Something Special

Komebukuro (Japanese Rice Bag): 2023

Christmas 2022 passed in a flash and as we were also getting ready for an earlier-than-usual departure to join Miss WJ3 in the delightful Chesapeake Bay, I didn’t find time for a whole lot of stitching.  Including finishing quilting that last quilt sitting idle in my “ready for quilting” box!  Such high hopes! 

It was #1 son’s hasty change of plans to move north (a sea change) that made me think about a fairly quick gift for him to take away.  I had enjoyed making my earlier versions of a Japanese Bag, so on 29 Jan 23 (2 weeks before our overseas departure date – oh the pressure!) decided to make a very small boro stitched one for this occasion.  Of course, I delved into my box of precious Japanese fabrics, selecting a Katazome design as an outer and a Yuzen for the lining.  Well, I hope I got the correct fabric types!

Boro is my current new fad.  I’d taken to finishing my Joan Bag pieces using this method, but kept the stitching linear so as to not detract too much from the fabric design. (This piece was given to me by Joan.)  For the same reason, I chose not to do any fancy boro twists & turns, but stick to a linear design.  All the better to see my pretty Japanese fabrics. 

The pattern I chose this time, was a Swan Pattern; a small knot bag.  As I was using quilt wadding behind my stitching, the ties were thus too heavy (better to use the recommended interfacing instead).  So, I adapted the rice bag closure to non-lined tabs & a cord.

 

Just for the Record:
Bag Finished Size: H 13.5; W 12; D 8cm (or H 5¼; W 4¾; D 3¼ inches)
Bag Finished: 9 December 2022
Pattern Name: Japanese Knot Bag
Pattern Source: SWAN Family Pattern (see link above)
Fabrics Purchased: Japan, 2000
Fabric Technique (outer):Katzome
Fabric Technique (lining): Yuzen
Fabric Style: Blue &White
Materials Type: Resist Dyed Cottons
Stitching: Sashiko stitch using Sashiko Thread
Wadding Type: Cotton (Warm & White, needled cotton)

Cheese & Mustard

Scrappy Bow Ties: 2021  (Started: 2020)

There’s nothing better than putting together all those odd scraps that are too good to throw away but just never seem to be "just right" when planning a new quilt.  I certainly needed to find something to suit a bundle of squares I’d cut ages ago that were sitting idly in my scrap bin.  Enthused by Bonnie Hunter’s scrap philosophy, and the amazing results she achieves, I launched into her Cheddar Bow Ties pattern (2011).  

All I needed were 3 x 2 ½" squares of each fabric to be able to cut sufficient bow ties to make blocks for a decent sized quilt.  Bonnie used a cheddar fabric as her background. Yellow cheese is very popular in the US.  (US-ians like their butter white, too!  We think it’s a real hoot since we’re partial to white cheese and our yellow butter!).  Back to background choices…for some mad reason I went for a caramel colour (Dijon mustard, anyone?) which looked fine with my individual blocks but somehow became Doctor Strangelove and took absolute control when the top was finally pieced.  It was too late to make any changes, so I just had to go with the “flow” and try to make the best of a not-so-appealing background.  

This was supposed to be a “quickie” but I guessed machine quilting was not going to do anything to soften my background choice, so instead settled on hand quilting and using a thick perle cotton thread.  Deep in my thread box, I discovered some skeins of sashiko thread; a nice variegated red through green with an acid green/yellow as well.  I needed a crowbar of a needle, no hoop, miles of masking tape and lots of patience; but it’s finished at last.  The lines are ½” apart and I worked out each one took about 45 mins or more to do.  At best, I managed 3 rows a night, with regular breaks to rest sore fingers.  I’m holding off doing some Japanese boro work for a little while now.  Although I NOW have to confess to loving the look.

I tidied up the edges with a wild Aboriginal design full of colour and movement.  It’s Shirleen Campbell’s “Women Dancing for Rain‘.  It’s an unusual choice for me for this type of quilt but came about after (fabric) shopping with my quilting buddy, Yvonne.  It really does help to step back sometimes and consider other people’s opinions.  

