Stitching Through Time: Making a 19th-Century Inspired Quilt with Morris Fabric

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Hello everyone and welcome to a new video!
I really think I need to get 'jack of all trades, master of none' on a t-shirt at this point. There's just something incredibly exciting about learning all about the history and the techniques of a new craft, and sewing and textile crafts have such endless possibilities. I already knew a little about quilting, as I quilted a few bits of garments and costumes in the past, but I hadn't had the chance to make a full quilt before. I had read a bit about it during my Master's programme in Dress & Textile Histories, mostly about its role in the home and the types of fancy work and plain work that women did as part of domestic work. This quilt took a huge amount of effort, even with sewing the quilting portion itself by machine, so I can only glimpse the amount of pride and accomplishment women through history must have felt at these incredible pieces of work. Many people used them as expressions of their life and creative thought, and also as a memento of their time, almost like a diary. I am absolutely delighted with the result, and I hope it serves in my house for a long time!
Sources about quilting:
www.vam.ac.uk/articles/an-int...
www.womenfolk.com/quilting_his...
www.vam.ac.uk/blog/caring-for...
archive.org/details/GodeysLad...
plainstitch.co.uk/2020/12/23/...
www.selvedge.org/blogs/selved...
pieceworkmagazine.com/the-leg...
moda-japan.com/wp-content/upl...
archive.org/details/janemaymo...
archive.org/details/lessonsin...
Featured images:
C.1840s Crib Quilt from the MET Museum (collection.cooperhewitt.org/o...)
C. 1820s-1840s Unfinished Hexagons from The Quilter’s Guild Collection (www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/collec...)
C. 1830-1840s Patchwork Pocket from The Quilter’s Guild Collection (www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/collec...)
C. 1877 Crazy Quilt from the MET Museum (www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...)
Photograph of May Morris from the Library of Congress (lccn.loc.gov/2014683895)
Jane Morris: Study for ‘Mariana’ by Rosetti from the MET Museum (www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...)
C. 1898-1902 May Morris Embroidery from the National Museums of Scotland (www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-col...) They’ve got a super cool blog post on the acquisition of these embroideries, check it out: www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-col...
May Morris Designs from the Cooper Hewitt Museum (Horn Poppy collection.cooperhewitt.org/o... and Honeysuckle collection.cooperhewitt.org/o...)
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Music is from Epidemic Sound.

[@CatsCostumery]

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[@annacatherinesendgikoski1965]

This is how Dolly Partons' famous Coat of Many Colors was made. Her mother used her quilting skills to make it from a box of rags!

[@SusieQ3]

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. Thank you for showing that quilting actually can have a fairly low bar of entry. I know people who think that inorder to get into sewing of any kind, you _must_ have expensive equipment, but historically, until the 19th century, all sewing was done by hand. It takes longer, but it is just as effective. Your quilt is beautiful!

[@denisem6754]

Ooh, quilting is a slippery slope...that's about all the sewing I do these days, but it is all about playing with shapes and colors, so very fun..

[@SandieMitchell]

Love the fabrics you chose! The paper you're using is not stiff enough; use card stock, for example, cereal boxes. When you stitch the squares together, you're taking just the fabric, not the paper. Once the quilt is finished you cut the basting stitches and remove the paper. The Last Homely House has a section where Kate takes you through step by step.

[@carmensaid3909]

Definitely Kate , her Last homely house by the sea Videos are priceless. Well done.

[@kathryngutierrez5967]

I love the names of Moda precuts: layer cakes, jelly rolls, honey buns, and jolly bars.

[@zeldakasumi]

Thank you for sharing! This was really fun to watch. If you decide to do another one, perhaps you would like some videos that Shannon Makes did (a recent one on making a crazy quilt bag and a somewhat older one on making a hobbit robe out of patchwork fabric). Also, Rosery Apparel made a patchwork quilt in which she had some neat methods for doing the quilting part by hand with large visible stitches. She used an ironing board adjusted to couch/sofa level to help holding the quilt while she was stitching.

