/8/00),  I decided to continue my learning on this top.  As luck would have it, I found a rather nice pattern in a New Zealand Quilter Magazine (#38, 2001) and I was able to put Luixin’s expert tutelage to good use. Mind you, my stitches have a lot more “perfecting” to go before I’m capable of reproducing Luixin’s fine (really, really, tiny!) stitches.

I managed to cut and piece this quilt at Watsons Bay.  It was ready for quilting by 30/12/01 so despite a busy schedule I was able to progressively hand quilt it - cross-hatch the centre and a lovely fan for the border (a relaxing way to finish off a busy work day) at Kensington. 

The result isn't particularly "Egyptian", that was more about the inspiration for this design but it did make for a nice change of colours for me to tackle.  And there is always something so comforting & soft about a quilt that is hand quilted. 

A nice feather

Leftovers used in a quilt label

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 152 x 199cm
Block Sizes: 9.5”
Cut in: 2000
Pieced & Basted: Machine 2001
Quilted: Hand 2002
Quilt Type: Own Design
Quilt Finished: 2002
Exhibited: Dangar Island Australia Day 2010
Collection: Home# 039
Pattern Name: Indian Star1937 & a Simple Four Patch
Pattern Source: Jinny Beyer’s “The Quilters Album of Blocks & Borders” p46
Fabrics Purchased: A stash buster
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Mountain Mist Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
This was a nice simple quilt – a rainy day special. Whilst I quite like the result and it certainly provided a perfect vehicle for practicing hand quilting, I’m not sure that it challenged me.  I began to ask myself whether I really needed to make more quilts if this was all I was going to achieve.  So, rumble, rumble, the wheels of change were set in motion.

Quilting Friends

Geelong Friendship Quilt: 2006  (Started: 1987)

Hand pieced with friendship exchange blocks made by the Swan Bay Quilters.  I added an extra block stitched by me with signed (embroidered) inserts from the Fort Queenscliff Quilters.  I thought my block was an easy one by comparison with some of the other requested designs, but I was advised differently!  I recall machining several of the feathered star blocks – a big test of my machinist skills.  Now that was difficult!  Most of the patterns I chose for those who specified "own choice" ie my choice blocks were from Ruby McKim's book.  Fanny's Fan, my choice came from Jinny Beyer's book "The Quilter's Album of Blocks and Borders."  

What I particularly like about doing block exchanges is that although you get to  sew a variety of blocks, some you might never have chosen otherwise, you still end up with a one-block quilt rather than a sampler.  I was a bit "over" making samplers, although it's a right of passage for beginners.  

These creases are not nice!  Comes from storage
in vacuum seal bags during renovations...

We each specified design and colour way, provided background fabrics (mine was seeded homespun which I’m still a bit nutty about!) and provided any colour specifics.  We then left the ladies to select fabrics from their own stash.  All cottons of course! I asked for everyone to sign their blocks and luckily for me, Elaine dated her block too, so that's how I know it's from 1988.

Pam's block

Hand quilted using a wool batt which needled superbly but has since started to pill through the cotton top.  Very disappointing considering the effort gone into this entirely handmade quilt!

Hand Quilting detail

I have to say that I am not entirely sure when we started this project in 1988 but it took me until 2003 to get the top basted ready for quilting and then 2006 to get the top quilted.  Finally.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 172 x 174cm
Block Size: 12 - 15”
Cut in: 1987
Pieced: Machine 1988
Basted: 2003
Quilted: Hand 2006
Quilt Type: Group Friendship
Quilt Finished: 2006
Exhibited:  No
Collection: Home# 010
Pattern Name: Provided by Members. My choice was Fanny's Fan
Pattern Source: Group Members; Ruby McKim; Jinny Beyer
Fabrics Purchased: 1987
Fabric Design: Subtle pastel prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Wool
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I enjoyed the experience of working in a group swap.  Some of the blocks were challenging to make, but it’s all a learning experience really.  I’m more than happy with the outcome of my quilt but over the years I’ve seen others that were less successful.  Much rests on the experience and skill of group members.  I’ve known people who, less than satisfied with the quality of group blocks or round robin quilt tops, will unpick and re-do them.

I want to also make a comment about the wool batting.  It was great to needle given all the hand quilting on this quilt, however it has left a finish reminiscent of a vintage, well-worn quilt - quite possibly because it shrunk in its only wash.  I am very disappointed (given all the hand work that went into this quilt!) and to this day have never again used a wool batting.  My preference, used particularly for machine quilting to give a nice flat finish, is good quality (thin) cotton Warm Company (USA) product.  Quilters Dream (cotton) is better for hand quilting or boro work (i.e. using a thicker thread like Perlé). 

Note:  I've just discovered my templates for our exchange blocks.  They were:
Sue: House (of our choice. I did the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House)
Marion: North Carolina Lily
Keri: Sun Bonnet Sue
Val: Basket of Tulips
Pam: Star (of our choice. I did a Mexican Star)
Elaine: Weathervane
Dawn: Radiant Star
Jan: Applique (of our choice. I did an Ohio Rose)

Mine: Fanny's Fan

Stella's Legacy

Stella’s Quilt: 1988

My MIL had asked me to make her a machine cover in apricots and browns.  Her machine was set up on a desk in her bedroom at her unit in Bayswater.  I made the machine cover between Feb and March 88 using a very sweet “Swallows in the Window” pattern. (I have no idea what the source of this pattern was - no internet or googling then!) I gave this to her, along with two hand quilted cushions, for her birthday in 1988.  The blocks were handmade; the machine cover machined together to make it a little robust.  

Not the best of photos but it was a rather nice block
Collection: Home# 007 Sewing Machine Cover

This gave me the idea to make a matching sampler quilt for her bed.  I had been teaching beginner’s patchwork at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House and did a few blocks along with each class as demonstration pieces. I can see a few Jinny Beyer pieces in this quilt so my taste in fabrics (and colour palettes) was perhaps starting to become a little more sophisticated?   I set the blocks on point and then finished off the quilt with some basic hand quilting – just to get it done in time for Christmas 1988.  Hand pieced and hand quilted between March & December 88.

Stella's Quilt on the line at her unit

We are told she was found wrapped in this quilt when she passed away in 2010.  I am fortunate to have this quilt in my possession now.  It is a wonderful reminder of her.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 152 x 195cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Blocks by hand; borders machined 1988
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Gift
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home# 008 Stella's Quilt
Pattern Name: Sampler set on point
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim & Ginny Beyer
Fabrics Purchased: 1987/88
Fabric Design: Ginny Beyer & Mixed Prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

The colours are much more appealing in this digital shot

Lessons Learned:
This was a serious amount of work to “give away” even if it was for my MIL.  I discovered that making quilts for money was never going to be for me; too much time and effort with insufficient recompense to make a “living” out of crafting.  I’m just not that motivated.  Knowing this has also allowed me over the years, to say a firm no to offers and suggestions that I might really like to finish someone’s family heirloom (sitting in bits in a box under their house). Life’s too short!  Find yourself a little bolt hole, set up the machine (or what-ever) and make a date in your diary (and keep it!) for some stitching. It’s very Zen….