Hello again!
Thank you for the very warm welcome last week!
Nora and I are even more excited for the adventure ahead after all the encouragement we received from your comments!
I’ll admit there were some things I had to Google (Reverse Stitching? Zentangle??), but I’m so excited to dive in to both machine quilting and paper piecing and to learn more.
First time at the Quilt Expo
Last fall, I assisted my mom at the Madison Quilt Expo where she was teaching a few classes on FMQ.
When we weren’t in the classroom, we got to explore the showroom where dozens of vendors and shop owners were selling their products.
If you’ve ever been to the Expo, you know it’s bustlin’ and there’s A LOT to see.
You might also know that if you don’t have your companion on a leash, you will get separated!
Well at some point I did get separated from my mom and had to fend for myself – oh my!
But that’s when I stumbled on a gem…
I LOVE BLUE!
I noticed a booth covered in blue – my favorite color! Naturally I had to examine closer and what I found was even better than I first expected. The vendor, Cotton in the Cabin, was selling authentic indigo fabric.
A Little History
The fabric is authentic Shwe Shwe Indigo
What I noticed was how stiff and ordered the fabric was. The stiffness is actually a trademark of authentic Shwe Shwe indigo – at least until you get around to washing it. As early as the 18th century, European textile makers would make the cotton indigo fabric then ship it to South Africa where it is printed through a special process. The fabric is over-starched to preserve it on a long sea voyage to South Africa.
Da Gama Textiles still makes indigo and other etched fabric using that same old process – the stiff fabric is fed through copper rollers and etched with an all over white pattern.
To learn more about the history of these indigo fabrics go to History of Shweshwe or Da Gama Textiles
I DON’T HAVE A SEWING MACHINE, BUT I HAVE A STASH!
Part of the reason I’ve been sitting on the fabric for so long (though from the sounds of it–this is not unusual for quilters…) is because the fabric is difficult to prepare for sewing.
For this particular material, the vendor suggested that I serge all of the raw edges (what’s a raw edge??) to prevent it from fraying before washing the fabric (which must be done multiple times).
That means I first need to learn to serge -something I’ve recently discovered is not a task that a regular sewing machine does….
MOM!!!!
I’M INSPIRED BY FABRIC!
Despite the challenge, I’m looking forward to creating something with my impulse-purchase, indigos!!
Have YOU ever worked with authentic indigo??
Did YOU serge before washing?
Do YOU know how to use a serger?
What should I look for in a quilt pattern for this unique fabric?
Here’s some of MY Homework this week:
- See if Mom has a serger
- Look for patterns to use with Indigo fabric
- Choose a beginner quilting book
- Buy a quilt notebook
Quilt Vocabulary for Notebook:
- Reverse Stitching
- Zentangle
- Serge
- Raw Edge
Do YOU have any Quilt Homework this week?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Until next time!
Your true blue,
Faye
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
