Rejoice Sampler is my newest cross stitch pattern! I used both Valdani 6 strand embroidery floss, and DMC embroidery floss to stitch the sampler onto Weeks Dye Works 36 count Mocha linen, using 2 strands of floss over 2 linen threads.
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| Rejoice Sampler |
It's now available on my website as either a paper pattern mailed to you, or as a PDF instant download. I also have it listed in my new Etsy shop as a PDF instant download.
I finished all of the block and fabric replacements on my "Economy Patch" turn of the century quilt I blogged about last time, and now I'm on to the hand quilting phase. It should be interesting, as the border is very "ruffly", a feature I've never dealt with before, as I've always hand quilted my own quilts, which I make sure are perfectly flat. So, we'll see, LOL!
I've also taken on another quilt restoration project, this time on a quilt top I purchased online. I have an affinity for one patch quilts, made of many different prints, and this is such a one - made entirely of diamonds, with a 5" border. The quilt looks to be pieced in the 1870-1890 period, and is very well pieced, although all of the seams are very narrow - 1/8" wide. I read in Eileen Trestain's book, "Dating Fabrics", that quilters during this time period were encouraged to use narrow seams in their piecing to lessen the weight of the quilt. Very interesting! And this quilt top is certainly very light.
The quilt was tied some time later than the piecing, with a cotton batt, and a backing fabric that looks to be a 1930-40 fabric. I washed the quilt before removing the ties, and many of the fabrics fell apart after washing, principally the fabrics with brown in them. So, I'm replacing those patches with reproduction fabrics. Luckily, I have a good collection of reproduction fabrics, which I started buying when they first came on the market.
Here's an example of some of the patches that needed to be replaced, and then what I replaced them with:
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| "Before" replacing the patches |
And the replacements:
I auditioned the fabrics first by laying the reproductions close to the damaged patches to try to find fabrics that most closely resembled the originals, in color and tone. I hand pieced them together, but I'm using a 1/4" seam allowance, haha!
That's all for now! Until next time,
Martha
