learning patchwork

The art of Patchwork has been around for a long time. The earliest known examples are more than 1,000 years old!

So how did Patchwork begin? Nobody is certain. It's thought the Crusaders brought the craft to England from the Middle East during the 11 & 12th centuries.

Originally, patchwork quilts were made to provide warmth for cool European winters. Scraps from old clothes were used to piece the coverlets. Patchwork only became an art of creative design centuries later when fabrics began to be imported from the East during the Industrial Revolution.

The art of patchwork eventually spread throughout Europe and on to the Americas. In North America the concept of the 'block pattern' was developed by early Pilgrim settlers. Around this time the 'quilting bee' also became a popular social outlet for pioneer women.

Today centuries later I experienced my first patchwork lesson! Mum, a veteran patchwork quilt sewist, is teaching me the basics of patchwork in the traditon of mothers and grandmothers of yesteryear.

How to make an Australian/French Country Inspired Quilt

Under teddy's leg are the fabrics we carefully selected at the craft store. Teddy and this cute French country step-stool were my inspiration pieces for the design of my first patchwork quilt.

The first step was to steam press the fabric and carefully cut the squares true to the fabric grain. Mum made this template for me. We cut the pieces by hand the old fashioned way (because we don't have a cutting wheel)!

Accuracy seems to be a virtue with this craft. Measure, trace and cut all pieces very carefully to get all the squares even when sewn together!

Pinning is the other important thing. Use lots of pins to secure the pieces accurately with all corners matching.

Try to sew a straight even line. I unpicked my first attempt three times! Fortunately my teacher is very patient!

Iron the seams flat then flip the fabric over with finger's crossed (not easy to do). Is everything even? If not, go back and unpick!

We arranged the squares into a pattern first then sewed sets of three together in a row.

After forming the rows we sewed them together, pinning the seams carefully so the corners would match.

My first piece of patchwork! Over the next week I hope to see this patchwork grow into a small quilt.

Link: learning patchwork (update)