More Thoughts on Prairie Wovens, Dobbies & Chambray

In my last post, I talked a bit about combining lovely cotton wovens, dobbies and chambray fabrics in blocks with cotton prints.  As I have seen this combination so often in my antique quilts, and really love the look, I wanted to create two fabric collections that would work well together to achieve this tradition.

Blue Jeans & Bubble Gum.  Photo courtesy of
American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.  
AllPeopleQuilt.com

This lovely antique quilt from my collection appeared in American 
Patchwork & Quilting magazine in 2009.  It is a wonderful, sweet quilt, a great example of a "make-do" quilt as well, with approximately 90% of the blocks combining wovens, dobbies & chambray fabrics with cotton prints.



Here a few photos of individual blocks...

Loving the combo of the beige prints, the blue worn chambray, and the plaid woven in the corners.  

This block has a blue solid cotton, mixed with the chambray, and the dobbie plaid.  Loving the shading and textures.  

The gingham is, of course, a print, as well as the blue print, paired with pink cotton chambray.  

This little make-do block has the sweetest dobbie.......

In this close-up photo, you can see the raised threads of the blue dobbie fabric which  I love.  I think it really adds interest!  

I'd love to know what you think!  You'll find a poll at the top of the side bar right here on my blog.  Answer the question about whether you like to add textured fabrics, never add textured fabrics, or have never tried but are willing to do so!  Your vote is completely anonymous!

The sweet little pink and blue print you see in the setting squares and borders of this quilt was reproduced in my Heart of the Prairie fabric collection.  If you like it as much as I do and want some, please check with your local quilt shop.  I also have a few yards left, so if you can't find it at your LQS, email me.....first come, first served until it's gone.

Now that all my new sample yardage is here, I can begin making the quilts I have planned for these collections.  I'll be sure to post some photos along the way.  In case you were wondering, both the Pin Money and Prairie Wovens, Dobbies & Chambray collections should be available in shops June 1st!

Thanks for stopping by.....

Pam

Making-Do in AP&Q!!

If you are regular reader of my blog, then you know that I am on a mission to educate and share my love of Make-Do quilts with all of you.  Well....my mission just got a huge boost!



In this, the June 2011 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine, you will find my article called The Quilting Tradition of Making-Do! 

I am so proud to have worked with the editors and staff at AP&Q magazine on this article and thank them for all of their help!  They're always a dream to work with.  Together, we hope that you will come to love and appreciate the Make-Do tradition.  If you are one of the many quilters whom love to replicate nineteenth century quilts, then at least some of your quilts should have "make-do" elements in them.  After all.... that's how so many nineteenth century quilts were made!

If you would like to know more about the "make-do" quilting tradition or how to authentically "make-do" in your quilts, join The Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club at a quilt shop near you.  The PWSC club features lessons in making-do, American history, and stories about what daily life was like in the 1800's, and much, much more each month! 

Starting in 2012, I have a brand new lecture presentation & workshop, not surprisingly called The Quilting Tradition of Making-Do.  The presentation educates quilters on all aspects of a make-do quilt and how to spot make-do elements in all quilts.  I also bring a trunk show of my Make-do quilt collection, including those featured in the magazine article.  The workshop is a fun, interactive way to practice the art of making-do in a small quilt project.  Email me if you'd like more information about my lectures/workshops. 

Forgive me....as I say tongue in cheek.....

Quilters of America and the world....go forth and Make-Do!

Have a great day!  Pam

Let's Talk About Making Do!

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without

As creator of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle, I spend a lot of time reading and thinking about life in the nineteenth century.  The phrase shown above can be applied to many aspects of the lifestyle of those who lived in America long ago (early American life).... and not so long ago (WWI & II for instance).  It has a lot to teach us in today's world too, but it's the impact this lifestyle had on antique quilts that so intrigues me.



As many of you know, I am passionate about Make-Do quilts!  (Truth be told, that's an under statement.)  I'm on a mission to educate the quilting public about Making-do, to share my love affair for the old Make-do quilts, and encourage you to "make-do" as well.  But first, you have to know what a Make-do quilt is!

There is a difference between a scrappy quilt and a Make-Do quilt.  A scrappy quilt can have Make-Do elements in it, but for it to truly be a Make-do quilt you should be able to spot a theme within the quilt's design.  The theme indicates there was an ordered plan to the quilt in color, fabric(s), blocks etc, and for many reasons, the quiltmaker had to deviate from the theme and "make-do" with what fabric she had available to finish the quilt. 



As we look at this antique doll quilt, we can easily spot the theme.... simple Four Patch blocks made of dark blue and pink patches.  Yes, it's also a scrappy quilt using many fabrics, but you do see the theme in the color. The two Make-do blocks are also easy to spot.  I'm fairly certain that the quiltmaker would have preferred to make all of her Four Patches with the dark blue and pink fabrics, but she substituted......Made-do....with the light blue in place of the pink within two blocks.  What about the red binding?  I love the red binding!  If you were making this pink and blue quilt today would you have chosen red fabric for the binding?  Probably not....because we are so used to coordinating everything...but the red binding is wonderful on this quilt.  That begs the question....was the binding a Make-Do or was it her choice?  Remembering that beauty is in the eye of the beholder....often we can only speculate about Making-do.