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 169 x 169cm 
Block Sizes: 10” (made up of 4 x 5” bow ties) 
Cut in: 12 Apr 2020 (started)
Pieced: 22 May 2020
Basted: 18 Jun 2020
Quilted: Hand: 28 Sep 2021
Quilting Thread: Japanese Sashiko Thread x 2 skeins
Quilt Type: Traditional 
Quilt Finished: 30 Sep 2021
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home #073
Pattern Name: Cheddar Bow Ties
Pattern Source: Bonnie Hunter, 2011
Fabrics Purchased: From the Stash…
Fabric Design: Prints, Stripes & anything to hand really
Fabric Style: Old to Bold
Materials Type: Printed Cottons 
Wadding Type: Cotton
Backing: Pieced using left-over remnants 

Old Kyoto Inspiration

Exploring Old Kyoto: 2003  (Started: 2002)

Whilst at a Hearts & Hands workshop in Wentworth Falls to make our Japanese Puzzle quilt in May 1999, we had seen another Japanese style quilt that intrigued us and were keen to make.  Yvonne had sourced patterns (it may have featured in a magazine about that same time too), so we decided to make one together.  Luckily, my stash of Japanese fabrics was boosted somewhat after the Japan trip (2000) and the time ripe for making something with blues.    

Learning Sashiko techniques with Hitomi
(Photo by Y Franges) 

Our inspiration to begin the quilt had come from a sashiko class held by Hitomi Fujita, Quilting Heart. We had met Hitomi at the recent Quilters Gathering in 2001 and the Bondi Evening Embroidery Group was keen to learn the intricacies of sashiko stitching. 

Who better to teach us than Hitomi! So with a group made up of both our embroidery (Alison & Bondi Evening Group, NSW Embroiders Guild) and quilting friends we arranged a date with Hitomi (21/4/02) to undertake some serious stitching.    

What to do with our class samples?  Well, what better than pieced up with this modified courthouse steps block?  The quilt went together well and quickly.  We added a folded trim in that lovely brick red so popular in Japanese fabrics to add some oomph.  Then the backing became a rather dynamic collection of a tablecloth I had brought in Japan, some American Japanese style prints and a few extra sashiko blocks for good measure.  It felt good to be working with a measure of "making do".

I finished it off by machine stay stitch quilting, then added crow foot tack & some ties for textural detail.

Having even more fun with the backing!

Just for the Record:

Quilt Finished Size: 133 x 133cm
Block Sizes: 24.5cm
Cut in: 21^st April 2002
Pieced & Basted: Machine 2002
Quilted: Machine & Hand 2003
Quilt Type: Workshop
Quilt Finished: 2003
Exhibited: Embroiders Guild, 2003
Collection: Gifted 3 Oct 2023
Pattern Name: Courthouse Steps (Log Cabin variation)
Pattern Source: Hearts & Hands, Wentworth Falls
Fabrics Purchased: Japan 2000
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Mountain Mist Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
This was a nice quilt to stitch (sashiko) and make. I suspect that I got a move on to get it finished to send, along with my finished Hussif, for the Embroiders Guild Exhibition in 2003. Having deadlines can really work to advantage sometimes!

Happy Stitchers

 

Learning Sashiko Stitching

Paper Cranes: 2003  (Started: 2001)

I started this small quilt at a workshop with Hitomi Fujita.  It was a residential course, part of the 2001 Quilters Gathering held at Frensham Girls School, Mittagong 6-11 July 2001.  Yvonne & I had arrived home after our Japan adventure in 2000 with heaps of fabrics suitable for this class, so I was particularly keen to start piecing with them and of course, learn the technique of sashiko stitching.

At home on Bribie Island

Not sure of colour choices for this quilt, I took one of my boxes full of my purchases from Japan.  Hitomi and I had fun looking through my stash and we both admired the different textures and colourways available in Japanese fabric.

The workshop was well organised and I thoroughly enjoyed my peaceful days stitching in the lovely gardens around the school.  We were well looked after, the catering excellent and dorm buddies tolerant. 

However, I’m not sure I was cut out for live-in workshop life.  During a break in class, I put on the kettle and blew out the electricity.  Somehow I managed this twice, causing great consternation, especially from owners of “electronic” Berninas who thought (somewhat bossily) that the sudden power loss was going to damage their beloved, high tech machines beyond repair.  My own Bernina was later to survive a three year stint in Indian and Nepal; not only being dragged from pillar to post but also managing to cope with regular but erratic power outages. 

But we all survived, machines remained intact (although sense of humours were somewhat fragile) and I managed to complete this quilt….eventually.  

As I gave this quilt away (perhaps 7/12/2006?), I only have a few photos and no detail until my next visit.  (Ed Note: Size aprox 152cm x 152cm).  

(Hitomi had the Quilting Heart shop at the time and Marilyn, who ran the Gathering, owns Marilyn's Craft Corner in Ulladulla.) 

Adding a little extra to the backing

Signature block just a bit too subtle perhaps?