Monday 23 January 2012

A stitch in time


My quilt, raggedly unfinished and abandoned has been beckoning me from a cupboard in the second bedroom for a while. Usually, I push the thoughts of it out of my head and think of the more important and immediate tasks I have to accomplish like dinner, vacuuming, ironing ...
Sunday afternoon I succumbed and was at the sewing machine from 2 until 7pm, admittedly there was probably more unpicking than sewing!


Here it is laid out on our bed, it's gotten bigger! I may only be one or two complete circumferences of squares away from dealing with battling and binding (quite a scary thought - where will I find the room to do these things in our little cottage?)

Anyway, since I started this quilt before we bought our cottage and I've still not finished it, I'd almost forgotten my reason for starting it. But looking at some of the rather shockingly wonky squares I remembered the moment of inspiration. I had discovered some old purple Victorian fabric (on Rag Rescue) and was trying to think of the best way to use these snippets when suddenly it hit me - a quilt!




Initially I was quite determined to use only Victorian fabric for the quilt and then the scarcity of the fabric made me think again. I've used some 1940's French and German lilac coloured prints and some hints of red and other colours have entered the mix which is probably more in spirit with patch working!


I'm doing this free-hand with no rotary cutter and I don't always mark out my seam allowance either but just guess it instead which is probably why it looks so uneven. But I tell myself that this is pleasingly rustic and who wants a perfectly regulated patchwork anyway?

Ivy, on the other hand has been spending her Sunday the best way she knows how - blissed out on the eiderdown (that she is not supposed to be on!)


And Holly was not far behind in following suit!


16 comments:

  1. Lovely project. Cats just sleep anywhere they please lol!

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  2. I wish you lived nearer, you could bring your quilt round I would would help you get it all layered. 2 wall paper tables pushed together in someone's garage will work at a push :-)

    I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on.

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    1. Hi Kath,
      If only! I'm afraid garages are a bit of a luxury around here! I think I may take a leaf out of Jo's book and be a lap quilter! (That's if Holly and Ivy will allow!)

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    2. The garage is only for layering up your quilt layers, I wouldn't banish you to stitch out there in the cold for the next 6 months LOL
      There is nothing mucer than sitting, hand quilting on your lap with a decent play on the radio and the fire crackling away. I don't have 2 mischievious kittens to contend with tho! LOL

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  3. Oh it's looks wonderful Charlotte.

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  4. Your quilt is gorgeous and I can't wait to see it finished. The colours are stunning and it looks like an antique quilt. Are you going to hand quilt it? To me, there is nothing lovelier than sitting with a quilt draped over my lap and hand quilting it. You have inspired me to start one although I haven't done such a large patchwork project for yonks! Patchwork is not meant to be perfectly regulated, mine never is. I love how cats always find somewhere cosy to sleep, they look blissful.
    Jo xx

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    1. Hi Jo,
      I think I might have to hand quilt as I'm not sure how my old Singer will cope with it! I'm glad you've found some inspiration in my raggy quilt!

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  5. Congratulations Charlotte, this is such a beautiful quilt. I don't use a rotary cutter either, just templates, pencils and scissors. I hope you find a nice backing fabric. I don't follow any of the professional 'rules', I just lay my backing fabric, add the batting and quilt top, pin with special quilting pins and shock horror, then I sew on my binding! If it is any help to you I just cut 2 1/2 inch lengths of fabric, iron in half folded over then sew on to the quilt with the machine, then hand sew over to create the binding. I then hand quilt 1/4 inch in each ditch, so it is rustic and home made! Good luck Charlotte, I am so pleased to see you lovely quilt and the beautiful pretty fabrics you have used. Kind regards, Ann

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  6. Oh, to have the life of a cat! The quilt looks pretty, I admire your patience.

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  7. You are doing a great job with your quilt Charlotte and I agree totally that a bit of wobbly, wonkiness just adds to the charm! Like Jo, I thought it was a piece of old patchwork you had found...such lovely colours.
    Julie x

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  8. I think your quilt is lovely, and love the vintage fabrics you have used, keep quilting you will be so proud of yourself when it is finished and on display.
    have a great week.
    Jillx

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  9. Your fabrics are beautiful, and you're very clever the way you've put them together...I agree with Ann, I do my own thing when it comes to quilting and patchwork...sometimes by hand, sometimes machine, sometimes a bit crazy! As long as we like the result, that's all that matters! x

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  10. Ivy & Holly look so very content, how could you possibly deny them a blissed out catnap on the forbidden eiderdown?! *Winks* I think perhaps the fact that it's taboo probably makes it must that much more desirable don't you think? *Smiles*

    Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  11. Sweet cats...my favorite pets! Your quilting squares are lovely too. Quilting is not a talent I have ever attempted to develop...though I love all the color, shape and pattern.

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  12. I hope I can spend my Sunday like Ivy and Holly!
    Beautiful blog you have, I enjoyed looking at the photos!
    Dorothy and Wilma~~

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  13. I've just found your blog and really enjoyed my visit, your quilt is beautiful, I look forward to seeing your finish. :o)

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