Barbara Beckman posted an article yesterday about cheater fabric; fabric printed to look like quilt piecing. Some quilters think it is a new thing. Barbara is so good at documenting the truth. I am sharing news prints that she used to prove that “cheater” fabric has been around for a long time.
1878
This is one that I happen to own:
45 inch square quilt backing
Barbara showed this same print. And this was her report on it:
Below is the front of the quilt. It is very nice, but I mainly purchased it for the backing.
Front of Antique Quilt
A friend and I discovered this piece at an antique flea market. While we were holding it, a lady finally asked if we planned to buy it. We have learned that if you are thinking about making a purchase, keep it in your hands. If you lay it back down, someone else might grab it. We answered that we were just determining which one of us was making the purchase.
Barbara also posted this ad from 1910 and it is actually called “cheater” fabric. This one is dated 1910.
Now for the real thing. While I was in France the only cotton fabric I saw was at a linen store. I purchased a different 100% cotton printed napkin for each member of my small group. Then I purchased additional napkins of more solid colors. I cut these up and the gals were given two inch strips of these. They were challenged to do something with them. They could add one other fabric. They had three months to do this. I am not sure when each of them started, but I started very early ……..the morning of the meeting day.
Most of the gals did table toppers. My picture of one of them turned out very fuzzy, so I will have to try to get someone else’s photo. Here are the others:
French linens
The last photos are of Linda’s and she struggled just as I did. Her printed napkin did not harmonize with the 2 inch strips. She solved it by making two items; a tote bag and a clutch bag. How clever and she did not break any of the rules. She said she cut apart a paper gift bag to use as a pattern.
Linda’s challenge
I am so proud of all of them. Great Creativity!
They have also been working on other projects. Show -N-Tell is always good. I will share Linda’s first as you just saw her other creations. She has been trying very hard to finish some UFOs and she even does the quilting on her regular sewing machine.
Carol has sent some of her quilts to Missouri Star to have the long arm work done. She keeps busy doing binding.
The navy and cream quilt was worked on at a retreat. She stayed on task but was disappointed she didn’t seem to be making a lot of progress. She really was as this block pattern has a zillion pieces. The quilter used a dark thread and it really enhances the quilt. I was surprised. When you think about it, a light thread on the navy would have probably been a distraction. The Christmas quilt was a small group project a while back. I love the way she used the strip border on a diagonal cut. She did a lot of starching before she cut it. She had enough fabric to do great intersections. She explained that she started at the top, then did the right side, bottom, and left side last. The last one would still be tricky as she had to match two corners. Great Job, Carol!
Below are Sherry’s work completed. The first one is called “FQ Shuffle” and requires 12 FQ. She said that you use every piece of them. We all buy those little treasures, but when do we actually use them?
The second one is made from a purchase at a show. Most of us have seen the booth with a package of a yard of each of five fabrics. They also provide you will a variety of patterns to use with the set. And, Sherry got hers done!
The next photos are of what I have been working on. It is a Di Ford pattern that appears in her new book, Primary Quilts…2. She is an Australian quilter and designer. This book is just arriving in the states. I was privileged to take a class by her. I purchased the needed fabrics, but later decided to make it a little longer. When I went back to the local store to buy more of the red fabric, there was no more. I had enough information to go on-line and hunt. I found the right fabric line, but alas, they produced 3 or 4 shades of red. I now have some of each one except the one I needed! Instead I worked with every scrap I had and it will now fit on a full sized bed.
The pattern name is Jane’s Garden.
You are seeing the same border, cut two ways. When it returns from the long arm magician you will see which way I choose to cut it.
Have a Blessed Easter!
americanschoolgirlsquilt 