I have no idea, they just happen, some times I dream an idea, I see something that triggers a memory, Im doing some thing and think this would make a great wee quilt????
This morning it happened when I was ironing LOL But not ironing any thing some very very old delicate linen handkerchiefs that were given to women after the war in OZ and NZ when you wanted to say a big thank you but they had most things it was these beautiful fragile (but they weren’t they were made from fine linen so very strong) 2 weeks ago 3 boxes came in to the shop still sealed but rather battled scared the handkerchiefs still pinned, surprising there were no stains from the pins but every hanky was covered in storage yellow spots, I brought them home as I could not bear to see these little treasures chucked out, I was brutal with the soaking I used a strong bleach and left them for nearly two weeks soaking and this morning washed them in the machine in a fabric bag.
This is were my idea for the following wee quilt to be started; ironing these little hanky treasures.
Such fine fine work they must have had incrediable eye sight to do this.
How delicate can you get?????
All hand made including the netting lace on the corner of this one. It is cotton not nylon.
Now the quilt begins, My conscience Jimmy Cricket is saying I thought no more new quilts!!!!!!
Now take some backing Ive chosen cream satin for my backing from a wedding shawl that I picked up at a Opp Shop you can find so many treasures discarded in these shops. I have a wool batting it is also cream but the white is still showing up in the hankies.
How sweet this little corner is.
I was thinking Little Dear Jane blocks while ironing but when I went down to get them I found the patterns but not the blocks in the draw I pulled BUT right on top were
THESE!!!!!!!!!!! I made these many years ago for a quilt by Sue Daley called Chelsea that never made it to the finish line as I lost the pattern.
OK now how will I make up these wee blocks to make them all the same size as they range from 10inch to nearlly 11inchs and I do not want to cut them all the same size, I make each wee hankie in to a quilt as you go. I found
Kimono soft pale aqua back ground with a blue thread running through it to make shadow flowers.
Sea green grass fabric from a vintage kimono it is a summer weight fabric and if you hold it up to the light you can see through it, a perfect weight for these tiny treasure the satin I was going to use was to heavy.
a lovely vintage hand woven grass linen Kimono not much heavier in weight than these hankies and will use this fabric for my backing
Back of the quilt as you go block.
and roll it around to the front of the block and baste it to the front.
After unpicking the kimono I end up with 50% of it in 14inch wide strips so I have cut my backing the same length as the width to give me a good square to play with. First I iron a 1/4 turn over all the way round.
Have cut a 12inch square of wool batting and laid it on top of my backing.
Then one of the hankies.
First I pin all 4 sides carefully making sure the hanky is in the centre. Then slowly work all around the edges pinning carefully, sadly I had to pin over the wee lace edging on this hanky it is hand done too!!!!!
Finally our block is completed ready to be machine or hand quilted, I will hand quilt mine.
After quilting down the seam allowance then the fun is appliquéing on your centre pieces I’m going to use these tiny Dresden Plates I made many moons ago?????
One wee QAYG block finished and the 2nd one pinned ready to be quilted and appliquéd.
After all 15 are made up I will whip stitch them together to make up a wee quilt.
Im one short it must be some where Im off to see if its in the dryer by accident as I hand iron these dry never put them in a dryer and never let them dry naturally linen needs to be iron dry like silk.
So thats how I design LOL
Thanks for dropping in till next time Cheers Glenda
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