Improvising - Bricks Series #7

It's time to get started with my experimentation. Last week I dumped out the baggie of small scraps from my on-going "Bricks" project and discovered that it's harder than I thought to 'just put things together'. One does need some sort of plan.

Based on the number of narrow strips in my collection, I decided to work with the 'housetop' style. So named in many of the Gee's Bend quilts, it's basically the log cabin concept;  a central shape surrounded by strips.

Just one block will complete my small top as in these bed-sized examples:

Or you can make numerous blocks and sew them together:

(Here is the original top again... 

...the mother of six little quilts so far.) 

  



My goal in this series is to use up all of the fabrics gleaned from the original top but it seems I will never get rid of it all!
In addition to the many small scraps left from the above quilts, I still have quite a lot of the original rectangles (3.5" x 6"). I decided to use some of them for the backing of #7 in a similar layout seen in the original top. They seemed a bit too large in scale for this little piece so I folded them in half and used a scissors to cut them into two pieces. I needed to trim some fraying edges and straighten crooked sides which I am doing with a scissors - 'by eye'.
I decided not to use any rotary cutters or measuring devices for this project. The resulting shapes will not be exactly the same in size so sewing them together should be interesting.

I'll share completed top and backing in a future post - hopefully soon.

For an inspiring look at more improvisational quilts see this site:

Improvisational Quilts of Susan Allen Hunter

Tumbler Top

My little Tumbler top is done!
I guess I hadn't trimmed the long edges before I shot this photo.....but quite soon I will show you the completed doll quilt.
I took it along to the AQSG seminar in New Jersey last week and got about halfway through the hand quilting in 'found' moments...it's one of the really nice things about working in this size!

Here's a look at the back side. I do love how nicely the seams work with hand piecing.

And the pressing.....this is my nifty little vintage GE travel iron. You screw the little plastic water bottle onto the side when you want steam. I got this at an antique shop very inexpensively and have seen them quite often. It's a nice size to have on my small pressing pad near the machine. I use a hand towel over the surface of the pad when pressing tops or applique blocks for a nice flat finish.

While I'm thinking of it I must respond publicly to the comment/question my non-quilting friend posted about my Bull's Eye quilt post. She said, "Is this a historic thing? Would all the pioneer women sit around and spend time putting circles together, cutting them apart, and putting them back together??" 
Dearest friend I love your input and I love knowing that a non-quilter (though a friend of over 50 years!) - is interested in my ramblings.

I would say no, of course, to your specific question. But you are not alone in being curious about why quilters cut fabric into small pieces only to sew it back together again in some form or fashion.
Quilting has evolved as have other arts and crafts over time. Today's quilters have many more options and resources. The scope is broadened as the artistic aspects of the art join the desire to make useful bedcovers. People who love textiles can't stop exploring new and exciting ways to be creative within their medium.

One of the research papers just presented at the AQSG seminar included a quote from sociologist Marybeth C. Stalp. She may provide some insight,  "...it is non-quilters who admire and focus solely or primarily on the product - the finished quilt - while quilters give far more emphasis to the process of quilting. The production of a quilt is often as important as, or even more important than, the finished quilt itself." (Uncoverings 2011 p.98)

Most of us have made all the quilts we NEED. The joy can be in the 'doing' - the many components of the process from design to trying new techniques - that gives us pleasure separate from the end product. Maybe that's why some of us can never get enough and why we can't always answer the question "Who is this for?" or "Haven't you made enough quilts?"

Quilters, currently for you.....

  Process or Product ?

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