Oh dear oh dear oh dear. It’s happened. I’ve gone over to the dark side. *whispers* I’ve been …quilting!
Sort of. But not for a quilt. Remember my plans for the dress inspired by Lincoln cathedral? The fabrics have all arrived. Well, the first batch of stuff I’ve ordered has arrived, I succumbed to some more impulse buying yesterday. Naughty Fairy. More of that later.
The main fabrics are black cotton sheeting, and a delicious lightweight stretch cotton sateen in a soft gold colour. Here’s a reminder of the pics that inspired the fabric choice:
The idea is for a black skirt, inspired by the rose window, with a bodice and draped overskirt in the soft gold. There will be copious trimming to echo the ironwork and intricate stonework. There will be braid, there will be lace. Look what I just ordered:
In the midst of all this purchasing and planning, I decided I should have a go at this cathedral window quilting lark. I first saw this many years ago when a friend was working on it as part of an art project. She was using the traditional unbleached cotton background, but it still looked gorgeous. I want more drama, hence the black. I had thought I might use all sorts of different fabrics for the coloured sections, but the first piece to come out of the scrap bag was a fragment of the lovely sari I used in Jackie’s wedding outfit. PERFECT COLOURS!
And so I had a go. The tutorial I used is here and it’s pretty straightforward. The first half dozen squares seemed to take an age [it’s all hand sewn] but I just went back and found I can make three, and sew them to the main piece, in about 45 minutes. I will probably get a little faster yet.
After sewing on the black squares, you have to put the coloured bits in. Itsy little 2″ squares, sandwiched into the origami folds, and stitched neatly into place. Yes, it will take ages, but that’s fine. I like my hand sewing, it’s very calming.
And the best bit of this type of quilting? THERE’S NO QUILTING! No wadding, no acres of thick nonsense to try to stitch neatly, no binding. It’s all done as soon as it gets to the size you want. Want a peek?
Here’s another reminder of the dress shapes that are calling to me
And as proof that the mad collar I want to put on it DOES fit into the time period, look at this beauty:
Hang onto your hats, this is going to be EPIC
That cape thingie is utterly gorgeous. It is so dramatic and looks super swishy in a Disney evil queen sort of way. I love it and your plans. The fabrics are gorgeous. Thank you for the link to the Cathedral Squares quilting tutorial. I have an absolute ton of little bits of fabrics and never know what to do with them. This looks like it would make up some lovely cushions. Xx
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It’s surprisingly easy for such an intricate look.I just worked out I can sew three black blocks in about 45 minutes [did I say that in the post? I’m tired now!] I just did half a dozen more. It would be pretty easy to have a pack of them pressed ready to stitch, and just take them wherever, as you can just stitch away without much ado, Adding the colours takes more care [and light!] It’s growing quickly enough for a new project though. I think I should probably do some maths to see how big the pieces should be…
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This is going to be such an amazing outfit! The black windows make the sari fabric look absolutely luminous.
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I am loving it, but not sure if the enthusiasm will last for as long as this rather large project will take…
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Beautiful garments, all of them! I love the quilting too. I’m looking forward seeing the outcome.
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I once did that cathedral window stuff, for a sewing box I think, and it turned out really well. But yours is even more gorgeous. I love your plans inspiration and materials.
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Thanks- no idea yet how I’m going to make a skirt from it, Or where to make the seams…but I’ll contrive [I hope]
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I can only say WOW, love what you are doing and can’t wait to see more work in progress
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The cape! No words, just awe. I lived in Lincoln for a few years, the Cathedral pics are hitting the buried memory crypt.
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I do love cathedrals!
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That gold lace fabric is gorgeous. Haha Fairy joins the dark side, well you do like hand sewing and what better way than with Cathedral window. It looks lovely in the sari fabric. I did a quilt a couple of years ago so know what it entails.
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not joined, just passing through!
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