[@nat6098]

I've also started my first quilt recently! I also decided to do an English paper piece patchwork quilt because I like hand sewing and a quilt seems like a nice long hand sewing project to have going. I'm just using hexagons and all the scraps of fabric from old and/or failed projects. So far even cutting the pieces out has been fun and relaxing to do while listening to audiobooks. Though I need 364 hexagons so it's definitely going to look patchwork as I slowly in new scraps to add on over time!

[@DebTallbroad]

As a quilter for over 30 years, I was very interested in this video. (Let's be honest, I love all your videos!) I think you did an awesome job and I hope to see more quilted projects from you in the future. Thanks for sharing!!

[@cherisseepp5332]

I am far more comfortable quilting than sewing clothing. I do have a lot of tips. I’ll keep them very basic… Paper piecing larger blocks like this, at least in North America, isn’t really common practice. You’re making more work for yourself. It’s usually used for smaller pieces, sting quilts, or unstable shapes. Instead, you could have just ironed the edges over or sewn the blocks together with your machine. Standard seam allowance is about 1/4 inch or 1/2 centimetre. Over six blocks, you would have added back almost 3 inches. You could have “tied” your quilt instead of pinning it like you did. It’s a form of tacking where you use a embroidery floss or yarn to tie your layers together. It’s also a technique used instead of hand or machine quilting for people who don’t have the quilting frame or quilting machines to help keep the quilt together. You’ll have to make sure to use the suggested spacing on your batting (wadding). Quilting is a very expensive hobby. Many quilters have an extensive stash of various fabrics they come across and fall in love with which we are just waiting for the right inspiration to use. I look forward to the crazy quilt you intend to make. I have one I started over 10 years ago and still don’t have more that 3 blocks finished…another common thing for quilters. The insane number of UFO’s in our stash.

[@Badgerstaff]

My mother and I have a Crazy Quilt made by my 6th great-grandmother. It's still excellent condition considering it's age, but that is probably because it has been carefully packed away for the last few generations. Only brought out to show people, and then packed away again. It's beautiful.

[@Badgerstaff]

also as a side note, I myself am a novice quilter, though I do it all on machine. I've never seen paper piecing done on such large pieces of fabric. I've only ever seen it for helping to manage small and/or more complicated shapes. I could be wrong though. I personally have never done it because managing squares and triangles on a machine is quite easy. I do remember my Grandma telling me that it's easier for the shapes to stretch and warp when sewing by hand, so using paper regardless of the size of your squares makes sense.

[@CatsCostumery]

I found it very useful as a beginner since it stabilised the quilt a bit while sewing. Your family’s crazy quilt sounds wonderful, what an incredible object to treasure! 😊

[@victoriafrances2432]

You have done a very nice job on this quilt and your patience with the paper piecing has inspired me to subscribe!

[@roadrunnercrazy]

It turned out beautifully! Congratulations on a new craft.

[@nbuttons1122]

*pauses in libra* made me laugh out loud. I've made 2 quilts out of scraps and such that I collected over the years. Laying out the squares is always the part that breaks my libra brain too, so each time I've handed the stack to my partner and he is in charge of where each square goes. I usually only change a couple squares around. I really love how you arranged yours!

[@woodenkat8971]

Ah, quilt math. So much to consider! Love that you shared the struggle.

[@realkojitmal]

ohhh perfect, I also want to try quilting soon! with the end goal of making a quilt out of my parents' clothes, since I've lost my dad this year and my mum is severely ill, and this seems like a good way to keep them close to me. And also as an added bonus I get to make other cool stuff lmao (I also want a quilted jacket or two. probably some pillowcases.)

[@alfa5243]

You did an amazingly job on the quilting. That is impossible to do without a walking foot.

[@karinbaird2499]

How fun😁 I watched this as I was hand quilting an EPP hexagon journal cover. Welcome to the dark side. We have cookies😁

[@elisabethnoorduin8943]

Probably someone already said this, but sometimes the paper was removed (just remove the basting stitches) - but sometimes it wasn't, and there were pieces of old letters (re-used paper...) inside! Also, the paper method seems to have been used for as far as I've read mostly on the hexagon shapes (Grandma's Flower Garden) as it makes for very neat piecing, but it takes a LOT more time than just straight-on sewing the pieces - which is why evidence of paper is almost exclusively found on rich women's work (who had the time to spare, and also the paper) while poor people just patched. You're using gorgeous fabrics and I loved the intro about May Morris.

