The home dec sewing has begun! And I discovered a way I can make it more interesting: by using remnants of my favorite garment fabrics. I once saw an exhibit of quilts at the Folk Art Museum, and some of my favorites incorporated scraps of fancy dress textiles: silks, velvets, and the like.
This past weekend I made a dress out of this amazing magenta rose-motif brocade (it's for a magazine article, more to come on that in the future!) and I had a little over a yard left. I thought about putting it aside for a blouse, but then I realized how luxurious it would be made into a throw quilt. And so the piecing began!
I added some length to the brocade I had by piecing together some scraps. And then I remembered this vivid pink dupioni I have in my stash, and that became part of the mix as well, just in a corner (I love little quirky details like that in quilts.) The finishing touch? A silk velvet backing, also from the remnant stash.
I sandwiched cotton batting in between the layers and basted them, and now I'm in the process of hand quilting it. I was inspired by these quilts from West Elm, which are made from vintage saris and have prominent hand stitching in a contrasting color.
I also found out that my throw looks pretty great with a pink chandelier, so I'm going to start convincing Jeff we absolutely need one. I'll let you know how that goes.
Cute!
ReplyDeleteI agree that a pink chandelier is a must to match the quilt! Good luck with the convincing and happy handstitching!
ReplyDeleteI've used up many dressmaking scraps in my quilts. And each time you look at the quilt, you'll remember the outfits that came before it. It instantly makes the quilt a cherished piece. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Coincidentally, I'm actually planning a quilt made of fabrics I've used for dresses and record bags, along with the vintage repro designs I've done through spoonflower!
ReplyDeletexx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage
i love this!! great idea! I am working on a pinwheel quilt right now and velvet backing and binding might be teh way to go. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! It reminds me too of the next set of PJs I'm going to buy, from Punjammies. I have a question though--how do you plan to clean your quilt? For some reason I'm more willing to pony up drycleaning costs for fancy garments, but it feels a bit more prohibitive for home stuff.
ReplyDeleteQuilting always looks so much harder to me than sewing clothes, but I love your quilt so far. Very luxurious looking!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I am too embarking on a "modern quilt" this year. After I said I wouldn't quilt again. But, it must be done - I've fallen in love with the colors. .. . .
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I save all the reasonably sized scraps from my garment sewing, so one day, when the box is full, there will be a patchwork quilt made from the ghosts of dresses past.
ReplyDeleteButton thread for quilting, that's one I have not heard of, pearl cotton, yes, isn't it too thick...just wondering...Btw, do you ever sleep?
ReplyDeleteWhat DOESN'T look great with a pink chandelier? I grew up in a culture in which any scrap of fabric was admissible for quiltmaking -- which led to a whole mess of hideous, lumpy double-knit 1970s tied quilts (you can hardly machine needle that stuff). Your dressmaker's quilt will be a pleasant reminder of your favorite things for many, many years.
ReplyDeleteMy Aunty makes beautiful quilts from recycled clothing. I love the combinations of textures she uses. They're great for cuddling up with.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt looks like it will be gorgeous! I love handsewing, but I'm making clothes now. X
ReplyDeleteAnd, see, that's the whole point of quilting - to use up fabric scraps and ratty old clothes that would otherwise get thrown away. The proliferation of quilting shops where I live (at the expense of dressmaking fabric shops) frustrates me - why buy new fabric to cut up and make into a quilt? To me, it goes against the thrifty ethos of quilting.
ReplyDeleteLove, love what Lucy just said. I have always felt that way. Of course, I do understand that some people just want to quilt, without doing garment sewing as well, just like I like to garment sew, without quilting, although that would be a good way to use my scraps.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't care for the ivory handstitching. If you want contrasting, I would go for a blue or green, the ivory looks like basting stitches.
Love your rationale for needing a pink chandelier, my kind of reasoning! Gorgeous fabric too. You must be a remarkably fast stitcher, is that just practice? I think I might be a born slow stitcher...
ReplyDeleteHi there
ReplyDeleteThe colours of the quilt are beautifully vibrant...........and I am sure you can also get your chandelier to go with it.
I love it! Don't forget to cut your binding on the bias - makes it MUCH easier! Also, there are tutorials on mitered corners if you haven't done them before. They look lovely that way!
ReplyDeleteThrow quilt, or cat bedspread? I suspect there may be some discussion in your household on which title wins. And I'm taking bets on how long it takes before a photo shows up online of a cat-circle right in the middle of all that lovely velvet and brocade.
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought of using dress remnants.... I always use cotton... Looks lush cant wait to se the finnished project... Velvet eh :) Tacktile indeed!
ReplyDeleteWow that looks amazing and such beautiful fabric! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is going to be divine! I really love silks and velvets. Those West Elm quilts are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the final result!
ReplyDeleteI fit in with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your upcoming updates.
ReplyDeleteI discovered so many interesting stuff in your blog.Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSeriously gorgeous quilt...love, love, love the silky pink fabric. With the pink chandelier and the black & white screen, you have the makings of a very chic room!
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