June 6, 2010

Featherweight Challenge: Update on the Border

I have not posted anything since last weekend. The reason is I couldn't take any good photos because it's dark by the time I get home from work. Today is not the best day either, but if I don't take it today it will be another week before I see sunlight again. Sad but true! Now for the update:

Update on Featherweight challenge that Ria, Terry and I are working on rail fence quilt. This quilt was inspired by Kathie and her help. If you haven't seen my previous posts about this you can do a search under Featherweight Challenge on my blog. Ria and I started this challenge in February this year. Both Ria and I own a Singer Featherweight sewing machine. Later on Terry joined in and I believe that Terry is now owns a FWS too. I'm sure she will show us her FWS soon. 
I completed the top before we went to Japan, and in Japan I found the border fabric for it. It's  indigo hand-dyed fabric. It's a perfect piece of fabric for the quilt even though I didn't take the top with me. I hope that you can see the weaving effect of the pattern in the photo. I can't say enough how happy I am with it. Kathie had a big part in helping me to get the weaving effect. Can anyone see why? 
It's bigger than I expected it to be. It's 76" x 76" with the border. It fits the top of our King size bed. I don't think it will fit on any wall in our house. It will have to be a comfort quilt or table topper. Now when it comes to quilting I would like to get your suggestions on how you would quilt it please. 
A perfect corner. I hope you can see leaping deer print on the border. It is not surprising that I'm into weaving stuff. I must have inherited this from my mother who was a basket weaver. She used to weave household utilities such as storage baskets, sieves, trays and rice containers. I have taken up basket weaving as well and at the moment I'm taking an online workshop 'cloth to cloth' with Jude Hill on fabric weaving. I'm busy working on them. I promise to show you some of them soon. 

19 comments:

Unknown said...

your quilt is beautiful nat! that border fabric is very unique and i really love the resulting weave effect! is there a secret to the placement of lights and darks in the weave or is it simply that they are alternating?

Jacky said...

I can see the weaving is having a huge influence on your life Nat...both with Jude's online class and this wonderful post and rail block. Great the way you have arranged the blocks to give that woven look.
I love the Japanese fabric you have chosen for the border too. Very special the indigo.

Jacky xox

susis quilts said...

dear natima,your quilt looks great,and i love your border fabric,very well done,susi

Sue-Anne said...

Your quilt looks fantastic Nat and the border fabric is perfect!

Janet said...

It looks spectacular Nat, is the woven effect from the placement of values? Love the border and it looks great on the bed.

Terry said...

>Looking Good. I know what you mean about good light.

I like the border. I would just quilt it by stitching in the ditch. Anything else would take away from the woven appearance.

Hope you had a good weekend. Looking forward to some more fabric weaving
Terry

antique quilter said...

Looks great! so glad you made one too!
love the border fabric, perfect choice
enjoy the quilt
Kathie

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Hi Nat...looks great...and fantastic border fabric too!!! Sorry can't help with advice...normally I would be asking you LOL...Have a great week...Dzintra♥x

Miri said...

Looking good! Love the border-perfect complement to the rail fence!

Karen said...

Rail Fence blocks are simple to make and they look good just about any way you set them in a quilt.

twhIch aye said...

so beautiful and perfect and straight... it looks to have the perfect weave. wow...

and i cast my vote for stitch in the ditch too... your beautiful blocks being the focal point

michele

lindaschiffer said...

Why not emphasize the woven nature of the blocks with your quilting stitch -- vertically through those blocks and horizontally through those ... uh, stitches fall in the center of each strip, not 'in the ditch'.

:) Linda

Astrid said...

Oh Nat, it's GORGEOUS! I love the way it turned out, and the border is just so perfect for it - very good choice! I really makes me wanting to do one! :) When it comes to the quilting part... stitch in the ditch, or any other simple quilting...?

ria vogelzang said...

WOW! I just love your Rail-Fence! What a beauty! And the border mathes beautiful with it!!! This is going to be a striking quilt!
The woven effect gives it such a strong appearance!
Love, Ria.

Christie said...

Stunning quilt! Beautiful fabrics! Very inspiring...now, if only I could sew....

ParisMaddy said...

What fun---yours turned out so graphically beautiful and strong. I love it.

About 10 years ago, I had my Grandmother's Featherweight---my daughter begged me for it so she could display it on a shelf of antiques that she had. It was on loan to her... The military moved her family (across an ocean)to their next post and somehow this little gem of a sewing machine turned up missing. Sadness ensued. Someone out there has it and I hope they are creating magic with it just like you do with yours.

Dot said...

Hi Nat
My friend Jacky mentioned she caught up with you last weekend and how lovely it was to meet you! Sounds like you had a lovely time. Thought I would pop over to your blog and say hi. I love what you do with fabric - you are very talented and have a good eye for color.
Will be back to visit very soon.
Dotx

Dot said...

P.S It was Jacky that introduced me to the world of fabric and I am hooked :)

Unknown said...

the border print is my favorite thing about it...it just sets off the rest of the quilt beautifully...it is so lovely!

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