[@kalig5445]

I started with sewing clothes and now I've moved to more quilting. I made a baby quilt and a wedding quilt for gifts so far! I did straight line quilting for the baby quilt and then free motion quilting for the wedding quilt and found it quite fun and different from sewing clothes. :) Thanks for showing paper piecing, I haven't tried that yet but I would like to!!

[@tealduckduckgoose]

13:00 you can use any water soluble glue, like a school glue or Elmer's glue. I don't personally quilt, but that's what ive seen some people use.

[@maleahlock]

I love paper piecing! It's so relaxing and therapeutic. Women in my family have a tradition of doing these by hand for every new bubs. I love the sense of connection I feel with them when I work on one. Ignore the gatekeepers. . . do what makes you happy 😊 Quilts are for people, not status.

[@devh6168]

I made my first (and only!) quilt a few years back - I had a ton of vintage scraps from my mom and from my time in India. I used 4" squares which seemed not too fiddly and would make use of the most of my scraps (spoiler alert - it was super fiddly) I wound up with 23 x 24 squares and my quilt is 104x108? I used a cotton flannel sheet so it is entirely washable. My backing was pieced together from old printed cotton bedcovers. I had the same problem with not enough pins (but also not enough room) so I pinned and did the quilting in quadrants. Anyway, your quilt looks lovely!! ❤❤

[@ginalou5774]

That looks fantastic Cat. Good job for finishing. Mine is halfway done and it’s been four years

[@eastcoastartist]

Same ❤😊

[@jayneterry8701]

Keep going Gina you'll get there! 👍🩷

[@eastcoastartist]

@@jayneterry8701 thank you 😊

[@DipityS]

Oh! It's gorgeous. You inspire me so much - I've have all the blocks done up for a quilt and need to begin sewing the blocks together and the sandwich - backing - quilting - and the thought gives me so much anxiety I hesitate - so watching you just go ahead is a shove I needed. You can make quilted garments - I've been dreaming of a Korean type tie across quilted jacket - though while I do live in New Zealand which is certainly cold in winter - it's certainly not as cold as Korea - so I would need to factor that into the build with a thin batting. I found this so interesting and so helpful and loved your end quilt - thank you 😊

[@itcouldbeanyone]

The irony is I am quilting as I watch this 😊 welcome to the rabbit hole…

[@liav4102]

A crazy quilt vest would be an interesting option

[@shannonlanghart346]

It's beautiful. You did you quilt exactly opposite of how I do mine. I like to piece by machine and do the quilting by hand. But you did a great job on your first quilt!

[@maleahlock]

Oooh, just wanted to mention that I really loved hearing about May Morris! Back to the video. . .

[@catie5939]

I love quilts. They're almost all i I actually use my machine for at this point. Clothes I mostly work by hand because I love it, but quilts get really monotonous by hand. I'm so excited for you! It really is a very different skill to clothes making, but I think if you learn how to fudge things in a way that's acceptable to you, it makes it a lot easier. I am NOT perfect, nor do I even sew straight lol But I've made a bunch of quilts and they all look pretty decent if i do say so! 😂 It's so cool seeing people do more historic style quilts. 💜

[@eebeegee8325]

I started sewing by quilting...when you said it's a slippery slope I was nodding vigorously 😆. But you won't regret it because after soooo much work they really are worth it. 😊

[@diannemh2250]

You quilt is beautiful! Very impressive for a first effort. I mostly do simple strip quilts, or squares like “disappearing 9 patch” - which produces a great result that looks waaay more complicated than it actually is! I have a few really big pieces of cardboard I use when pinning quilts- I put them on my bed then I lay out the quilt, makes it easy to walk around 3 sides of it! I have a collection of nappy pins - bought from $2 bargain shops ( in the baby or sewing section!). I use my 1954 201K Singer for the quilting - she handles the layers so well, and the big throat space allows lots of room to manoeuvre the rolled up layers!

[@jkabholat]

It is lovely. I think quilting is a marvellous skill to have.

