Wednesday 14 January 2015

Slow Quilt


I did not come to quilting via the traditional block. I came to it with a bunch of squares, next to my machine, all sewn together randomly with as little up and down to the iron as possible. I still like to make a quilt that way. But in the last year, I've come to appreciate the quilt block. Not just the look of them. I've always loved how they looked. Now I am learning to like the making also.


I cannot say enough how much I am enjoying this new line by Maureen Cracknell. Wild and Free is a sweet mix of basics, low volume and stand out prints. I pulled together a bundle of about 15 prints because this Luminous Field welcomes so many other colours to the mix. But eventually I settled on this limited palette, including only Sarah Jane's Glow Friends as an extra, and leaving the Folk Plaid for the backing.


When I was a teenager, we lived on 100 acres, about 4 hours north of Sydney. Before we lived there, it was a weekender, a horse riding retreat owned by a couple who divorced and sold the property in the settlement. When we moved, in the middle of winter, there was no electricity, no house, just a bunch of sheds, two caravans, 16 horses, an old Land Rover, and the most amazing view of the mountains. Every night, we heated our dinner over the campfire, then heated our water for washing up and showers. Then we sat around the fire to keep warm before bed. I felt like I had the most wonderful family in the whole world! These prints remind me of those peaceful and adventurous days (though I'm sure they were challenging for my mum!) before electricity and TV re-entered our life.


I'm cutting this quilt, mostly with my Accuquilt, in small sections. I haven't done the maths to tell me if I'll have enough fabric to make a queen size quilt. I don't really have the head for that kind of thing, so I'm making it block by block, laying it out on my design wall as I go, so I can match up the Sun Tracks, and the Woven Path fabrics. They are such perfect prints to play with in this way! And the repeat is big enough that each on-point square looks slightly different.


I've had the funny experience over the last few weeks of grieving finishing a quilt too early. Whenever I've gone into my studio and thought about what I've felt like making, I've settled on my Flying Geese quilt. And then I remember that I finished it just after Christmas so I could give it to my brother and sister-in-law! So I'm taking this one in slowly. I haven't settled on a quick chain peicing method yet. I'm still doing one block at a time. Then I put it on the board. Then I stare at it for a while. Then I grab a cup of tea. And then in the in-between times, I'm working on a faster quilt, one that doesn't need a bird's eye view, and that I'm not so emotionally attached to. Because I don't want to rush this. I want it to stay with me as part of my memories moving back to the country. I want it to evoke those feelings of quiet and adventure, of taking chances and fresh starts.

Linking up to Wip Wednesday and Fabric Tuesday.

27 comments:

  1. Your new quilt is amazing! So good to read about someone really enjoying the process and not want to rush through it to get to the next project :-)

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  2. I love, love, love this quilt Jodi! And love your slow enjoyment of it too :-)

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  3. Stunning! Looking forward to seeing how you progress with it! Love the colour combo too, Linda

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  4. I just discovered your blog (Quilt Cabin showed your "Use your words" quilt on FB), Jodi and I am so in love with this new one and your words-quilt! Fantastic choices of colour and composition!

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  5. Unbelievably gorgeous!!! And I love you have a story behind it and are taking your time to enjoy it! :D

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  6. Stunning! I have been planning to make a quilt in this fabric and this looks exactly like what I had in mind. Did you use a pattern for the block or design it yourself?

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  7. LOVE LOVE LOVE this quilt!! It's going to be stunning!

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  8. lovely! are you following a pattern for these blocks or just making it up as you go?

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  9. It is gorgeous and the memories involved are wonderful.

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  10. Wow! Absolutely stunning! I think this is my favorite thing I've seen in Wild and Free!

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  11. I really like what you're doing! It has a real western Texas feel to me here in the States.

    In your opinion, Is the Accuquilt a Must Have? I'm intrigued.

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  12. I am really loving the look of this, the colours and fabrics you are using. I too am interested in your opinion of the accuquilt.

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  13. Love how those cornerstones meet up. Very cool effect.

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  14. It's coming along beautifully; I love the fabric you're using. May you continue to enjoy the piecing process - no stress.

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  15. It's looking brilliant. I love how you have fussy cut the pieces for those centre 'tiles' where the blocks meet. Love your choice of fabrics.

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  16. These fabrics work perfectly with that pattern. A beautiful quilt.

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  17. I really love this blog post! Happy, reminiscing thoughts and a beautiful quilt in progress. Thanks for sharing all of it!

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  18. Beautiful! I love how it's coming together, those fabrics are great, and the pattern is perfect with them.

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  19. I remember visiting you on your 100 acre property! And I remember your caravan too! I thought it was a darn cool place to live too. Your quilt looks fabulous! And it's great that you can take to time to soak in your move. I think I spent the best part of last year soaking in and celebrating our move to the Central West :)

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  20. What a beautiful story and I'm so touched my fabrics remind you of such warm memories. When I first saw the beginnings of this quilt I got tears in my eyes! It reflects so perfectly the spirit of Wild & Free, it's just incredible! Thank you so much Jodi!!

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  21. The quilt is going to be amazing. And the memories attached to it make it extra special!

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  22. This is amazing! I can see why you want to savor the making of it. I love your story behind it - so meaningful!

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  23. It's lovely. There is a lot to be said for making slowly.

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  24. Oh my gosh, this is fantastic! Jodi, you are really coming into your own with your patchworking. So glad to see you making time to put your ideas into action. Those little squares that come together where the blocks meet are the best.

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  25. I love this too! I keep coming back to it again and again. Wonderful job! If you ever to team up with someone to write it up into a pattern, let me know!

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  26. I, too, keep coming back to this again and again! Just a fabulous design. What size are the flying geese?

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I so love your comments! I read all of them and reply when I can. If you don't hear back, I'm lost under a mound of scraps or outside jumping on the trampoline with the kids. Jodi. xx