New Block of the Month

Red & Green Appliqué Blocks

With the end drawing near for the great Bunny Hill Designs’ free block-of-the month, I was beginning to feel the effects of fiber withdrawal.  What a treat it has been to know that I could go online and for the cost of paper and printer ink have a great pattern to dream about. 

Well, my sorrows are over.  Through the wonderful journey of blogdom I was fortunate to read a blog titled What a Load of Scrap which redirected me to Sentimental Stitches, a wonderful website that I had never seen before.  What I found was a website that produces original patterns for sale from antique quilts in the owner’s, Gayle, own collection. 

Starting this past October, Beyond the Cherry Trees is a 25-block reproduction appliqué pattern based on a mid 19th century red and green quilt.  Each month a new pattern will be available to visitors on the Sentimental Studio’s website for free for a 2-month period, after which the pattern will be made available for sale.   Sounds like a very fine and generous plan to me.

Stitched on 17″ blocks, the design looks relatively easy for those who are new to appliqué.

If you want to join me in printing off these patterns, so to the Sentimental Stitches website here.  http://sentimentalstitches.net/free-stuff/block-of-the-month-quilt-designs/polka-dot-garden/beyond-the-cherry-trees-album-quilt/. 

And, for more pictures of the original quilt, so to the What a Load of Scrap blog by going here  http://whataloadascrap.blogspot.com/2009/11/antique-applique.html.

P.S. Since I didn’t have permission to copy any of the pictures of this new red and green quilt, I used a little artistic license and posted a picture of one of my own quilts when it was in process.  My aim was not to confuse…but I hate to publish a post without adding a little eye candy.

– Penny

And Yet More Down Under Quilts

Mariner's Garden by Chris Jurd

In checking out the blogs of the people who visit me at The Dedicated Appliquist, I ran across another terrific Australian quilter who has wonderful patterns for applique.  In particular, there is a pattern for a quilt that I saw grace the cover of Australian Patchwork and Quilting a while back.  Never thinking I’d find the pattern for it, I was truly delighted when I ran across Chris Jurd’s blog, Patchwork Fundamentals (chrisquilts.blogspot.com), and saw the pattern for the Mariners Garden quilt photographed above.

Chris sells this and other patterns at a website called Sew ‘n Sell which you can find by clicking here   http://www.sewnsell.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=51. She also teaches workshops using her patterns, so if you look at her blog you’ll see lots of student examples that will inspire your color choices.

Happy Thanksgiving & My New Applique Project

My New Applique Project

It’s that time of year again…Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing…maybe some more stuffing.  And, a time to reflect on all the abundance that life has given us.  As I am every year, I am so thankful that I have quilting and applique in my life.  It has brought me wonderful friends, exciting events, travel in pursuit of it’s history, amongst other things.  It’s been a real blessing.  This year in particular, as I’ve begun blogging, I’m just so thankful to have met so many new folks from all over the world.   (And, believe me…I count each and every visitor.)

But, I was also thinking that since my blog is called the Dedicated Appliquist, I had better start living up to that name.  So, here is my latest endeavor.  I’ve just designed a little block that I plan to be the center of a medallion quilt.  I thought I would show a little sneak peak of it.  Once again I’m using those great new fabrics, Rouenneries, by Kaari Meng of French General.  And, yes, I have many unfinished projects that I promise to finish up.  Really…I will!

– Penny

Addendum about Thread

I had put to bed my post on Applique Threads when I ran across an interesting post on the various finishes that are put on threads.  Gassed, glazed, and mercerized are all different finishes applied to thread during the manufacturing process.  Who knew.

If you’re curious and would like to learn more about thread finishes, follow this link to Penny Halgren blog at  quilterpenny.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/quilting-thread-mercerized-gassed/.

– Penny

Some of my Favorite Things — Thread for Appliqué

I feel like breaking into song, “whiskers on kittens, and warm woolen mittens”, but you would be wise to discourage me. 

I just started teaching a new appliqué class, and it’s got me to thinking about what my favorite tools and supplies are.  There are so many little details that I thought I would use my blog to cover some of the main topics.  But it should be said that this is just my humble opinion.  Every person who is committed to their appliqué will have their own favorite tricks and tools.

