To -do lists

Happy 2011 everybody.

I didn’t intend to have such a long hiatus from blogging but my little holiday break seemed to lapse in to a bout of computer laziness.

Christmas day here was lovely with family and good friends in abundance…and thankfully my children have reached the age where they can allow me to sit back (just a bit) and enjoy the day.

Ayla in the kitchen

DD, slicing and dicing; Mumsie no where to be seen but no doubt enjoying some of that Champagne.

DH and I had a couple of nights in South Melbourne at DD’s place early this week (cat and house sitting) so we got to do a few city things… balmy Melbourne evenings/sitting on the upstairs balcony/relaxing/restaurant dinners/G and T’s.

Melbourne Skyline

And during the rest of the summer break (which still has a week to go for me) I have thoroughly enjoyed taking the time to get back to some projects and to-do lists.

One quilt (top) I am really pleased to have finished is the Nebraska Basket Quilt.

You may remember this pic from an earlier post

Work in progress

Well now the top is finished and ready for quilting.

Nebraska Basket Quilt circa 1854

This quilt is one I started  a couple of years ago.  My inspiration was a quilt by Mary Novotny Lahowetz (1835-1907)

Mary and her quilt are featured on pages 20 and 21 of the book

Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers;

Edited by Patricia Cox Crewes and Ronald C. Naugle, University of Nebraska Press (1991)

Mary’s quilt features this unususal basket block whereby the piecing of the basket extends into the space usually left open below the handle.

Does spotting an unusual block variation get you rushing for graph paper and pencil too?

I have drawn up another block  for the Maltaville Album Quilt 1847 and managed to get that sewn over the break.

I decided to have a go with the ‘back basting’ method which I have seen on various blogs over time…I thought it would be perfect for this Scherenschnitte type block.

Maltaville Album Quilt 1847

Back-Basting in readiness for applique. Dargate Prussian Blue C. 1830, patt # 24413 by Margo Krager

Maltaville Album 1847

Back-Basting, reverse side shown.

Then I cut the fabric a little way ahead and unpicked just a basting stitch or two ahead of where I was sewing…Maltaville Album 1847
…turning the seam allowance under as I went.

I found the method worked very well, thank you to those of you who have shared it before.

Voila…Maltaville Album 1847

The Maltaville Album Quilt (1847) is in the Smithsonian Institute.

It contains 61 applique blocks (one large central block surrounded by 60 smaller blocks) and now I have finished two with another nearly drafted and ready to go.

The original features a lot of Prussian Blues so I am enjoying trialling different options from my stash.

The other bit of  ‘whimsy’ I’m frittering hours away on is my Drunkards Path.  I’ve no idea what this will end up as …a whole quilt or just a border for something, but in the meantine it’s a bit of enjoyable evening hand stitching or something to take to ‘quilting’ if I haven’t got anything else organised.

Drunkards Path Blocks

Drunkards Path Blocks

I’ve been cutting 5″ squares out of my stash including bits of Smithsonian, I need to add some Prussian Blues though.

Okay, one week left of the hol’s…Focus,

Connecticut Quilt, you’re next.

Comments

  1. Happy New Year to you too!
    I love seeing all your projects , love the block haven’t tried back basting yet but maybe I do need to give it a try.
    Drunkard path blocks look fun, I have a pile of them too I started awhile ago…maybe need to add to it this year.
    I LOVE the Connecticut Quilt book, can’t wait to see what quilt your making from that!
    oh on the Nebraska basket block what a great use of that fabric on the outside of the block, WOW….perfect. I never would have thought to do that! The quilt looks beautiful.
    thanks for sharing! inspiring as always
    Kathie

  2. Lovely to see your first back-basting appliqué block finished having seen it start. Please bring the Maltaville blocks & the Nebraska quilt-top to quilting on Wednesday so we can see it.
    Jenn

  3. My gosh, you do come up with the most intriging things on your blog. I found this post very interesting to read and I look forward to seeing the progress through out the year. I went through all of my UFOs recently and now I’m focussed – so much very nice fabric in all those boxes! Happy New Year Margaret and I hope to see you soon. xxx Andrea

  4. Gee, Margaret, do you think you might like to share your drafted Malta blocks online and start a quilt along? I love the first block, love the use of Margo’s plaid particularly. If perchance you think you’d like to share, please let me know, because I’d sign on in a heartbeat! Happy New Year, and by the way, your daughter is gorgeous! Michele

  5. Hi Margaret
    I’ve missed catching up with you – I usually miss quilting with friends during this time as everything seems to shut down!! I am, of course, catching up on all my sewing.
    I haven’t heard of back-basting applique before – would love to have a quick lesson with you the next time we meet. I see Jennifer mentions Wed quilting – where’s that? I’m going through withdrawals from lack of quilting mates!!!
    Looking forward to seeing you!
    Love
    Irene

  6. I’m with Michele! I’ll sign up for the quilt-along, too! Love the basket quilt! Your fabric choices are wonderful. I haven’t tried backbasting yet. It looks like so much more work that needleturn.

  7. Good to hear from you again, looks like you’ve been pretty productive over the holiday period. Back-basting is something I tried many years ago, thanks for the reminder of the process. Looking forward to what you show next!

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