Christmas Seminole Tablecloth

Christmas Re-imagined: 2022 (Started: 1987)

My Covid splurge was a new dining room table.  After all, we’d had the sturdy pine one since 1985 and it managed to survive many, many moves and growing children.  So, in December 2021, when I laid out the well-used Christmas tablecloth (made in no less than 1987) on the new table, it looked a little sad.  Hardly a surprise!  So rather than consign it to the bin, I decided on a make-over. 

Yes, the fabrics are definitely a reminder of the 1980’s, and there’s a bit of poly in the cotton selections, but it was worth saving.  I set about separating the two layers (top front & backing), then added some batting.  After wondering for a moment what I was doing when I got it ready to baste, it all came together after giving it the kiss-of-life with machine quilting in a medium stipple – a quick and easy pattern.  I chose a variegated thread to quilt with; bright red, green & a touch of yellow (Gutermann, Sulky 30wt, Colour: 4112, Vintage Holiday).  Finished size at a decent W 143cm x L 248cm.  And I am so over-the-moon with the result.  Should have done it years ago!!

I finished the Christmas Tablecloth makeover on 28 November 2022, just in time for this year’s celebrations with grandchildren.  Better get to decorating the rest of the house, there’s only a few weeks to go!

Making progress at the machine in the cooler weather this year

I am hopeful for a few hours of sunshine to have another photo session.  There's quite the backlog of quilts needing a photo or several.  Fingers crossed that the weather improves!

A temporary "indoor" fix until the sun shines again...

Fashionista

Given my interest in sewing and experience in sewing my own clothes, I used some of my time and class samples to run some up.  I wanted something different but not too exotic.  Tamworth was not the place to be running around in Yvonne Porcella’s outrageously colourful designs.  This was an RM Williams boots, moleskin jeans and tweed jacket kinda town.  

Well, here you have a sample of what I did get up to.  I’m not sure I wore all these things but it was fun making them and experimenting with different techniques.  Some of these items even made it into the Armidale Symposium Fashion Parade but sadly my photos from that evening are so bad that they can’t even be digitalised.

Black Seminole dress: 1989

Back view; rame linen with cotton insert border
Sadly, I don't think I'm going to be snapped up
by the High Fashion Set any day soon....

This dress made it into the local newspaper – albeit an ad for TAFE. 

Purple Leaf Printed Vest: 1990

It was fun to print the fabric and I think this must be my first foray into free-form machine quilting. And a nice sparkly little thread it was too, causing me much grief.... 

Black Block Printed Skirt

Hardly worn.  I discovered I wasn’t good a picking patterns suited to my figure type.  It was fun to make though!

Blue Skirt & Top

Worn to death.  I loved this outfit.  It was subtle and didn’t scream “home-made”.  It has long since been consigned to the recycling bin.  I will have to dive into the photo albums from that time to see if a photo exists of this outfit. (So I'm leaving a space here... & hoping!)

White Linen Shirt:  1989

Hard to see but the yoke (both front and back) was hand worked in drawn thread and took hours and hours and hours.

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.