Beautiful Fabric!

I purchased this fabric several years ago in Nashville Tennessee with my friend Pam at my side. I was decorating my guest room at the time and thought I would use it on the back of a quilt. It is decorator fabric, 54 inches wide and has the most lovely detail in dark brown, such as dots, texture lines, and shading. When my future daughter-in-law was visiting Raleigh recently for a wedding shower, she saw it and loved it. I saw this as an opportunity to move out 6 yards of fabric from my stash. Of course, I matched the pattern, seamed it together and finished the edges so it can be used as a coverlet or bedspread. She happens to love all the same colors for decorating as I do. How happy I am to have it going to a home where it will be loved as much as I loved it! They return this weekend from their honeymoon and are moving to Georgia next week from Virginia to start their new life as husband and wife. We are very happy for them!

Karen's Breakfast Braid

Tess's Beach themed wedding quilt...the attendees names are in the pieced border!

Tess's Hand Applique' Bunny Quilt, made from Bunny Hill Baltimore Bunny pattern

Kim's Wallhanging made from a kit (Sorry I don't have the name!)

Batik Jeepers Creepers

Leslie's beautiful stars, pattern in upper left corner

Evette's beautiful wool applique quilt

Joyce's bright stars!

As you can see, we are a group of varied tastes and quilting styles! I am not revealing the project I am working on, only to say it is a large quilt (90X90) and one I will be keeping myself as an heirloom. I plan to work on it at another week long retreat in March, so perhaps I will have enough to show at that time!

janice

North Carolina's Matriarch of Quilting

This quilt was made in response to a challenge for the 2005 Capital Quilting Guild Show,
“Quilting North Carolina, Mountains to Sea.”
It won a second place ribbon. All names used with permission.
Techniques used were: Fabric painting, resist, appliqué, piecing, hand and machine quilting.

Detail of "North Carolina's Matriarch of Quilting"

Click to view detail image larger.

Circle Stars

This quilt is a third generation design. In 1871 Elizabeth Mathews Baxter created a beautiful and original wedding quilt for her son and his wife. Mary Ann Keathley was entranced by a photograph of this antique quilt and in 1989 created “Hidden Circles” based on that original quilt. Mary’s quilt can be found in the Leisure Arts Book, Encyclopedia of Classic Quilt Patterns, published by Oxmoor House. Janice removed several of the curves and adapted the pattern to foundation paper piecing. Quilting by Ann Hull.

Detail of "Circle Stars"

Click to view detail image larger.

Circle of Color

Made in a class with Virginia Walton.

All That Jazz

Uneven nine patch featuring light to dark setting and fabric from Telegraph Roads designer Pepper Cory.
Machine quilting was done from the back using design on the backing fabric.

 I found this beautiful sweater last summer and purchased it with the idea to make a bag for my BFF bee Christmas gift exchange this year. Fortunately this sweater was already felted and ready to start the process. I trimmed off the sleeves and ribbing at the top and bottom.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to do next. Fortunately, members of my Critique Group Kathy and Margaret  came to the rescue. They had great ideas of how to keep most of the original shape
as well as what kind of handles to use. I interfaced both the wool and the silk  lining with Pellon SF101  cotton interfacing. It seemed to have just the right amount of body for both items.

I think this would make a great knitting bag. (I don’t knit!) Anyway, the party was yesterday and Karen Comstock of Quiltrickswas the gift recipient! Karen is a knitter, so I hope she will enjoy this re-purposed sweater!

Felted Wool Sweater

Sweater Front Ready to be Stitched Down

Sweater Back After Adding Ribbing

Bottom seam before adding interfacing

Hand-Dyed Silk Lining With Interfacing

Cutting Lining to Match Bag Shape

Attaching Lining to Outer Bag

Forming Bottom of Bag

Attaching Lini

If you are interested in trying this project here are a few steps to follow. You can use the  photos to the right to find the captions to match up the pictures.

 1. Find a wool sweater you would like to use. If it is not felted, wash it in HOT water and dry it in the hottest dryer temperature possible. This will help to shrink and felt the wool so it can be cut without unraveling.

2. Trim off the sleeves, a portion of the turtle neck and most of the ribbing on the bottom of the sweater.

3. If the front neck is curved, use a round or curved handle that is close to the same shape as the neckline of the sweater. This one was purchased at Joann’s.

4. Cut away the side seams. Sew the front and back together at the bottom seam. Iron on interfacing.

5.  Fold down the front neckline and shoulder seam so that no raw edges are showing on the outside. Hand stitch to the interfacing.

6. For the back curve, I trimmed the neckline to a similar curve and then had to clip the curve to get it  to fold over the handle. I machine stitched leftover neck ribbing to the stretched out edge and then hand stitched it to the lining just like the front was attached.

7. Cut out lining using the purse as the pattern, allowing an inch for turning down the raw edges in finishing for later. (See picture)

8. Sew the side seams of both the purse. Cut out 2-1/2 or 3 inch squares at the bottom. Bring these two cut edges together in a straight line to stitch them to form the bottom of both sides. Repeat for the lining.

The Finished Purse!

9. Insert the lining into the sweater and pin into place. Hand stitch lining to purse top.

The weekend after market Sheri and I drove to Springfield, Tennessee to vend wholesale at Choice Fabrics. It was a fun trip and I look forward to visiting with them again.