Wednesday, December 21, 2016

150 Canadian Women Blocks




150 Canadian Women Quilt Along


Next Step Quilt Designs is hosting a quilt along celebrating Canada's 150th Anniversary next year, and I hopped on board with some friends. The blocks are released 3 per week, and I'm close to being caught up now. The suggested palette is a range of red and white. I'm making this one more of a Glory Quilt palette by adding blues, grey tones, and a some gold.





This is a new thing for me to be just gaga over traditional fabric. I wouldn't give it a second glance a few months ago. My Pinterest boards are growing, and I've added Glory, Vintage, and Civil War Quilts. Follow the boards as I add on.

Trying to determine whether a fabric would be appropriate for this time period, I've spent hours reading about fabric trends back to the 1850's--and has it been interesting! Here's a quick one about the origins of polka dots and stripes. And another here on why they might not be so popular throughout history! Hint: Dots were one sign of venereal disease! 



In spite of this, they were popular during the Civil War in women's dresses, and the scraps wound up in quilts. I used some.



It's been especially refreshing to see how directional fabrics were used; Stripes, diagonals, and larger prints that would be difficult to use frugally in clothing, yet they did. Again, they filtered the scraps down to their quilts.


Patternalia: An Unconventional History of Polka Dots, Stripes, Plaid, Camouflage, & Other Graphic Patterns 


If you're terribly interested in color, pattern and print as I am, I've found what appears to be a good book or two. I've ordered them used, and will let you know how I find them. This is an affiliate link, but feel free to explore all the options. The same author has "Roy G. Biv: An Exceedingly Surprising Book About Color". Again, it's an affiliate link, but I scored it for $0.01 plus $4 shipping. 

I think it's a quilter's nature to be frugal, and buying used is an excellent way to recycle our resources.


All Together

I've added some color variety already including some more dark tones, and even a little gold. I think it will give the overall quilt more depth. There are 3 more blocks to go for the week, but I'm not rushing it. This has been fun. There's still time to join!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.



6 comments:

Angie in SoCal said...

I really like your blocks. This quilt will be interesting as it develops. What size are the blocks?

Elaine said...

Love your blocks and the reproduction fabrics, this will be a wonderful quilt I'm sure

Stitchin At Home said...

WOW and I haven't even made one yet. I really like your blocks Julie and the thought you are putting into the fabrics you are using.

Randy D. said...

I love the colors you are using for your blocks! They look fabulous!

Susan said...

My favorites - red, white and blue! Thanks for sharing on Midweek Makers

Kate said...

Red, white and blue is one of my favorite color combinations. The addition of the grays and golds work well with the rest of the palette. Have fun with your exploration of color and textures.