I've Always Wanted to Make One

I am fascinated by quilts that are completely pieced with squares, rectangles and triangles, yet have what appears to be curves. My favorite of this is called Storm At Sea. I have always wanted to make one and I thought it would look stunning in silk, and it does!

The quilt is made completely with silk dupioni. The construction of the quilt is very simple. It's made from 3 basic blocks: a small square in a square, a larger square in a square and an elongated diamond. 

I used paper piecing for all of the blocks, because precision isn't my forte and precise points are important for this pattern. I found downloadable patterns here: http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/storm-at-sea-quilt.html

I made the quilt top almost one year ago while I was in Key West last winter. I hemmed and hawed about how to quilt it. I looked all over the Internet for some ideas. Frankly, although I conside myself a decent machine quilter, I was intimidated by all of the open white space. So when in doubt, contact a professional long arm machine quilter. Barb Persing has quilted another silk quilt for me and she did a wonderful job, and she did a great job on this one too. 

I debated whether to finish the edges with a traditional binding or to face it, which is used for more artsy type quilters. I decided to use the traditional binding because of all the white. I thought that with a facing it would just run off the edge, especially when hung on a light colored wall. 

I liked Barbs comment. She told me that she loves quilting the silk because the stitches sink into the fabric, but she wouldn't want to piece it. 

I wish I were a better photographer so that you could see the iridescence of the silk. Here's a close up. 

Minimal quilting in the colored sections really lets the dupioni sing. I back all my silk for piecing with fusible tricot. It's important to stabilize it. 

I can't wait to share this quilt on its maiden voyage. I'm giving my "Sensational Silk" talk on Monday at the Quiltmakers of Boyertown. Maybe I'll see you there. 

Road Trip!

I visit a lot of quilt guilds in NJ as a guest speaker.  I have heard so much about Olde City Quilts, located in Burlington, NJ.  It is a shop whose name comes up over and over again as a not to miss shop.

  I finally had an excuse to go - not that I need an excuse for a road trip.  But sometimes I do need to be pried out of my house.  Barb Persing, author of the book, Listen To Your Quilt,  custom quilted a silk quilt for me. Frankly, I was a little intimidated to quilt the wide open spaces. I couldn't wait to see what she did. She was teaching at the shop, so it was a great place to meet. 

Olde City Quilts is definitely worth the trip.  I walked in and this is the view from the front door.

There were shelves and shelves filled with fabric - an assortment that would please anyone's palette.

Isn't this an adorable sewing table and chair?  In my favorite color.

I think they carry every Accuquilt die ever made.

And then I found the room where Barbara was teaching.  These are all long arms.  There must have been at least 6. What shop does this? Where else can you take a class like this?

 

Then I found Barb with her students.

She loved quilting my dupioni silk quilt and it showed.

She did an amazing job.  Right now I can only show you a tiny bit.

 

And of course I had to buy some fabric, although I did try to control myself. I couldn't resist these juvenile prints. Oh Henry - what am I going to make fore you?

 

And there was a diner in town, so we had to go there for lunch.

For those of you not from the area, NJ is famous for its diners. 

The food was delish and there was plenty left for dinner.

My partners in crime agreed.  We can't wait for another excuse to head to Olde City Quilters.

 

 

 

Ark Curtain Part II

Many of you have been asking me how the ark curtain is coming. For a while I could not answer that question.  Now,  I am happy to say that it is coming along well.  I finished the right half today and put the 2 sides together.

 Ta Da! 

I am thrilled with how it has turned out, so far.  The silk has such a beautiful sheen.

It measures 75" high x 64" wide

 I really needed my deodorant as I squared up each side before I put them together.  I could not have done it without these pattern maker weights.

I don't remember who gave me to me, but I had two.  I knew one day they would come in handy for something.  They are deceptively heavy and they did not budge as I pulled and tugged the curtain.

I made the decision to give it to my friend,  Barb Persing for quilting.  She is an award winning long arm quilter.  I think this piece deserves the type of creative quilting that she can do.