After seeing on Instagram a few Kawandi quilts, I pursued learning about them. Only one YouTube tutorial somewhat inadequately explains how to make a Kawandi quilt. I also watched several videos about them, how they're made with old clothing by Siddi women in India. There's also a good YouTube interview between a Kawandi quilt collector/seller and Nancy Zieman.
Striking out on my own, I cut background fabric 16" X 26".
I sorted through and rough-cut these scraps, and discovered as I went along that I needed twice this amount.
It's interesting to work from the outside in.
This is the finished piece, though it has its flaws. Several edges of turned-under scraps weren't caught by hand-stitches, so when I was finished, I used fabric glue to stick them in place. It turned out pretty enough, but I want to do better.
On Friday, November 5, I'm taking a three-hour Kawandi quilt online workshop with Sujata Shah @therootconnection, to learn to do it properly. My supplies are gathered, cut, and ready to go.
The following afternoon, though the South Florida MQG, I'll take another three-hour online workshop with Malka Dubrawsky to make a "Maze" quilt, a free pattern from February 2019 available to MQG members. I figure it will be a way to begin to use some of the dozens of yards of Painter's Palette Solids I've bought in the past two month.
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| "Maze" quilt by Malka Dubrawsky |
Oh, didn't I mention? I found a great sale on Painter's Palette Solids ($5.96 a yard) at The Quilt Place (Orlando) that was too good to pass up. Another 50 yards (25 colors) are on the way. I know. "Yikes!"
As this pandemic goes on and on, I find myself looking for more virtual workshops. I have several projects and techniques that I'd like to have a go at so I'm taking advantage of every online opportunity to satisfy my curiosity. I've also discovered that, in general, it's less expensive to take a workshop directly from the instructor, versus taking the same workshop through an organization.
Recent quilt-y days have been full of working on my latest Shell-inspired, patterned improv quilt. I plan to make six of these 20" X 20" blocks. Yep, the quilt will be large; around 60" x 80".
I'm naming it Italica because:
1) the main block is called "Old Italian" according to Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns (Did you know an updated version of this 1993 book will be available soon from Electric Quilt?)
2) when I Googled "old Italian," I learned about the 102 year-old woman from Italy who, in March, survived Coronavirus, and survived the 1918 Spanish Flu! Her name? Italica Grondona. Perfect.
My she-cave got a little brighter with the arrival of an aqua-colored Ecopeco cutting mat. Aqua decor is goin' on here, and I love it! What's out of view is my favorite piece of furniture in the house - my aqua swivel-glider that sits in the bay window.
Book Recommendation
Outsider by Linda Castillo is another series book I unknowingly selected, though it stands alone pretty well. Turns out it's #12 in the Kate Burkholder series.Kate is the chief of police in a rural Ohio community that's mostly Amish. After ten years, Kate's once-closest friend, Gina, resurfaces with a gunshot wound in the home of a widowed Amish man and his three children. With a record-setting snowstorm hitting the area, Kate hunkers down with the family to await the storm's lessening and take Gina in for questioning. But Gina's pursuers who are cops themselves, aren't giving up on finding Gina and "taking care of their problem." This is a suspenseful story that includes dirty cops, and a glimpse into Amish life and values.
Linda's score: 3.8/5.0
If I still lived in Iowa, I would go to Lutheran Church of Hope to pick up one of these yard signs. I need this reminder and I'm pretty sure others do too! In good news, Beth Moore has rescheduled a Living Proof Ministries event in Des Moines for November 5-6, 2021. I hope to be there too!
This is the weekend our time changes. Does anyone feel happy about getting an extra hour of sleep?!
It looks like you are having fun with the project on your design wall. I don't know what you think you need to do BETTER on your Kawandi quilt, but I hope you enjoy the workshop with Sujata (and the other workshop, too!) I'll be looking forward to seeing your class projects. Hey! Where did you hear about that awesome aqua cutting mat???
ReplyDeleteLove your first effort at making a Kawandi quilt! And I'm sure you will enjoy the workshop, I listened to Sujata's intro and was so inspired.
ReplyDeleteYou are full of all sorts of new and bright things..... can't wait to see some of what is to come.
ReplyDeleteYour orange Kawandi quilt looks so bright and cheerful. Look forward to seeing what you come up with after the workshop. Your improv is coming along nicely too. Lots of aqua goodness in your studio. I was very tempted to buy a green office chair this week to go in my space.
ReplyDeleteI recently saw an Alex Anderson interview with Sujata in which she shared a brief demonstration of making a Kawandi quilt. The process looks like fun and I've also been thinking about trying it. We're never short on scraps around here! I love your orange and yellow first try, looking forward to seeing what you make next. Aqua seems to be the color of the year, my stepdaughter only wants aqua kitchen accessories for Christmas this year. The air is filled with snowflakes at the moment, and another season begins.
ReplyDeleteCool you already have some experience with a kawandi quilt! Did you just use regular quilter's cotton? Just asking as I saw Sujata's supply list mention 'lightweight' fabric. I'm working on gathering supplies!
ReplyDeleteThe Kawandi quilt is so interesting! I'd never seen anything about these before. And I'm 100% with not turning the clocks back!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this oh so vibrant Kawandi quilt, stunning!! Aqua is a favourite colour of mine so I envy your collection!
ReplyDeleteLove it all. Your she cave is so bright and cheerful. I am always amazed at everything you accomplish. I am also enjoying a couple of online classes. It is nice to work from your own studio and not have to drag things out. However, I am so looking forward to getting together for in-person retreats and hope that can happen soon. Thanks for your lovely, newsy posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing how you put that together. I have been thinking about making one of those after seeing one here and there online. Is the size 8 perle cotton difficult to pull through the fabric and batting? Is the leaf fabric the backing of the little quilt? The few I have read about online don't have batting in them but I like the idea of batting in it. They are also called Kantha quilts?
ReplyDeleteMeant to comment on the Kate Burkholder series. I've read every one so far. Really enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteI love the aqua. And totally agree that we could do without another hour of 2020!
ReplyDeleteIf using regular embroidery floss, how many strands should be used?
ReplyDeleteHello Unknown! Because you ARE unknown, and I have no way of replying to you directly, I hope you read my response! If you do, you might think about creating a Google profile, so other bloggers can reply to your comments/questions on their blogs too. Anyway, I'm only guessing about my answer to your question because I haven't used six-strand embroidery floss for my Kawandi, but I'd say use all six strands. Even better, just buy a spool of 12-weight white or cream, and use it on all the Kawandi you make. It's certain that if you try making one Kawandi, you'll want to make more! Please let me know how it goes for you. Linda
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