I find thread to be an area when I am fairly picky.  Being a bit of a no-gadget kinda gal, there are products I just have to admit help me to do a better job (at least for me).  So, here is a little description of my favorite brands of threads to use for appliqué.

Prosencia Thread

I was lucky enough to have visited  Harriet Hargrave’s quilt shop in Denver a couple years ago, and what I noticed was this new thread by Prosencia.  Needless to say, I bought the full range thinking I’d never see it again.  FYI, Harriett is the person who put “heirloom quilting on a home machine” on the map, and she always presents her materials from a very technical perspective.    Check out her website at www.harriethargrave.com. 

What caught my attention is that Prosencia has a wonderful range of colors and is 50 wt and 3 ply.   I emphasize that because it was Jeana Kimball (jeanakimballquilter.com) that taught me that ply is important in thread.  Three-ply makes it stronger, and I believe makes it longer wearing.  And putting that little tug on applique stitches is what I think buries them so that they become *nearly* invisible.  It is also available in smaller 100 meter spools which means that it’s not as expensive to get a broad range of colors.

Prosencia Thread

Prosencia thread is available in the US.  If your local shop doesn’t carry it, I know that there are online sources.  They even have a 60 wt thread (which is thinner than 50wt) that is 3 ply, but it only comes in larger spools.  

Our appliqué group — The Appliqué Goddesses of Silicon Valley — asked that our local shop, Prairie Queens (www.prairiequeensquilts.com), carry the thread.  I’m very thankful that they agreed to offer the entire color range in 50 wt.  You can look at the color chart on the Prosencia website at www.presenciausa.com/.

Coats Cotton Thread

The next thread that I love to use is not available in the US.  But, for you European and UK appliquists, you have probably already figured out that Coats Cotton makes a wonderful 50 wt 3 ply thread.   I happened across this thread in the London department store John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com).  What caught my attention was the wonderful subtle colors…there were those really soft shell pinks and grayed out mauves that had eluded me in other thread lines.  It also comes in 100 meter spools. 

Coats Cotton Thread

I began my collection with purchasing the reds, pinks and greens that I use most often. I  can guarantee you that on my next trip to the UK I will be making a straight path to the Bluewater John Lewis to round out my collection of threads with the colors I left behind.  And to think that some people go to England for the antiques!

As I re-read my blog before posting I worried that this is a lot of hot air about thread.  I remind myself that thread, along with fabric, is really the appliquist’s paint box.  Besides, when I see all the colors in my thread bins, it makes me smile. 

If you have a favorite thread for appliqué, please tell me; I’d particularly love to hear what you readers in Australia use.

–Penny

Three New Books on Quilt History

American Quilts by Robert Shaw

Kathie, inspiredbyantiquequilts.blogspot.com, wrote recently about a new book purchase that she made.  So, not wanting to be terribly late in being scooped on this new resource, I made my way over to Amazon to get the skinny on the new book by Robert Shaw titled American Quilts: The Democratic Art, 1780 – 2007.   From Kathie’s review it seems like just the type of item that I will be wanting to tell Santa all about.  How timely….after all isn’t this why we get together for Thanksgiving?  At least I believe that’s what the children think it’s for. 

Hidden Histories, Untold Stories, edited by Sue Prichard

But, Amazon is just too darn smart.  They knew exactly what I really wanted and told me about two new quilt books that are available on pre-order that are being published by UK authors.  The first is Hidden Histories, Untold Stories which is to be the major book release to accompany the V&A quilt exhibit that I’ve been talking about for a while now.  Edited by Sue Prichard, the curator of the exhibit, I can only imagine what treasures it will contain.  The bibliography of books written on UK quilt history is all too short, so it’s wonderful news to have something new to look forward to.  I had fully intended on purchasing this book while in England next year, but I’m now thinking that it might be nice to have a little luggage weight freed up for other treasures.   Sue Prichard also has produced a book for those just starting out in quilt making.  It’s called Patchwork for Beginners and is also available for pre-order. 

