2017 Quiltmania Mystery Quilt - January blocks
I am very excited to have been asked to design the 2017 Quiltmania Mystery Quilt using my debut collection of fabrics, Torrington Place.
This Mystery Quilt was inspired by my love of sampler quilts made in the 19th century, particularly the Quaker Album Quilts. Over my quilting years I have often looked at my books featuring antique quilts and have always planned to make a quilt designed in this style. My Torrington Place fabric range seemed to fit with this type of quilt, especially with the Turkey reds which are some of my favourite fabrics from this time.
The Mystery Quilt uses a variety of techniques including reverse appliqué, traditional needle-turn appliqué, hand and machine piecing, foundation piecing using freezer paper and English Paper Piecing. I hope you will join me in making this quilt over the next year and that the different techniques keep you inspired.
The January blocks, Sarah's Wreath and Cross My Heart, feature the reverse appliqué technique, with the leaves on Sarah’s Wreath traditionally needle-turn appliquéd from the top. However, if preferred, both blocks can be traditionally appliquéd by needle turning the individual motifs cut from contrast fabric onto the background shirting square. A short video with some tips when making these blocks can be seen here, however, additional footage can be seen here with some extra hints on making Sarah's Wreath.
