"Woven Together"
Since I began quilting in 1994 I've made over fifty cuddle quilts . Many were created as gifts (wedding, birth, and graduation) and quite a few for ill children at our Ronald McDonald House. This is the one that I've kept for my personal use.
"Woven Together" - 60"x60" - 1995It is made of chambray and hand-dyed muslin fabrics. This is the only fabric I have ever dyed. It was an all day affair of great fun with about six other quilters. As those of you have dyed know, you don't really see the results until many, many hours later after the pieces are ironed. I finished ironing mine about midnight of that day. I was exhausted but still too "hyped" to go to bed. I began playing with the selvedges I had trimmed off that were piled on the end of the board. I wove them together in this simple pattern ... and then went to bed.
The next morning I got out graph paper and drew up the pattern to make a quilt from that spontaneous weaving. It was easier than it may appear. Several rows are the same in weaving, so I strip-pieced quite a bit. 
A number of the fabrics are mottled so it appears there are more than there really are.
I hand-quilted it with the pattern of lines that I saw in the "woven" area.
The embroidered words of the title are woven together. 
The back is pieced with a batik and the chambray. It has a knife edge finish rather than a binding. I didn't crop this photo thinking some of you may like a peek at the area surrounding my design wall.
I have since determined that painting rather than dying fabric is for me. It's less labor intensive and I can see the results a lot faster. I also think painting is less toxic than dying. The labor and toxicity are major considerations because of my fibromyalgia.
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The next morning I got out graph paper and drew up the pattern to make a quilt from that spontaneous weaving. It was easier than it may appear. Several rows are the same in weaving, so I strip-pieced quite a bit. 
A number of the fabrics are mottled so it appears there are more than there really are.
I hand-quilted it with the pattern of lines that I saw in the "woven" area.
The embroidered words of the title are woven together. 
The back is pieced with a batik and the chambray. It has a knife edge finish rather than a binding. I didn't crop this photo thinking some of you may like a peek at the area surrounding my design wall.I have since determined that painting rather than dying fabric is for me. It's less labor intensive and I can see the results a lot faster. I also think painting is less toxic than dying. The labor and toxicity are major considerations because of my fibromyalgia.
*All photos are clickable for you to view a larger version in a separate window. Click the back arrow icon of your server to get back to this post.
*Click on a label to see all postings featuring that subject.
Fabric Bird Sculpture Pattern
12 comments:
What a wonderful quilt. Thank you for posting some of the design process, it is interesting to see how things come about.
This is a lovely thing, and designed in a very unsuspected way. By coincidence, when I blogged about the five topics, I mentioned that I don't hand dye fabrics for the reasons you mentioned!
Your cuddle quilt is just beautiful.
Your quilt is beautifull and I like all your explanations.ciao ciao
This is a beauty! there is something so graceful in the geometrics of this one. What a wonderful result of your playing with the selvedges! I still havent managed to find the time to contact and go to MB gallery... Retirement can not get here too soon for me..sigh.
That's a pretty spectacular cuddle quilt! BTW, I like the term "cuddle quilt." Sounds so much better than utility quilt.
Your woven selvedges would make a great postcard.
I think I am in love cuddle quilt. The it is simple and sophistocated and, well, beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
This is just wonderful. wild and mannered at the same time. It's a whiskey sour....I hope you use it and don't let it languish folded in a box somewhere.
I'm so glad all of you like my quilt. Thank you. Yes, Deb, I do use it. Right now I'm cuddled under it in my lounger typing and surfing on my lap top waiting for American Idol to come on. Now you have me wishing for a whiskey sour complete with an orange slice and marachino cherry. Guess I'll just settle for a Honey Belle orange.
That Woven Together quilt is spectacular, everything about it. The colours, the design. Absolutely gorgeous.
What a simple but striking way to use your hand-dyeds. It is a quilt anyone would be happy to cuddle under!
A footnote: This quilt was entered in a quilt show shortly after it was created. The judge refused to critique it saying, “It’s not a quilt.” That it belonged in the show exhibiting painted, drawn, and sculpted art across the hall. I was not happy! I felt better the next morning when we received the local newspaper with front page coverage of the quilt show and a large picture of my quilt to accompany it.
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