JOURNAL QUILTS 2017
2017 Theme: Zoom - to look at a subject more closely, visually or otherwise.
JANUARY JQ: HELLEBORE 1
A photo from a past garden is the starting point and included in the quilt. Surrounding text (stitched with an embroidery unit onto tulle then appliqued) reflects my thoughts. Framing fabric was computer printed from a group mark-making exercise then walnut ink added. Binding added to echo framing.
Text: Across the lawn from the house hellebore heads stand out against dark soil and leaf signalling winter on the way out.
Text: Across the lawn from the house hellebore heads stand out against dark soil and leaf signalling winter on the way out.
FEBRUARY JQ: CADILLACS
A diversion from hellebores to accommodate using a faux chenille heart sample.
It seems I’m compelled to stitch naff hearts each Feb. The challenge was to fit my ‘Zoom’ theme and make the heart more meaningful & cohesive. I added a paper image of the Cadillacs and lyrics from their 1956 album ‘Zoom’.
Couched thread used to extend heart colour across the background and add movement. It is also used twisted on the edges.
Text: Zoom went the strings of my heart.
For those who missed the 1950s, Zoom went the strings of my heart were lyrics of the song, Zoom, by a group called 'The Cadillacs' (not to be confused with the song Zing went the strings of my heart from about the same period.)
It seems I’m compelled to stitch naff hearts each Feb. The challenge was to fit my ‘Zoom’ theme and make the heart more meaningful & cohesive. I added a paper image of the Cadillacs and lyrics from their 1956 album ‘Zoom’.
Couched thread used to extend heart colour across the background and add movement. It is also used twisted on the edges.
Text: Zoom went the strings of my heart.
For those who missed the 1950s, Zoom went the strings of my heart were lyrics of the song, Zoom, by a group called 'The Cadillacs' (not to be confused with the song Zing went the strings of my heart from about the same period.)
MARCH JQ: HELLEBORE 2
A closer look at hellebores, such lovely plants. I like seeing plants from a distance then bringing some in to enjoy more closely. I challenged myself to paint these onto fabric, which took ages as it’s well out of my comfort zone. Adding hand stitch to the centres was more enjoyable. Background closely quilted to make the flower heads stand out. It was done before bagging out then further outline quilting added.
APRIL JQ: HELLEBORE 3
Hellebores are fascinating. What look like petals are sepals, and adapted petals are nectaries to attract insects. It’s all about reproduction.
Here I’ve focused on the 8 pollen-receiving stigma and style that lead to the ovaries (appliqued silk). In the plant these are surrounded by stamen so I’ve appliqued circles to suggest this. The background silk is quilted to evoke the veining of the petals (sepals!)
Here I’ve focused on the 8 pollen-receiving stigma and style that lead to the ovaries (appliqued silk). In the plant these are surrounded by stamen so I’ve appliqued circles to suggest this. The background silk is quilted to evoke the veining of the petals (sepals!)
MAY JQ: MAYDAY
A current focus is on arrangements possible using only half square triangles. I printed some possibilities on paper for a quilt group and used snippets in this journal quilt.
Selected sections were bonded to fabric with the idea of making a sparse, more modern design. Machine quilting was intended to draw the parts together but the result was underwhelming.
The piece reminded me of maypoles so the quilt took on a life of its own as I added painted leaf, beading and machine/hand stitch.
Was it worth the time? Well, it’s better than it was and I enjoyed playing around with it.
Selected sections were bonded to fabric with the idea of making a sparse, more modern design. Machine quilting was intended to draw the parts together but the result was underwhelming.
The piece reminded me of maypoles so the quilt took on a life of its own as I added painted leaf, beading and machine/hand stitch.
Was it worth the time? Well, it’s better than it was and I enjoyed playing around with it.
JUNE JQ: SOLSTICE
Uses more pieces from my paper printouts of half square triangle arrangements. (See May) This time they’ve been arranged as a sun to mark summer solstice. The background was a previously painted & marked silk, chosen for it’s hot colour. Further applique is also paper with text about solstice and how my day was spent. The title is a printout of intended automated embroidery.
I’d been exploring how to create gradated shading in the software. Simple echo quilting used walking foot but I should have free motion quilted in the circle centre as it was difficult to control the spacing with the walking foot.
Text: SOLSTICE
Sunrise to sunset (London)
16 hours, 38 Minutes and 18 seconds
Summer Solstice
Longest day
Light, light, light.
Lyra, our constellation of delight
Brings warmth joyously bright.
Bug hunting reveals a woodlouse spider
Alarmingly red.
Playing dead.
Light, light, light
Forget the night
Longest day
Summer Solstice.
I’d been exploring how to create gradated shading in the software. Simple echo quilting used walking foot but I should have free motion quilted in the circle centre as it was difficult to control the spacing with the walking foot.
Text: SOLSTICE
Sunrise to sunset (London)
16 hours, 38 Minutes and 18 seconds
Summer Solstice
Longest day
Light, light, light.
Lyra, our constellation of delight
Brings warmth joyously bright.
Bug hunting reveals a woodlouse spider
Alarmingly red.
Playing dead.
Light, light, light
Forget the night
Longest day
Summer Solstice.
