Narrow Single Fold Bindings

I love them.  I love the finish they give to a quilt.  No extra bulk.  Simple.  Elegant.  Their fineness is  what adds to the wonderful drape of a quilt.

 

 

I have seen them on the antique quilts I have studied and I think this type of binding finishes off a quilt beautifully.  They are especially stunning on, lets say, a white and blue quilt where blue has been used as the binding … a tiny narrow framing.  Sigh!

 

 

 

 

These bindings are very easy to do.  You can find a printable version of my instructions here: Narrow Single Fold Binding Handout)

 

Happy Stitching!

In Case You Haven’t Heard!

There is a quilt along happening.  

 

 

Remember this amazing quilt from the “Twelve Quilts of Christmas” this past year.  Well there was such a response to this quilt … it really struck a chord with readers … that a quilt along just seemed natural. 

 

Head on over here to register and join in the fun.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Happy Stitching!

Twelve Quilts of Christmas 2017 – #12

 

Marilyn I. Walker discusses at length this phenomenal quilt in her book Ontario Heritage Quilts.  The scope, scale and detail in this quilter’s work astounds me.  She was a skilled needlewoman, had a keen eye for composition, and her use of fabric and ability to give the illusion of three dimensions and create realistic representations through “silhouetting” with fabric is remarkable.  

 

This quilt also leaves me full of questions.  What story was she telling.  Did this quilt accurately depict the different stages of her life. There are castles and battles and flocks of birds flying through the air and what appear to be gentlemen out for “The Shoot”.  There is a scene of courtship (with chaperones), a room with artwork lining the walls showing a refined life, and scenes of country life including the hunt and social calls.  

 

It is the bottom quadrant that further intrigues, with what looks like a deteriorating castle and a life of leisure.  But as you get towards the lower half of that quadrant you see a  life of farming, both men and women holding implements, and a strong sense of community and camaraderie.  There is a shamrock and man playing fiddle in the bottom right corner.  Some figures are only basted on, the quilt never completed.  We are left wondering why she did not finish it.

 

We are so fortunate to know her name.  She proudly added it to the wall of frames in the upper quadrant.  Walker interprets it as Jane Reagan, but when I look at it I see the name Jane Reazon.  I wonder what the significance of 1827?  Was this a marriage quilt?

 

Look at the detail of the scissors on this table in this enlarged detail of the quilt and then look back at the quilt.  This table is to the left of the fireplace in the top quadrant.  My gosh those scissors are small!

 

Walker writes: “Jane probably brought the fabrics and threads with her when she came to Canada.  Imported fabrics and threads of this quality were not available in remote areas.  Several pieces of fabric still bear the Royal Seal of Approval on their backs.  Fabrics had to be of top quality before they were given this approval.”  

 

The scenes and materials indicate she likely came from a very privileged background.  What a change it would have been to have travelled the ocean and start a new life in wilds of Canada.

 

Unfortunately the quilt had not been cared for by the time Walker came across it and it was in a severe state of rot, which is a shame.  It has such a story to tell.  Fortunately it was recorded in photographs.

 

Thank you so much for joining me this year.  It has been such a pleasure to have you stop by and to share these quilts with you.  I would love it if you would leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this year’s Twelve Quilts of Christmas.  

 

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Cheers

Mary Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

Twelve Quilts of Christmas 2017 – #11

Author Ruth McKendry describes this quilt in her book Quilts and Other Bedcoverings in the Canadian Tradition: “Made by Mary Morris (at the age of fourteen) … Mary Morris was born in 1811 with a physical handicap that prevented her from walking.  As a result, she became a skilled needlewoman at an early age.  This beautiful example of her work has been carefully preserved by relatives, and it has been suggested that the running horses and dogs expressed her yearning for freedom of movement.  The quilt is backed with handspan linen, contains little or no stuffing and is finely quilted.  This quilt was made very shortly after immigration, and European influences are visible in its making.” It is said that she made it for her hope chest, but born with club-foot she never married.   It remained tucked away by her and it’s subsequent owners, which is why it is in such wonderful condition. Even at such a young age she had a wonderful sense of composition and design.   Most of the elements are mirrored, except the top and bottom borders.  There she switches the position of different flowers and only the middle bird remains in the same position.  I love those subtle differences.  Her use of colours in the appliqué work reflect beautifully the colours in the borders.   The pieced outer border is precisely sized and sewn so that they resolve neatly at the end of the borders, no pieces being cut or coping strips added to make the borders fit.  The pieced inner border while precisely sewn, includes “chopped off” blocks to make it fit the overall composition. And the use of the purplish border both top and bottom adds interest and likely was to add length to fit a bed. I might hypothesize that since the quilt was made shortly after immigration and the refined nature of the design, use of fabric and colour, that the side borders of horses and hounds depicted scenes she had known in England and left behind.  Either way it is a feast for the eyes.  While I start looking at the centre vase and flower composition, my eyes keep drifting to and resting on those lovely cheddar flowers … of course. Where are your eyes naturally drawn to in this quilt?