Classic Quilts by Kate Hebert

Another book that Amazon thought I’d like to know about is a new publication by Kate Hebert of the American Museum in Britain.  Titled Classic Quilts, it appears to be a book on American quilts in their collection.  I have two previous publications from the Museum, both written by the former curator, Shiela Betterton.  But those little books (actually, almost booklets) didn’t have many color pictures of the quilts, and the pictures were small.  So, this should be a treat to get an expanded view of the collection.

Generally I encourage folks to purchase quilt related items at their local shop.  But, I’m not entirely sure that these three books are the kind of publications that will make their way to the quilt shops.   Happy shopping.

–Penny

Selected Fabrics from the Medallion

Kathie, who is the author to the wonderful blog Inspired by Antique Quilts (http://inspiredbyantiquequilts.blogspot.com/) asked me if I had closeups of some of the fabrics in my English medallion quilt, so I tried taking some pictures of representative fabrics.  It’s just a small sample of all the fabulous (and pristine) fabrics in this quilt — which make it a true fabric designers delight.  If you want to see more fabrics, just let me know.

Kathie asked if the greens were poison.  Well, I don’t think they are although I can see why one would think that from looking at the overall quilt photo.  For you antique green fabric aficionados, it appears that they are the product of a one-step dye process rather than dying first with blue and then with yellow (or visa versa).  Actually, not sure what to call the green…leaf?  spring?  Anyone have an idea what the official name is of this color?

Here’s another green, also not a poison.  Check out the wonderful blues on the left hand side, as well as the chintz (still with a glaze finish) on the bottom.  Just wish I could put in an order for several yards of each.  (Maybe I should take my own advice and be thinking about spoonflower.com as a possible source.)

The tea background fabric is one of my very favorite fabrics in this quilt.  It seems fairly early to me, but I will defer to the experts.  I’m often reminded that when dating fabrics in English quilts that the rules in dating American fabrics don’t necessarily apply.  The English quilters often had certain prints before they were available in the colonies. 

–Penny

My English Medallion Quilt

Medallion Quilt c. 1850

Over the weekend I received an email from Barbara Brackman with the first installment of her new newsletter series focusing on Prints, Colors, and Dyes.  This new Quilt Detective series, contains expanded information from her continuing research on these topics.  Together with her previously published works, including the now out-of-print Clues in the Calico, the newsletter provides an amazing wealth of information for anyone interested in learning more about antique textiles and quilt history.

This first  issue of Barbara’s Quilt Detective is about fabrics dyed with prussian blue, and it made me realize that one of the antique quilts I own might just have some prussian blues in it.  So, pulling out the quilt, I realized that it does contain several.  You can imagine how delighted I was to have further information to help with dating my quilt.

I don’t own very many antique quilts, in fact…I can count them on one hand.  Two are English medallion quilts that contain a large variety of printed fabrics, two are Welsh turkey red wholecloth quilts, and the final one is a very pale American medallion quilt.   As you can probably guess, my interest is mainly in quilts made in the United Kingdom.

The quilt shown above was my first purchase — really an impulse buy — from Ebay a few years back.  It wasn’t until the quilt arrived that I realized that I had seen it a year or so earlier, also on Ebay.  So, it had passed through several folks before it found its way to me.  In near pristine condition, it is unwashed and contains more than 100 different fabrics.  What a wonderful companion piece it will be to use as I get each of Barbara’s 25 weekly installments.

If you are interested in finding out more about antique fabrics, etc., then it would be worth your while to check out the  newsletter.  For information, just follow the links on Barbara’s blog at barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/.

–Penny

Princess Charlotte Medallion

Princess Charlotte of Wales

Princess Charlotte had a very tragic life.*  And like Princess Diana, she was beloved by England.  When she wed Prince Leopold on May 2, 1816, there were such high hopes for the union that commemorative medallions were issued in tribute to her marriage.   These medallions exist in many antique quilts, including the Princess Charlotte Commemorative quilt at the New England Quilt Museum (www.nequiltmuseum.org/).  I even saw a hexagon quilt using the medallion on Ebay several years ago.  There are also a number of uncut medallions in the textile collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (www.vam.ac.uk).

