My first American quilt

[girlyswot]

So-called, not so much because I did the quilting in America but because of the patchwork method I used (even though I did that bit when I was in England with my sewing machine handy).   I've always done English paper piecing before, which takes forever and is very unforgiving if your cutting is even slightly out.  This was much quicker and easier.

 

I made the patchwork top in one evening and one morning - having decided less than forty-eight hours before the plane left that this would be a good idea.  So I cut lots of 4 inch squares and began sewing.  No time to really think about colour or pattern.  I made the 4 by 3 blocks, then decided to add the plain strips and join these into the pinwheels.  Then I discovered I didn't have the plain navy fabric I thought I did for the borders, so I used a variety of different stripey fabrics with the yellow squares at the corners.

Then I brought it back to America, hand-quilted it in a simple design and added the binding.

For so little pre-planning or overall time, I'm amazed how much I like the finished article.  And now I want to do another one...

Comments

[ravenedgewalker.livejournal.com]

it's gorgeous!

so what is the American method????

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

The American method is to make up blocks (larger squares) which are then sewn together (sometimes with borders or sashing between) to form the whole. In the English method you cut out paper templates for each piece which you tack the fabric to, before sewing piece by piece to the whole. The English method, done well, gives a very precise patchwork, but it does take forever.