Wednesday 20 January 2016

Basting with a friend

A good old fashioned sewing day.
I moved to Lancefield 16 years ago. My neighbour moved in a year later. We slowly got to know one another and have become very good friends. When she found out I was a patch worker and quilter we even became closer. V dragged out a bag of goodies that were passed down from her grandmother. Lots and lots of HEXIES.... Well I'm not a fan I can tell you.... BUT I did help. I showed V what steps to take to finish a beautiful quilt. They are the traditional EPP.. Of course she is also English. So over the years of travelling to and fro, England to Australia her quilt was finished.


This is a quilt that took 30 years to do by a grandmother and granddaughter.
http://jobutterfield.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/grandmas-flower-garden-hexagons-go-go.html
That was the easy project.
Then there was something quite out of the blue that stumped me.
V was not a quilter but she had a vision. Started a quilt and had no idea what she was doing.
She showed me what she had done back about 13 years ago. She had very limited fabric. It was done in Chintz... Not really available here that I know of. I hadn't really used it. To me it was for curtains... So the next best thing was to find something similar.. We live in an area with Parrots. So they were added. Well what can I say. We all have our own ideas. Sorry I didn't get any photos of those early stages...BUT we have managed to get it to quilting stage...
It was so big. I am not used to it. 240 cm x 270 cm. Where could we lay it out to piece.
That's where another quilting friend comes into it. Nikki helps out in town at a lot of community things. Even in the CFA. So she asked. YES we can use the large room at the station.
On a day of TOTAL FIRE BAN due to high temperatures, high 30s, and not so good conditions, off we go.
WWOW. WHAT A GREAT SPACE.
Well we got the quilt stitch basted ready for hand quilting.. This will take another few years for V to do.. At least she won't get bored. There were so many tables that it made the job so easy. My back doesn't think so. I am tall and the 3 hours of leaning over doesn't help. But it is done now....
What do you think. Enough of babble and look at the photos...
The orange lifts the design and will be used as the binding too
It is covering 6 tables
 
All these pieces were done using the EPP method and hand drawn.
Look at those parrots. Just like on the bird feeders.

It is designed to go over the pillows and sit at the end of the bed.
 Hang down the sides to cover the mattress 
It is wider than longer but oh so lovely...
NOW THE HAND QUILTING WILL BEGIN... 
After we got it basted, got home and unpacked the sirens went off. There is a large fire burning in the nearby Forrest. About 20 kms away... So far 36 trucks attended in the first 2 hours.. Hope all is under control soon.
THANKYOU NIKKI and the CFA. You do a great job...



FNSI
Go sign up and join in with Wendy and all other like minded sewers. On Friday night grab your sewing and a drink and have some fun.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jo ,wow this quilt is amazing and such a brilliant effort to get it to this stage,boy those tables sure came in handy and yes i can imagine how sore your back was,well done ladies and what a wonderful friendship you have with your neighbour,thankyou for sharing Jo xx

Sheila said...

Very unique and beautiful quilt , congrats on getting this huge quilt basted , now the fun begins , the hand quilting .

Kathy S. said...

What a cool WIP!

elliek said...

That is one big quilt. Very lovely though. Well done to all and even though I am short I can empathise with the sore back.

Michelle Ridgway said...

Oh my! What an achievement! Well done V. It is so lovely....hope your back feels better soon x

KERYN B said...

Wow Jo that is just amazing so much work. Hope your back is ok.

kiwikid said...

Fantastic achievement Jo...the quilt looks amazing...well done to V..hope your back is better

Melody said...

Well done, sorry to hear about your back

Kate said...

What a great story to go with a fun quilt. But 6 tables really? I still have a hard time translating cm to inches so it didn't impact me just how bit that really is.

cozykoza32a@gmail.com said...

Wow, you should be very proud of what you have accomplished.

Kathleen Mary
https://kathysnest32.wordpress.com/

Ellen said...

Wow...it really does look beautiful. Hopefully it won't take as many years to quilt!

I hope all is well in your part of the world.

Narelle said...

This is looking amazing ... well done to you both :)