All fabrics in this quilt are re-purposed vintage bed linen - either sheets or pillowcases I've found in op shops around the country. I wanted to make a quilt similar to Candy Coated from Sunday Morning Quilts (the quilt on the cover), but while cutting out the first few strips I thought maybe I'd add a couple of random bits of interest in there - the flying geese, a star, and also make a feature of one of the prints. The feature print didn't really have the effect I wanted, but the star and geese certainly did. There are 11 different prints in total - 9 are used for the strips, 1 is used only for the geese and star, and 1 is used only on the back.
I'm really all about improv, I struggle to follow a pattern to the letter, and indeed I didn't really get past the photo or first couple of lines of the cutting instructions for Candy Coated before deciding to just make it up as I went along. Quilting books and patterns are mostly just springboards for me, inspiration for creating something similar but different, or maybe not even similar but inspired by.
I quilted it in an all-over meander, it's been a while since I did anything other than an all-over meander. A few minutes into the quilting I decided it wasn't the best decision for this quilt at all, but carried on because I couldn't be bothered unpicking. I'm used to meandering over vast amounts of negative space, and I found it difficult to actually see where I had quilted, and where I needed to go, because of all the busyness of the prints.
For the binding I used one of the sheets, a white with itty bitty flowers scattered over it, so it reads quite like a solid.
This quilt is a gift, but won't be gifted for a couple of months, so it is going to lounge around my studio for a while, which I find immensely valuable because I get to look at it and think and ponder.
Quilt Stats - Vintage Improv
Finished Size: approx 50" by 57"
Fabric (including backing and binding): Vintage bed linen - 11 different sheets or pillowcases.
Finished Size: approx 50" by 57"
Fabric (including backing and binding): Vintage bed linen - 11 different sheets or pillowcases.
Pieced and quilted by: me
Favourite part: That it is a break from my usual style (there are NO solids in this!!) and was very cheap to make (everything from stash)
Have you ever made a quilt from vintage bed linen? How did it turn out?
Linking up to:
I really like the brightness and the softness of the color as the same time. Because of the fabric, it is really hard to see the pattern under it, and it's really cool
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore this quilt. At first it reminded me of the gypsy wife quilt with the strips mixed with blocks, but yours isn't as busy and is so charming. Excellent job!
ReplyDeleteWell first I have never seen such sheets in my shopping and next you have just done lovely lovely things with them!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, the random bits of interest just make the quilt! Nice blend of different but related fabrics. Lucky friend who will be receiving it.
ReplyDeleteI love this! It's strange working out of your comfort zone (ie no solids) isn't it? But look at the results! Can't wait to see you experiment more :)
ReplyDeleteI love the colours! It look vintage but with a new twist! Thanks for sharing on TGIFF!
ReplyDeletethat looks amazing. :) great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely! Wow! And it looks really really snuggly! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the "random bits of interest," Very fun.
ReplyDeleteThose florals are lovely, and I really like the added geese and star!
ReplyDeleteNice !
ReplyDeleteGreat way to up cycle!
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool idea. Great way to use retro sheets from the linen cupboard and the 2nd hand shops! You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually vintage but you quilt is looking great! Well done.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love the little bits of interest within the overall layout.
ReplyDeleteThis is really gorgeous Sarah - I love the blocks set in amongst all the strips!
ReplyDeleteReally lovely. It's got a gorgeous textured feel to it!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is such a beauty! Love it. I have made a quilt with vintage sheets too and if you would like to look: https://www.flickr.com/photos/113079199@N03/14681288522/. Using old sheets can be difficult because they have such different texture. Some are thick and some are loosly woven. But I love doing it, they make a quilt very special to me.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello Geraldine? May I try another comment to see if I changed the no-reply-blogger thing correctly? Thank you so much for visiting my flickr page - hope you liked what you found there. Looking forward to your future quilts! Sending you very best greetings from Germany
ReplyDelete