Red Pepper Quilts: Worn and Washed Strip Quilt

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Worn and Washed Strip Quilt - Work in Progress

Last month I traveled to London and on to Birmingham for the Festival of Quilts. It is there that I picked up a bundle of reclaimed fabrics collated by Kim Porter under the Worn and Washed Fabrics label. Kim started Worn and Washed Fabrics after being inspired by both her love of patchwork quilts and seeing the beautiful prints and softness of pre-worn clothing. Kim sells reclaimed fabric bundles at quilt shows and markets.

Worn and Washed Strip Quilt - Work in Progress | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

I purchased several bundles including a blue/indigo bundle of reclaimed shirt fabrics (unfortunately I did not photograph it prior to opening it. It was beautifully packaged and once opened I cut straight into it!). The bundle included a variety of blue prints; florals, gingham, stripes, and several small pieces of Liberty Tana Lawn. All fabrics are cotton fabrics of various quality (thread count), freshly laundered and naturally dried.

I have added several more pieces of reclaimed shirt fabrics as well as a range of Liberty Tana Lawn fabrics in navy, blue, black, and purple, all from stash. I was surprised by just how many complementary pieces of fabric I was able to pull from stash.

The bundle fabrics were all 5 inches wide and varied from 5 inches to 12 inches in length. As such a somewhat improvised Strip Quilt was the perfect design. I have set the fabrics against a background of yarn dyed fabric by Lecien. This fabric is 100 per cent cotton with the cross weave creating a textured appearance much like traditional linen. This fabric is similar in weight and cuts, presses and sews just like standard quilting cotton.

This quilt is a little different to my usual work and and unlike most of my other quilts progress is made with the use of my design ~~wall~~ floor. Once piece at a time, one row at a time. I get tempted to start sewing pieces of fabric, or rows, together which inevitably leads to having to unpick as I change my mind about layout. I am really happy with how the quilt has turned out although I have struggled with the irregularity of fabric pieces and even the irregular height of the rows. I've kept self doubt at bay by focusing on the prints, the colors and the task of simple sewing.