1800s Schoolgirl's Quilt

Since getting back from Japan I have been stitching my Flower Garden Hexagons 

onto the background. 

I finally decided on the random layout and came to the conclusion that is is actually quite hard to be random. I kept up on ending up with them in straight lines or in diagonal lines.

But after much moving around and auditioning I got it!!

This is the final layout with borders on - now a little hand quilting will finish it off.

Having got to that stage I think I can launch into one of the projects I planned with 

my fabrics from Japan - I feel a bit of modern 'Boro" coming on. Now that is a conflict 

of terms surely. Check out my previous post from Japan on 13 November if you 

are not sure what Boro is.

And I am desperate to start it while the idea is still new and in my head! It is quite 

exciting to feel so inspired after the trip.

Shibori Class Kyoto Japan

Today we went to a Shibori Class at the Kyoto Shibori Craft Centre.

Shibori is a dyeing technique where you running stitch your design onto your piece 

of fabric – ours was silk. Then the stitched threads are pulled up tightly and secured. 

The areas that formed the flowers were gathered up tightly and then we bound up the

‘bubble’ that was created. The stems were just pulled up tightly. This technique is 

called Umbrella Roll or Ita-Shime Shibori.

We used a free standing frame that held our knotted end securely while we pulled each

thread really tight.

Then it was off to the wash and dye process. Wash first to get the marked design out of the fabric and then into the dye pot – ours were in for just five minutes.

Next rinse and dry. Then gently release the threads to reveal your creation. 

Jane and I dyed ours blue and Susie chose a lovely orange.

These are sticks for moving the fabric around n the dye pot.

I think the hardest part was sitting on the floor and concentrating!!!!!

This dyeing technique is the oldest in Japan and sadly the master crafts-people are getting on in years now and there are few younger people following them through. It is such time consuming work that it is no longer financially viable – it takes eighteen months to make one kimono that is completely shibori dyed.  It seems that before long it will be just a museum piece. Once again we have huge respect for the old fabrics and techniques that come out of Japan.

You can find more information on their website:  www.shibori.jp

Hi From Japan

As you can tell from the heading above, I am now in Japan - in fact have been here for almost a 

week now. We spent the first two days at the Yokohama Quilt Show which was pretty amazing.

The stalls were as usual incredible and we all had big spend ups on fabric, kimono silks, threads and more. The quilts were amazing - mostly quite modern and in strong colours.

One of the other highlights of our stay in Tokyo was our trip to the Boro Museum. Boro is described as “rags and tatters of the far North of Japan” that have been made clothing and bedding. These amazing textile pieces were made in very poor communities in Aomori Prefecture.

These pieces have been patched and mended with whatever scraps of fabric were

available  and held together with stitching.

Chuzaburo Tanaka put this collection together by walking through the farming and fishing villages of the area in the 1960s collecting and documenting these pieces. They are now housed in the Amuse Museum in Asakusa where we can admire, photograph and 

even touch these pieces – what a treat.

The large piece behind me is long narrow scraps of cotton woven through hemp 

fibres to create a new textile.

We saw more of this style at Tokyo's Blue and White Shop. They had an amazing window display of Boro made recently from old indigo and scrap fabric, so fed our new addiction nicely.

Don't you just love the intense stitching on this piece.

The next post will come from Kyoto as we headed south on the Shinkansen (bullet train) 

after visiting the Blue and White Shop.

More Hexies

Yes more hexagons in progress - even thought those last ones are not yet made up 

into the planned bag!!!! That required some thinking and more planning, so after busy days it was easier to just keep making more hexagons!

These ones are larger 22mm instead of 12mm last time. And they are in 1800s reproduction fabrics - I feel a little school girl quilt coming on. This will part of the 2013 Hexie Club 

that I am planning for the shop.

I quite like the idea of them scattered randomly across a background fabric.

Or maybe a more traditional layout all joined up together.

Or them maybe the absolute traditional Grandmothers Flower Garden layout.

Who knows - watch and see where it ends up.

The Start of Hexie Club 2013

I have had a lovely relaxing weekend in Taupo with family and quilting friends and 

of course a little bit of sewing between times. It is a great place to meet family from Wellington.

I also got to visit a lovely group of ladies in Taupo who are busy working on my Yoko Saito "Japanese Applique" Block of the Month. Wow are they making amazing progress. Thanks Sue for another amazing afternoon tea.

I have been working on projects for a new group at the shop for 2013 and probably a

Project of the Month Programme for those who cannot make it to the shop for a 

monthly group meeting. o watch for Hexie Club.

The first project I have started is based on 12mm hexagons. When measuring 

hexagons you usually measure the length of one side,so this on is small, but 

not our smallest!

Soon this will be a small project bag to carry scissors, threads, etc when I head off to group.

The back of the bag will be a favourite taupe fabric with this wee hexie flower on it.

The Club samples will probably be taupe and 1800s reproduction fabrics.

Or maybe this two-sided shot cotton Pin Cushion will feature too.

Sashiko For Christmas

These are the start of our Christmas for 2012. 

We had them on display at the Hamilton Quilt and Craft Fair and will have them with 

us at Auckland Festival of Quilts (November 2-4 at Albany Rugby Stadium).

This is traditional Japanese sashiko stitching. This stitching is like a running stitch

but has a few extra rules – like the stitch is bigger than the spaces between stitching.

The fun part of these projects is that fabric comes pre-printed, so you stitch and then the extra lines wash away – how easy is that. I found them fun and really quick to make – in fact I think it took longer to stuff the stars than it did to sew them!

The one above is a little wall hanging. Then there are these little stars.

Both these designs are by Jane McDonald – I do love her sashiko ideas on this

pre-printed fabric.

Our Christmas display will go up in the shop window after Calico Christmas, so watch for other things. We have sourced some gorgeous ready-made Christmas textile tree decorations. I will post once we get the display up - although we will have them up at the Albany Show.

Parliament of Owls

The family of Owls - a 'Parliament' - are finished. Now did you know that is what a

group of owls is called!

Once I had done the chunky hand quilting around the owls I decided the whole thing 

needed lots more quilting. 

I tried clouds up in the sky chunky quilted with ecru embroidery thread, but that did't cut

it so that was pulled out. Then it was off to the machine for some outline quilting - I like

that much better, with straight-ish lines across the bottom outlining the tree branch lines.

Now it is bound and ready to go to Auckland Festival of Quilts (Calico Christmas) in a few weeks.We will cut some kitsets to go with us during the week.

See you there November 2-4 at Albany's Rugby Stadium.