Antique Princess Charlotte Medallion

I love these preprinted medallions of the early 19th century.  Ever hopeful, but never successful, I’ve looked for one on every trip to the UK I’ve taken since the mid-1990s.  But, I have a friend, Bridget, who owns one and has shown it at the many lectures she gives on UK quilt history.  It was at one of these lectures that “we” snapped a picture of the antique medallion (as shown on the left).  I say “we” because it was Pam’s camera, but Helen was the only one tall enough to snap the picture, Marina knew how to clean up the picture in her computer, and I was the one orchestrating it all.

Reproduction Medallions

A few years later that photograph has been turned into actual fabric medallions.  This was all made possible by a wonderful company who has been in business a bit more than a year called Spoonflower (www.spoonflower.com).  You upload your photo, tell the website what type of repeat of your design you want, how many yards, and *voila* a couple of weeks later you have Princess Charlotte medallions waiting for you in your mailbox.  Of course, I make it sound so simple.   You’ll just need a little of experience with resizing  images and maybe doing some color correction, but basically it’s that simple.  Printed on quilting weight fabric, they are color-fast.

Spoonflower was very generous to the American Quilt Study Group at our annual meeting last month.  They offered to donate several yards of the medallions for us to auction off.  It was a very successful endeavor, and I am very appreciative of both Spoonflower and for Bridget giving us permission to do this.

If you are in possession of some really wonderful antique fabric that you wish you had yards of, you may want to investigate using Spoonflower in your quest.

*Sadly, Charlotte did not live long after her wedding.  After having miscarried twice, she died the day after she gave birth to a stillborn son. For more about Charlotte, check out the Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Charlotte_Augusta_of_Wales.

–Penny

The Humble Hexagon

Hexagon Rosettes Using Rounneries by French General

I’ve been preparing to get my project sample together for a technique class I will be teaching in early 2010 on paper piecing hexagons, and it seems that all of a sudden I’ve been more and more photos of hexagon quilts (old and new).  Now this could be the syndrome where the minute you purchase a new car (and you start paying attention), you see them everywhere.  But, regardless, it’s a form of quilt making that I’ve long admired and I believe is making a bit of a comeback.

When I first began paying attention to quilts in the early 1970’s, I thought that the use of hexagon’s were restricted to the 1930’s and grandmother’s flower garden quilts.  I’ve since learned that the tradition goes back as far as the late 18th century and early examples can be found in the US, England, Holland, Australia, and France. 

I’ve been amassing a number of  books that I’ll show in my class about how diverse this humble hexagon is in creating rosettes, diamonds, stars, etc.  Just a quick search in google images and you’ll have an abundance of inspiration for design ideas.  But, if you are just getting started, I’ve listed some of the basic  supply items you’ll need to get going.

Of course, you’ll need the papers to which you will baste your fabric pieces.  I prefer the paper templates made by Paper Pieces (www.paperpieces.com).  There are also all sorts of plastic and freezer paper options, but Paper Pieces is what I’ve been using.  Start out with the 1″ size for ease in piecing.

Templates will help you to cut your fabrics to the correct size and shape.  In my case I used a piece of mylar plastic cut to the needed size.  You can also buy more official templates like the one photographed to the right (www.ardcotemplates.com).  Because it has a window, you have the option to center motifs, etc.

My absolute favorite needles are the #10 Straws from Jeana Kimball’s  Foxglove Cottage (www.jeanakimballquilter.com).  They are fine enough that they create the whip stitch with ease.  You want a fine needle to make those invisible stitches and save your hands tugging and pulling. 

The final tool is your thread.  I used a 60 weight, three ply thread made by Prosencia.   Being 60 weight, it’s thinner than your regular sewing thread so your stitches can be almost invisible.  I don’t bother with matching thread to my fabric; I just try to make my stitches small.  The most important issue, however, is that it be 3-ply for strength.

There are more tricks to getting the hexagons sorted out, but I’ll save that for later.   Don’t ask me what I’m going to do with this sample…I keep bouncing between making it a center on a quilt or making it one very large pillow.  I will probably change my mind a dozen more times before I’m done….that is, if I’m ever done.

– Penny