Making a Kawandi Inspired Throw (part 1)

[@lucy7b]

Thank you for this, great video, very clear. As an experienced old lady I believe you’d be better off with a shorter thread. The thread wears out as you pull it through with your darning needle. It’s easy to hide finishing off and knots. I’ve not yet made a kawandi but I’m going too. Great thread choice, to stop the kinks allow your needle to hang down and spin.

[@tajkhan8613]

Absolutely beautiful 🤩 ❤❤❤

[@Eekyellie]

I also found a helpful kawandi tutorial on Marion's World. Interesting background and tips

[@karenmiller1105]

I love this. It’s similar to “slow stitching” which I’m interested in. Thank you.

[@mrs7872]

You may find benefit and ease with the use of pins and a thimble hon.

[@roseanderson4928]

I’ve just started my first kawandi. I’m pretty much doing the same as you are except that I’m using a piece of wool for the inside layer. It’s really easy to stitch through - like butter.😊

[@Eekyellie]

I am hoping to make a kawandi. I have bought a sashiko needle and wonder if sashiko thread might work well.

[@vagabonddeesadventures8491]

After making a few Kwandi quilted pieces I have learned that your thread shouldn't be longer than your arm double. Passing through the fabric wears on the thread. I also use .cotton thread because I find it to be strong and economical. Sometimes I use beeswax on my thread. I go by how smoothly the thread moves through the needle. On your first project ironing the outer edge is very helpful. Also ironing one edge of the fabric since your already ironing. This is such a slow soothing stitch. Also since you have a long needle you can practice two stitches at a time and maybe even work yourself up to four. Lastly Kwandi quilting was created by the Siddi women in India. Portuguese traders enslaved women in Africa and took them to India. Thank you for saying its “Inspired”. Can't wait to see your second video.

[@TheRedBrickHouse-vh7bw]

Thank you for your helpful suggestions. Part two is coming next week.

[@ruthespy1576]

Thank you for sharing this! I recently started quilting and do every bit by hand. So far I've made a small Kawandi throw and a Kantha throw. I always appreciate people like you showing how to make these beautiful unusual quilts. I like your style of teaching, showing the little mistakes and all.

[@TheRedBrickHouse-vh7bw]

Thank you so much for this wonderful comment! It really keeps me inspired to make more videos.

[@ruthespy1576]

I've been using 3 stands of embroidery thread and been very happy with it. Also after trying different kinds of needles, my favorite is the longest Sashiko needle.

[@TheRedBrickHouse-vh7bw]

@@ruthespy1576 I have seen a lot of people using those and liking them. I see myself trying them in the future.

[@marianwooten6110]

Mistakes are how we learn. My art teacher in college taught us to just keep going. It looks beautiful so far. ❤

[@TheRedBrickHouse-vh7bw]

Oh, thank you so much.

[@caroljohnston4699]

Loved your video, did a very small one. I used a small pointed nose pliers to help me pull needle thru thick layers, saved my arthritic hands, also pinning helped with the fiddling. U might try running your thread thru bees wax tohelpkeep it from knotting. You have inspired me to tackle a larger project. Thanks ever so much

[@TheRedBrickHouse-vh7bw]

Thank you for your suggestions and I am so glad I have inspired you.

[@andreals3922]

I think it'll take you forever using lengths of thread that long! If you use shorter lengths there will be a lot less tangling and you'll be able to work a bit more easily.

[@quiltingbirdie]

Your princess is adorable

[@angelabarnett774]

Any idea when part 2 will be shown please?

[@TheRedBrickHouse-vh7bw]

Yes, It will be posted June 27th.

[@eleanorwiddowson5902]

If you run your thread over wax it shouldn't curl or gnarl up .

[@jonnaosborne7234]

If I were making a kawadi inspired throw, I would not add the corner pieces until the very end. Otherwise, they would drive me crazy being in my way for the first few rounds. Actually, I would not add those corner pieces at all, because I am not striving to make an authentic kawandi, I just like the technique. There are a few other things I would do differently too, just out of personal preference.

[@tamielizabethallaway2413]

That length of cotton is daft! It should never be that long. It just makes life difficult. It's easy, at least on this particular method of sewing, to hide all your knots if that's what you're worried about. At least shorter lengths of cotton are easier to use and don't cause problems. You're doing a running stitch through four layers of fabric, right? As both pieces folded over makes four layers. To make a very invisible knot, when you reach the end one thread, leave the tail hanging free poking out of the centre of the four layers. In other words, as you reach the end of the thread and need to change it, on the final stitch only sew through TWO LAYERS, not all four so you come out between the two fabrics. Then on your new piece of thread don't knot it. Start your first stitch where the other ended...in between both fabrics, and stitch through the two layers that you didnt with the last stitch. As you draw your needle through, leave a tail the same length as the last cotton and continue sewing. At the end you can tie off all the side-by-side tails to each other, leaving the knots buried in the centre of the four layers - meaning you can't see it from either side of the quilt.