I had a full day to spend on quilting yesterday. Since it was a warm and sunny Florida day, I set up my sewing machine outside the camper. While my husband was kayaking and taking pictures on the Turner River, I completed two quilt tops.

The  Autumn Pennies table topper last week was completed last week.(January 28 post).  From Kim Diehl’s book Simple Seasons, the pattern suggested black fabric for the borders.  Instead I chose a rust and gold leaf print on a black background.   I think that the print accentuates Fall even more.  (My favorite season!

Since we’ve been camping in Big Cypress , I’ve added Churn and Dash borders to the 12 monthly and center embroidered blocks of the Seasons sampler (February 1 post) . After auditioning two different border fabrics on my portable design wall, I chose the fabric on the right and added borders and embroidered corner squares. Now I’m not sure how to quilt it. Any ideas?

What a great day!

Lucia, Quilting from the Road!

Quilt borders become the quilt’s frame.  There is nothing more disconcerting than a quilt with wavy borders.   A wall hanging can easily develop wavy borders and I’ve found that a few careful steps assure that the quilt will hang flat.

• Square top before measuring and attaching borders.

• 

  Quilt top hung on Design Wall in Camper

• Always measure the quilt top’s length and width through its center, not along the edges.  Edges can stretch as blocks are pieced.
• Quilt should be hung on a design wall or laid flat on the floor.
• Cut fabric for vertical borders along the lengthwise grain (parallel to selvage).  The fabric has less stretch when cut this way.  Extra fabric will be needed, but the results are worth the extra cost.  Horizontal borders can be cut on the crosswise grain (perpendicular to selvage).
• Match the midpoint and ends of border  strips with the midpoint and ends of the quilt top.  Ease fabric between points, pin and stitch.
• End result – Flat borders!

Quilting from the Road!

We spent the day on Sanibel Island at Tarpon Bay kayaking.   Paddling on the open water was perfect  – and no alligators!  (They don’t like saltwater.)  Now I have to figure out how to quilt in the kayak.

The weather was just about perfect also – in the 70′s with a slight breeze.  Life is good!

I worked on the Seasons wall hanging last week, chain piecing the churn and dash borders.

The blocks are now on the design wall for one last time before I sew the top together.

A Quilter on the Road!

On a recent trip to the Seminole Museum, Ah-Tha-Ti-Ki (A Place to Remember), I saw examples of Seminole patchwork on display. Wanting to learn more about it’s origins, I accessed the museum’s website. The Seminole Quilting Style is very unique.  In the early 1900′s the  Seminole began making clothing from cotton fabric rather than traditional animal hides and skins.  Going once a year to a trading post such as Ted Smallwood’s Store and Trading Post in Chokoloskee Florida,  they would trade alligator hides, egret plumes, etc.  for supplies including bolts of cotton cloth. This trip took several days.

Needing to be frugal, women would sew the small strips of leftover fabric into larger pieces to be used as decoration (strip clothing).  In the early 1900′s hand-cranked sewing machines were used to make clothing. (left).  The craft was also used to make doll clothing.  (See end of post).   Necessity turned into wearable art.!

At the quilt store, Sew Studio in Naples, FL, I found fabric to make a quilt reminiscent of our trip here.  The staff was extremely helpful and I came out with a collection of fabric that is colorful and earthy at the same time.

I was able to find some Seminole patterns on-line.  The designs are actually very simple and should be easy to work into the pattern, Meadowsweet, from the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting. I plan on adding Seminole strips on the top and bottom of the quilt. I can’t wait to get started!

Lucia, Quilting on the Road!

There's always time to quilt!

Whenever we travel in our camper I like to take my Bernina with me. ( Bernina Blog). Whenever possible I set up my work area outside. If electricity isn’t available, I’ve been known to set up our generator so that I can quilt.

I’ve found that people stop by to see what I am doing. It is a great way to get to meet fellow campers.

When the weather doesn’t cooperate I set up my sewing area at the table inside the camper. The OttLite is invaluable here.

My kitchen counter doubles as both an ironing and cutting area. Who wants to cook anyway, when there is an opportunity to quilt?

Happy quilting!