JULY JQ: LINES
Here I zoomed in on letters in the word ‘LINES’ to focus more on the spaces between. The letters make use of half square triangle printouts, (see May) here under bridal tulle to keep in place as not all were bonded. The background is an already painted furnishing offcut featuring couched lines. The whole is quilted with half inch-ish horizontal lines and it is tempting to write on them as in an exercise book – if I could think of anything to put.
I played around a bit with the arrangement and degree of magnification of the letters and there’s more scope for experimentation. Keeping the letters still recognisable connects them in a way that is lost if they get too big.
I wondered about outlining the letters with couched thread for more definition but decided it wouldn’t gain a great deal.
I played around a bit with the arrangement and degree of magnification of the letters and there’s more scope for experimentation. Keeping the letters still recognisable connects them in a way that is lost if they get too big.
I wondered about outlining the letters with couched thread for more definition but decided it wouldn’t gain a great deal.
AUGUST JQ: BREAKWATER BREACHES
Uses more pieces from my paper printouts of half square triangle arrangements. (See May)
While holidaying in Suffolk, I was struck by the vulnerability of the east coast to breaches in sea defences. I used the last of my paper half square triangle prints to evoke tidal breakwater and set these upon a dyed fabric, which suggested salt marsh to me.
I liked the movement of the free-cut paper and the way the blue in it merges with the background in places. It was a mistake to start stitching reeds over the top so I soon gave up. It looked better as an abstract. Free machining on fabric creates lovely texture but paper doesn’t behave in the same way.
My fabric stitched half square triangles are ready for another more conventional project, but it’s been good to explore possibilities in these journal quilts and look beyond traditional arrangements.
While holidaying in Suffolk, I was struck by the vulnerability of the east coast to breaches in sea defences. I used the last of my paper half square triangle prints to evoke tidal breakwater and set these upon a dyed fabric, which suggested salt marsh to me.
I liked the movement of the free-cut paper and the way the blue in it merges with the background in places. It was a mistake to start stitching reeds over the top so I soon gave up. It looked better as an abstract. Free machining on fabric creates lovely texture but paper doesn’t behave in the same way.
My fabric stitched half square triangles are ready for another more conventional project, but it’s been good to explore possibilities in these journal quilts and look beyond traditional arrangements.
SEPTEMBER JQ: CIRCLES
This last set focuses on circles: some ways to make them and get them on fabric.
I’d created stitched samples for a quilt group using a machine circle maker and the drawing pin method. Turned edge applique circles were made using freezer paper & starch, ‘Perfect Circles’ or card templates and the interfacing-backed method. Some were bondawebbed ready to stick down.
The challenge here was to assemble some of these samples into a design. Free motion quilting, hand embroidery and plastic rings were added to help bring it all together. It was ‘bagged out’ with minimal quilting and edge stitching afterwards.
I’d created stitched samples for a quilt group using a machine circle maker and the drawing pin method. Turned edge applique circles were made using freezer paper & starch, ‘Perfect Circles’ or card templates and the interfacing-backed method. Some were bondawebbed ready to stick down.
The challenge here was to assemble some of these samples into a design. Free motion quilting, hand embroidery and plastic rings were added to help bring it all together. It was ‘bagged out’ with minimal quilting and edge stitching afterwards.
An Important Headline
More circle samples (see Sept) were appliqued as frames for some fabric printed photographs left from an earlier project. Another ‘bagged out’ journal quilt with some outline circle quilting and edge stitching.
[Note: the photos are of several members of Ros’s family]
[Note: the photos are of several members of Ros’s family]
NOVEMBER JQ: FULL CIRCLE
This sample (see Sept.) demonstrates how the machine circle maker can stitch letters in or outside the circle depending on the way it is fitted to the machine.
Some bonded split circles were added to create a focal point with echo quilting, hand stitch, buttons and text emphasising the circle. Corded edge.
Text: repeats of 'full circle' and 'round and round'.
Some bonded split circles were added to create a focal point with echo quilting, hand stitch, buttons and text emphasising the circle. Corded edge.
Text: repeats of 'full circle' and 'round and round'.
DECEMBER JQ: BLUE CIRCLE
I struggled to find a design for the remaining circle samples (see Sept.)
I had prepared a background for them by roughly rubbing texture plates with ‘Inktense blocks’ then adding further colour around a circular freezer paper template. I liked the effect so decided to use it alone without more circles. I free motion quilted densely around the circle to make it stand out. I also used trapunto on the circle although I’m not sure it was necessary.
Maybe I’ll use it to display items on a temporary basis (dangly things, brooches, hat pins etc.)
I’ve been making journal quilts since Contemporary Quilt launched them in 2007 and will now take a rest. Thanks to all the Contemporary Quilt teams who’ve facilitated this enjoyable challenge.
I had prepared a background for them by roughly rubbing texture plates with ‘Inktense blocks’ then adding further colour around a circular freezer paper template. I liked the effect so decided to use it alone without more circles. I free motion quilted densely around the circle to make it stand out. I also used trapunto on the circle although I’m not sure it was necessary.
Maybe I’ll use it to display items on a temporary basis (dangly things, brooches, hat pins etc.)
I’ve been making journal quilts since Contemporary Quilt launched them in 2007 and will now take a rest. Thanks to all the Contemporary Quilt teams who’ve facilitated this enjoyable challenge.
