quilt details

since you seemed interested…

here are some close-ups. This fish fabric was something that my mom bought for me when I was in high school (think early 70’s). I loved it so much, I could never bear to use it. I have finally gotten to the point where that seems very silly. I worry a bit about how the older fabric will hold up.

This is a piece of Japanese cloth- probably a gift wrapping cloth. The weave is slightly looser than a standard quilting cotton but still a solid fabric.  I have been collecting Japanese cloths for years. My mom had some that I got when we cleared out the house. I got other from various places over the years- I visited Japan in 1983, my brother gave me some (he lives in Kyoto), there is a Japanese Cultural group in town and they have a yearly yard sale. I am always keeping my eye out.

This piece is more of a gauze fabric. Maybe a towel?

Another gift wrapping cloth-

And the top swirls are another one of the gauzy fabrics. I hope they hold up. The chain design cotton along the sides is from a roll of kimono fabric that my mom bought, sometime between 1965 and 1986- she went to Japan a few times during those years.

None of the main pieces are pieced- just big blocks. The strips of red and navy on the front, and golds on the back are pieced. On the back, that center section is Marimekko fabric. The stripes are printed on it.

I have made great progress on my studio clean-up. I think I am about to call it done… for now. There are always a few things that I can not deal with. They usually look like this-

Sort of my studio version of a junk drawer…

11 thoughts on “quilt details

  1. What is it about being so attached to certain fabrics? It’s so silly but I have a stack of them that I don’t want to use because I might miss them. Is that ridiculous or what??

    So, I totally get why you waited so long. Maybe the perfect project, like this one, just hadn’t come along, yet.

  2. Thank you for the close-up quilt tour! I, too, have a longtime collection of Japanese fabrics and one cherished Marimekko. Bet your boy is going to love his new quilt. Congrats on the finishing.

  3. thanks for sharing the details. fascinating!
    i too am another one that saves fabrics because i cant imagine the thought of not having them, or worse, the thing i made is not ‘good’ enough.
    i also have a little card of six buttons that my mum gave me when i was about eight and i just know i will nevr use them.

  4. it’s beautiful mimi! i love the idea of using the gift giving cloths. fabric with a history just makes it all the better.

    so…your boy stayed here, eh? are there more possibilities of a journey west? you know i’d always love an opportunity to see you again.

  5. Incredible! Thanks for sharing this gorgeous work plus how you couldn’t use something because you loved it so much. I do that also but now I think that quilts very well are the perfect way to “immortalize” them or pass that love on to someone.

    Oh gosh, I d.r.e.a.d. cleaning up my “studio”… but have so enjoyed reading about your process PLUS seeing that “junk drawer”.

    Take care.
    Candace, Still in Athens.

  6. I know what you mean about saving fabric because you can’t bear to cut into it. I am trying to get over that, too…telling myself that I would get to enjoy the fabric more if I made something out of it, because it wouldn’t be trapped in a drawer, storage tub, etc. anymore.

    I have MANY junk boxes….stuff I can’t deal with because (a) I can’t decide if I should pitch it or keep it, (b) I can’t figure out where to put it, or (c) it’s too good to just pitch or take to salvation army and I need to find a good home for it!

  7. so, really it is a memory quilt. i love those. Even when they are in shambles they still have a lot of love. It’s hard to not use a quilt that you think is not going to last long— but i think this way…. am i going to be around in a 100 years? does the quilt have to be? use it and love it!
    i love it by the way.

  8. Jiminy Cricket, I have one of those metal bandaid containers, that won’t let itself be thrown out (it’s vintage!), in my studio. Know anyone who can use these?

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