Quilt Repair

I'm always up for a mend or repair challenge and so I took on this decades old quilt when my friend Taunia asked me for the favor. It was rather daunting since many hands had worked on it in the past and it had mostly been assembled and repaired by machine.

After many assurances from Taunia that I was free to do whatever I wanted and take as much time as I needed, I began to go over the quilt in a row by row examination of where the various problems were.

I didn't want to significantly alter the graphic design, but obviously some of the patches were disintegrated so I did sew over some of the more worn fabrics.  I made a rule for myself to only add materials and stitching.  I didn't want to try to take anything apart. Many areas were truly threadbare and it was challenging to figure out how to repair without completely changing huge sections.

Many seams were kaput and so frayed that I used patches to re-construct both sashing and blocks. I was lucky to have a collection of white fabrics and I managed to match the whites in the quilt for the most part.  When that was not possible I used patches of very light colored fabrics that were designed by a friend who Taunia also knows, so there was a little bit of that significance added onto the quilt.

The binding was worn through in many places so I put together patches and went over the top of what still existed. The new cloth added some sturdiness.

I took several months but am very happy with the results.  I think I extended the life of this genuine folk quilt for another several years and didn't have to alter its essential character.  I enjoyed working with a quilt that has so much nostalgia and family meaning, and I think I added not only stitches and fabrics, but even more layers of meaning.

If you want to see more everyday photos of what I am doing I post frequently on Instagram @journalofathousandlives

 

Quilting with linen and silk thread

This is the first in a set of experimental placemats. I'm using linen remnants and figuring out all the technical aspects as I go along, using traditional hand stitching for the seams and for the quilting.

I am using a 3.5 x 3.5 in template to cut the base squares, then making 1/4 in seam allowances. I'm planning on doing 4 x 5 squares to get a nice placemat size.

Each block is lined with a very light cotton batting.

The blocks are sewn together with a tight whip stitch. Each block has a line of quilting  that goes around the block 1/4 in from the edge.

The edging is a bias strip. The medium weight linen and batting make a nice heavy mat.

 

Group Quilt 2020 - 2022

Community Quilt 2020

Insight Meditation Society Staff quilt

Gotta love a group quilt! Our quilt organizer, Rebecca Layton, began to develop this quilt in the spring of 2020, just as the COVID19 outbreak became obvious around the world.  Our organization hosts meditation retreats, so at that time we had to cease operations and the retreat center was in temporary suspension.  So Rebecca requested that we create a community art project.  She asked people to do a 12in. x 12 in. block and we had 24 blocks when all was said and done.

Most of the blocks were created from fabrics designed by Rebecca.  She has a business called Rekh and Datta that is a brand of clothing.  She works with artisans in India to produce wonderful block printed textiles. 

A team of three pulled together the blocks and created sashing to help make an integrated quilt top design.

Some blocks were more abstract and some blocks documented the pandemic and other happenings in the moment.  2020 was a year full of social and political upheaval, so there was a lot to think about!

Once the blocks were completed and assembled we held a few quilting bees.

Many of those who contributed to the quilt had never sewn before, so it was an opportunity to participate in a  community project in brand new way

A preview hanging in the Welcome Room of the center in January 2022.

The completed quilt in the conference room of the retreat center, spring 2022.