Why am I so passionate about Make-Do quilts?  The reason is very simple.  As quilters, we love a quilt pattern or block...it stirs our creativity and we want to make a quilt.  We plan...we choose just the right fabrics....we labor giving our time and talents....we know every fiber and stitch in that quilt and work to make it the best it can be.  What if we then realize that we can't finish the quilt as we had hoped and planned?  Sometimes, in order to finish the quilt, our quilting ancestors had to make substitutions and use what was available to her either with her own scraps or those from a fellow quilter.  She "make-do" with what she had.  Was she disappointed?  I think yes, because she had a theme...she wanted the quilt to turn out a certain way....but on the other hand, they were quite used to making-do in all aspects of their lives.  Nonetheless, she completed the quilt and no doubt loved it.  It kept her family warm...it still held her love in every stitch.  I think all of these qualities are wrapped up in the old Make-Do quilts and that's why they are so endearing to me.

I find most every antique Make-do quilt charming although some are...well....homely.  Ok...those homely quilts kept their family warm too, but I don't necessarily want to make one just like it!  However, I do love adding Make-do blocks into my quilts, and by doing so, I honor the women who didn't have all of the choices we have today, but who worked very hard to create beauty when they truly didn't have much.  I hope that you will come to love and appreciate the art of Making-Do as I have, and remember, if you create Make-Do blocks in your next quilt, you'll be honoring our American quilting heritage.

I'll be writing and showing you lots more about Making-Do in the future.  Remember....I'm on a mission!

Stitchin' Away......and a new Contest!!!

You may recall last week Wednesday...during the blizzard... I showed you a photo of some yummy fabrics I was gonna start to play with.  Well.....here's what I've been up to.

Isn't this a cute block?  Simple, fun and fast but cute as can be.  I love the combo of fabrics.  The assorted shirtings, the bubblegum pinks, reds, blacks and blues.  Makes my quilty heart sing.  Perhaps I'm easily amused.....I don't know...but why question it? 

I thought the red and blue blocks would make a mighty fine patriotic quilt, too!  What do you think?  This quilt is for a special event I'm participating in over the summer....July I think.  So, I won't be able to show you the whole quilt when it's done....not just yet anyway, but I plan on making extra blocks to make a small bonus quilt.  And, when that one is finished, I will definitely post photos and instructions for you...in case you'd like to make one for yourself.

I have to set this project aside until next week.  Tonight (Wed), I'll be visiting the Pieces 'N Patches Quilt Guild in Steger, IL....so if you're in the area, please stop on by!  We'll be at the Steger Community Center.

Then...I'll be getting ready for Saturday when I will resume teaching my Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club ~ both Journey 1 and Journey 2 ~ at The Quilt Merchant in Winfield, IL.  I can hardly wait!  I love, love, love teaching, especially the PWSC club because it combines my favorite pastimes ~ American life in the 1800's and Make-Do quilts.  It's wonderful being with all of the ladies whom love the same things.  We're kindred spirits and we have the best time....great discussions, spectacular show-n-tell with lots of laughter.  You know....there's always room for one more and you're welcome to join the fun!

This has been one of the snowiest and coldest winters on record here in the Chicago area.  Not a problem for us quilters as we have loads of cozy quilts to snuggle under.  My grandma was an avid crocheter and I have several wonderful afghans that she made for me.  Not long ago, I found this adorable afghan from Moda Home and had to buy it.  Well...I actually bought two....one for me and one to give away!  If you'd like to win this afghan, please leave me a comment and tell me what the weather is like right now where you live, what's your favorite season, and do you quilt all year long or does the weather make it uncomfortable to quilt?

Leave your comment before midnight on Saturday, Feb 12th and I'll announce the winner on Sunday.  Enjoy your day!

Pam

P.S.....just wanted to encourage you all to participate in the contest no matter where in the world you live!  The contest is open to everyone...no worries!



Time for more Show-N-Tell

Hi everyone!  I have more photos to share with you of Prairie Women who are attending the club meetings at shops in Indiana and Minnesota.

First, let's visit the Shades of the Past Quilt Shop located in Clara City, MN.   

The morning group of Prairie Women are busy working on their Yo-yos as they journey to the past listening and talking about life in the nineteenth century.  Looks like they're enjoying some goodies, too!

Their first show-n-tell is of the third quilt in Journey 1 called At Mama's Knee. 



At Mama's Knee ~ Antique quilt



This quilt was inspired by the antique quilt that I own, pictured above.  I chose to replicate it exactly as it is because I thought it was so sweet and perfect the way it was made so long ago.  While I don't know for certain, I'd like to think that it was made by a child, or was someone's first quilt.  Isn't it charming?

It's also a perfect example of a Make-Do quilt.  In a Make-Do quilt, we always look for a theme.  In this case, the theme is of a quilt made with shirtings and Four Patches of pink and dark blue.  The Make-do blocks are the two blocks where light blue was substituted for the pink. 

At Mama's Knee ~ PWSC Journey 1

Here's my version using today's fabrics.

As a designer, it's wonderful to see quilters make a quilt just as I designed it...it really is.  It's also fun to see the same pattern made with completely different fabrics. 

Here is Betty's version of At Mama's Knee

Here is Cindy with her version

And...Phyllis with her quilt.

I really like them all!

This is Susan.  The quilt she is holding is a smaller version of Heartland Crossing which is the second quilt in Journey 1. Ladies....you all did a great job!

Let's shop hop over to The Back Door Quilt Shop in Greenwood, IN

There are two large groups of Prairie Women who meet at The Back Door Quilt Shop and many more who participate by mail.  The staff keeps them well informed with an email and photos of the club meetings.  Another lovely verision of At Mama's Knee!

These ladies are showing off the first quilt in Journey 1 called Leap of Faith.  I'm loving how each quilt is just a bit different and how they made the quilt their own - their way!

What an awesome collection of Heartland Crossing quilts.  The quilt on the left was made just as I made mine.  The quilt in the center is a bright and playful version!  Love the scrappy border on the quilt at the right.  Kudos to everyone! 

Hope you enjoyed it, too!