Corris Uchaf, Wales
Quilting at Corris
Patchwork and Quilting work shop at Corris Craft Centre, Mid Wales
Celtic Knotwork designs (1)
Aug 26th
I have a commission which I have worked on bit by bit over the past few weeks. As you all know only too well, design for another is an iterative process, especially when locations are far flung.
Anyway, the idea was to create a celtic knotwork inspired quilt top, with a post-modernist fairly strict geometric pattern with quite vibrant colours.
So here are some of my initial ideas in chronological order:-
celtic knotwork - design idea 1
celtic knotwork - design idea 2
celtic knotwork - design idea 3
Progressing from the initial design brief into something rather more complex and thence morphing into to what might be regarded as a Roman mosiac but trying to show knotwork geometrically and with at least some sharp colour.
Being an ongoing process, the design concepts continue …
But, do the ideas work for you?
Kids enjoyed themselves
Aug 23rd
Ah Well – the kids had a field day … for it was indeed their day. Mostly lousy weather so they were all dry and safe indoors being constructive and learning new worthwhile crafting skills, as well as using some imagination.
Designing, choosing fabrics and colours, sewing and needlefelting. Every single one of them managed to create something of their own, either for themselves or for a friend or relative. Everyone took something home with them, something that they had made themselves – with just some guidance (usually with scissors and needles) from myself or Mum.
But with all those needles, pins and a gaggle of small girls and boys I did not take any pictures (again ….) – too chaotic and noisy with tiny piercing squeals of joy.
But, a hugely enjoyable day that we’ll repeat soon. A day they can all be proud of themselves for what they have learnt and for what they have made.
My stash of “old” fabrics, wools and felt is now sorely depleted, but in a very worthwhile cause.
Patience
Aug 17th
Perhaps that should read Patience and Trigonometry. And this is not a new card game with triangular cards.
I am creating patchwork squares for a new quilt top. These squares are made up in part of triangles. These I overcut. This is far better than undercutting, but a pain in the proverbial I’d rather do without. It will mean unpicking, re-cutting and re-stitching all the affected fabrics.
This only came to light when I had completed the squares and was about to join them them all up.
I am also aware of the old adage – Measure Twice & Cut Once.
So, either I was too impatient when drawing out the designs and calculating the angles to give me all my measurements or else I need to revise Pythagoras and his cunning plans. But I know it’ll work out fine in the end ….
Which leads me to my new favourite comic strip of the day which seems to sum up this quilt.
Patience - from Mimi & Eunice
Patience – from Mimi & Eunice – by Nina Paley (with grateful Thanks)
Cutting Fabric
Aug 14th
As we all know, the design process for a new quilt not only involves the creation of shapes in coloured fabrics with stitching patterns, but also includes the templates for the cut fabric.
This process is perhaps the most enjoyable for me, followed closed by the creation process where you sew the top together and then fill, back and quilt it all together
But, age seems to be catching up with me. The middle process (the actual cutting of the fabrics into shapes and sizes including seam allowance) now leaves me cold and sore.
Not just cold, but weary and with back problems due to leaning over my worktop and slicing or scissoring the bits of fabrics I want from my stash. Is “scissoring a word?.
I need a cutting fairy (rather like a tooth fairy in a way) who will take my sketches and colour charts and will just, as if by magic, cut the fabrics for me so that I can enter the shop one morning having left the designs overnight, and hey-presto everything is ready for sewing. Is this just too much to ask?
End of my back problems – but start of old age illusions I guess … Oh well, back to my roller blade …
Ollie of Ollie’s Quilt
Aug 8th
Just stumbled upon a picture of the Heroine of our tale as discussed here.
So here she is (with just a hint of her work in progress at the bottom of the picture) although looking very much less animated than usual probably because of the camera!
Ladies and Gentlemen – may I present Ollie of Ollie’s Quilt
OLLIE
Ollie’s Quilt
Aug 6th
Ollie is a local gentlewoman who sometimes works with me in the shop and who rarely used a needle and thread.
All that was to change, as Ollie came to the conclusion that working in a quilting shop should encourage her to do “something”. Perhaps nothing too adventurous, but something.
She therefore decided to look at how a basic block was built. Start with a log cabin or similar said I.
So, she did. She gathered some fabrics and decided on a suitable colour scheme with complementary fabric patterns. She measured and she cut (even including the seam allowance) and put the fabrics together to give her an end product of roughly a 12″ square.
“But, Can you sew it for me as I can’t sew”. After some cajoling, Ollie herself sewed together her square.
Brilliant – now what? She decided, having got this far, to make a quilt made up of the same square repeated. I’m getting seriously impressed here.
And so she continue, part-time, over several days and weeks to construct the basis of her quilt top. She put all the squares together and found the overall pattern she liked, and between us we joined them up for a finished top.
We tried several border ideas, came up with the best match and again as a team we made the border. Wadding and a simple backing were added and all were joined together and attached as one.
Wow, Ollie had a quilt and as pleased as punch.
Quite right too – first ever effort and a grand result. The actual quilting itself I did with her help, just simple stitching to keep it all in place with nothing elaborate that might detract from her colour scheme, her fabrics, her design and her work:
Ollie's Quilt
Bowling
Aug 2nd
Bowling – but not as you thought either the 10pin or Cricket variety.
Bowling – as in making bowls, fabric bowls from old string and waste fabric.
These have proved quite popular at local charity fund raising events and I’m not sure where the idea came from. Basically old fabric is coiled around string and then this combination is shaped into a bowl and machine stitched.
Simple, quick and fun ….
Patchwork Bowls
Holidays
Jul 18th
Yea — I’m going on my holiday tomorrow with my family for a break in the wilderness of Center Parks and then for a weekend with youngest at his home.
Really looking forward to it – an escape and a complete break.
Anyway, looking forward to the location, relaxing and being with my loved ones …. my assistant will be in the shop all week – so its almost business as usual. Be warned however, he cannot sew for a toffee. Otherwise he’ll try to do you justice, is enthusiastic and helpful …
Needlefelting will also open for you to enjoy your creativity with felt
I’ll still logon and update if I can – let me know of any problems ….
Byeeee — See You all in a week xxxxx
