In Stitches with Machine Quilting – Whole Cloth and Trapunto
A Whole Cloth Quilt uses one large piece of fabric for the quilt top, instead of an arrangement of patchwork or appliqu'd blocks. The beauty of these quilts comes from the elaborate, quilted patterns that feature on the quilt top.
In a Whole Cloth Quilt, the stitching is the highlight of the quilt. It adds designs through the clever manipulation of the thread to create light and shadow, texture, and dimension. In the past these quilts were made by cultured ladies of wealth and leisure. They used their fine sewing skills and abundant free time to decorate solid coloured material with floral motifs, feathered and geometric shapes.
Even with a sewing machine, many modern quilters feel intimidated by the thought of a huge blank piece of fabric. For those that truly love quilting it is an opportunity to be creative. The quilter marks the design on the fabric using various marking tools and marking techniques. The quilting stitches should be small and even, to create visually strong outlined shapes where light and shadow will play.
The stitching of white threads on white fabric is also known as White Work. In the late 18th century an all white wedding quilt traditionally graced the bed of the newlyweds in the Provence area of France. These "courtepointe de marriage" were decorated with lavishly stitched symbols of love, fertility and prosperity.
These all white quilts also featured extravagant stuffed work and cording which the French called "boutis". The technique of stuffing the outlined shapes with extra wadding, to make them puff up, originated in Sicily. This "stuffed work" is called Trapunto.
Stuffing the motifs gives a greater sense of depth, creating an elegant sculptured affect with the fabric. In by gone days, this arduous task was accomplished by slitting a tiny hole in the back of the quilt and pushing through small bits of filling.
There is no need to be put off as creating these beautiful quilts is less complicated in this era. Today's innovations like water-soluble thread, wash out markers, and quilt and tear paper, along with techniques such as "Quilt As You Go", have simplified the creation of Whole Cloth Quilts and the skill of Trapunto.
The whirl of your sewing machine can be very therapeutic as you explore these wonderful forms of sculpting designs on fabric.
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Since discovering quilting ten years ago Bev McClune has become a professional machine quilter, a tutor of machine quilting and a partner in a patchwork and quilting business - Country Fabrics and Quilters of Toowoomba, Queensland. Bev is a featured tutor at Quiltfest, an annual quilting festival which promotes the art of patchwork and quilting. To learn about Machine Quilting visit http://www.quiltdvd.com. |
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