Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt

Work in Progress ... lots of photos!
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018

Outback Wife 2017 and Essentials by Gertrude Made (the solids, gingham, and yarn dyed fabrics) are the most recently released fabric collections by Cathi Bessell-Browne for Ella Blue Fabrics - Cathi is an Australian designer and dressmaker with a passion for vintage floral fabrics. It is no secret that I love fabric and even though these colors and large scale floral designs are not usual style I was immediately drawn to them, and was thrilled to receive a complimentary bundle of both collections from Cathi and Ella Blue Fabrics.

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Click on any image for a larger view.

Over the festive season these fabric bundles were never far from my sight; propped neatly on my cutting table awaiting inspiration to strike. Every time I walked past I wondered if cutting the beautiful large scale floral designs into small patchwork pieces would not be the best use of these fabrics, but my instincts told me to go for it. I played with several traditional quilt designs including Log Cabin and Flying Geese blocks, before settling on Courthouse Steps blocks and working with light/dark fabrics for contrast in the design of the quilt.

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018

The Outback Wife range of fabrics are barkcloth fabrics; soft, thick, slightly textured cotton fabric heavier in weight than standard quilting cotton, but no more difficult to handle, cut, sew, and press, than quilting cotton. The barkcloth fabric base has a gorgeous texture and is much softer than I had anticipated. The barkcloth fabrics also worked well with both the yarn-dyed fabrics and quilting weight gingham/stripe fabrics from the Essentials range. Furthermore, I did not hesitate to add several linen and linen blend fabrics (as well as quilting cottons) from stash into the mix. Texture + texture + texture!

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018

QUILT DETAILS
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt
Quilt top measures 60 inches x 60 inches.
36 Courthouse Steps blocks.
6 rows of 6 blocks.
 Each finished block measures 10" x 10"
[cut center square 2.5" x 2.5" and cut all surrounding
logs 1.5" wide]
FEATURED FABRIC:

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt
60 inches x 60 inches.

The use of the heavier weight fabrics means that this quilt top is significantly heavier than my usual quilt tops. It is heavy in a good way though ... perfect for a cold Winter's night in front of the TV and providing comfort when used on a bed. I am planning to further add to the weight of the quilt by piecing a quilt back from the larger pieces of leftover barkcloth fabrics.

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018

RELEVANT LINKS:
Sunday Stash - Outback Wife 2017
Sunday Stash - Essentials by Gertrude Made
Outback Wife Quilt - April 2017
Gertrude Made
Ella Blue Fabrics

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt | © Red Pepper Quilts 2018

Thank you for stopping by and scrolling through the many photos!

More soon,
Rita

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COPYRIGHT and DISCLOSURE: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. Fabric bundle kindly supplied by Cathi Bessell-Browne and Ella Blue Fabrics. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

10 comments:

  1. That is gorgeous. Mixing it with neutral fabrics really makes the colors pop.

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  2. Beautiful. Heavy equals great sleep. That's another word for security quilt.

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  3. What a beautiful quilt! I love the vintage design combined with the vintage-inspired fabrics.

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  4. Oh, wow! It’s gorgeous! There’s a lesson here, and I won’t hesitate to cut into my large prints ever again!

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  5. striking colors, Rita. I think you chose an appropriate pattern for these. Not only court house steps, but little stacks of powerful beauty

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  6. One of the most beautiful quilts you have ever made! It’s so pretty!!

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  7. Such a gorgeous and brave quilt using heavier fabric. I ordered some of that line and was ok with it, but sadly the prints I truly loved were all out of stock. I'm thinking of making zippered bags or totes with mine. I don't think I could wrestle with using them in an entire quilt. Kudos to you, as always, for being fearless as you inspire so many of us!

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  8. I love this quilt! Beautiful job! And I want dresses made with everyone of those amazing florals in Outback Wife!

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  9. Absolutely love Outback Wife & all barkcloth but could never cut them up! You were so brave...love this quilt & could use the weight in our Canadian winter.

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  10. I have admired the Outback wife range but was unsure as to how it would lend itself to a quilt. You have shown that cutting the large scale prints into smaller strips still allows the fabric to shine. Very encouraging! I am sure your pieced backing will be just as inspiring and I look forward to photos of the finished quilt. Many thanks.

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