I have put writing this off for over a month now but Im feeling brighter today and need to get this down and the weight of it off my overtaxed mind!
Early to mid Decemberish I decided to attempt a project that would take me far, far, far from my comfort zones where I have been making a nice warm nest for myself. I decided to start then as I strongly believe that starting anything on the 1st of January is psychologically doomed to failure.
I have decided, 301 years late to the party, to remake the 1700 coverlet!
The idea appeals to me;
My very very first 'quilt' was nothing of the sort ..... a top, very inexpertly made by someone who knew absolutely NOTHING about patchwork and piecing which once it was finished, was atrociously sewn to a sheet and called good. However this is the 'quilt' that is on my bed and I kind of love it for all its hideous inaccuracies and cock ups!
I had some knowledge of the 1700 jobby from FOQ this year;
I had seen the original ... which was all very Tutankhamumesque; Hidden within walls, sealed under glass, guarded by eagle-eyed UKQU Security you were ushered round and allowed 5 minutes of viewing only, and also seen the glorious interpretations in the 1700 coverlet competition, which ran amok with colour and design and of course I had seen Fajitas gorgeous recreation, made well early in 2015 or so!
Last November I found a Today's Quilter magazines 1700 coverlet supplement and after reading that from cover to cover bought the book and so the seed germinated.
I wanted to set myself some
rules guidelines to try and keep out of my comfort zone so decided that I would ....
A) recreate it in, as much as possible, the same colourways and patterns of the original.
B) only use fabrics from stash
* including alternative fabrics such as silk dupions if appropriate.
C) piece the blocks in the order placed in the book
And so I set to piecing .....
Block 1 ... Size: 14 1/2" unfinished
Quantity: Two
OMG!
Give us an easy one why dont you EH ??
Ease us in gently ???
Nope she was having none of it!
The first block (thankfully there are only two of them in the quilt) comprised of not only quite intricate appliqued pieces
but also mitred seams. Mercifully it was also one of the larger blocks in the quilt.
Fabrics used were an Oakshott blue stripe, a wheat coloured silk dupion, some hideous pink floral, a beautiful rust coloured FQ and the most gorgeous limeish green with a subtle feathered pattern.
Ok, that was relatively easy and quite satisfying, I had all the fabrics in stash and enjoyed blanket stitching the applique.
More hereNext Block 2 .