[@kaizma88]

You did a fabulous job, especially the machine quilting. EPP with smaller pieces goes quickly if you enjoy the whip stitch it is very soothing to sit and sew.

[@michellecornum5856]

Absolutely gorgeous. I like how you paired the reds together it reminds me of a poinsettia. Very Victorian, very Christmasy.

[@sewvintagebysunraedoll]

Quilting is so different from dressmaking 😅 but I adore that it’s something you can create almost on auto pilot (easy sew) which our brain 🧠 needs. And we always have a ton of scraps left at the end of the year, so might as well put them to use 🙌✂️

[@noreenroche5294]

Beautiful first quilt!

[@sallyatkinson1682]

Congratulations on completing your first quilt! I need to warn you it can become addictive :D

[@user-bo7hk1kc7e]

Great job for your first one!

[@2408kmm]

When you don’t have enough of the print we usually add a coordinating solid. My first quilt was 100% by hand and a sampler quilt. I cut out templates for the shapes and drew 1/4 inch seam allowance on each(wrong side). Then you line up the sewn edges (right sides together)and sew on the drawn seam allowance line. You do one block at a time to keep it straight. That first one took me over 10 years. I switched to using a machine after starting my first and made many quilts in between. I started quilting 20 years ago and haven’t stopped yet. I also have a long arm quilting machine and quilt for others as well.

[@SewYuri]

Excellent job. I recommend a walking foot for quilting & binding. As it helps feed the quilt through as you're sewing 🙂

[@IAmCraftingAgain]

Yes, a coat out of crazy vicorian patchwork!

[@lindanonnenmann1112]

The wool batting looks so luxurious and a wonderful choice to go with your beautiful fabric. There are so many ways to sew a quilt. I piece by machine and quilt by hand. I recently learned from a video to glue baste the layers with Elmers glue and that worked very well...no pins and very stable quilt sandwich to work with. ( video: how to use school glue to baste a quilt by Stitch Obsessed) What a treasure you have in your first quilt❤

[@JekahAQuilter]

Absolutely beautiful job! ❤❤❤

[@lauren2971]

this turned out absolutely gorgeous! and quilts get even better as time goes on! I've got one from my teen years and it is the most coveted blanket in my household lol I would LOVE to see a crazy quilt too can't wait!!!

[@HodgePodgeHarmony]

The Moda layer cake packs run about $48 here. I can make a small lap quilt out of 1 pack… which is pretty expensive in my mind, but they make great “crazy” quilts (albeit a small lap quilt). The nice thing about them is that you can get coordinating fabric to use for the backing or trim.

[@vickiserre9457]

Very fun to watch you through this quilt project. Good job 👍🏼

[@LisaLisa-zl9vu]

Pretty!

[@readandbecrafty4140]

So Lovely! Join us on the slippery slope to creating quilted fabric with scraps! Love to see what you do next!

[@sewmuchjoy]

I've have been wanting to learn how to quilt for some time now, but didn't really know where to start, when your video popped up on my screen... Seriously, thank you! I will be using your video as a tutorial! I have a lot of denim cabbage lying around from sewing a few skirts over the years. A quilt would be the perfect way to recycle them! Awhile back, my grandmother gave me a vintage quilting frame she had in the attic! Now, I must learn how to use it! As for a victorian crazy quilt... creating a quilt, then use it as a large piece of fabric to sew a wearable garment is such a great idea! Perhaps Bilbo Baggins' quilted house robe from The Hobbit? :) Love your videos! I glean so much information and inspiration from you! From one seamstress to another, Happy sewing!

[@CatsCostumery]

That’s such a great idea!! Good luck with your quilting adventures too ☺️

[@sewmuchjoy]

Thank you! 💖@@CatsCostumery

[@c0ldlight1]

I love this. It's so amazing to me the different ways everyone quilts. As I watched this video I was working on putting a binding on a quilt. I make mine the opposite of you- I piece them by machine and then do the quilt stitching by hand because that is my favorite bit. I look forward to seeing your crazy quilting! I have not made one yet, but every time someone mentions it I get an urge to try it out.

[@lujadosyning]

Paper piecing is used on quilts of smaller pieces to give support to ensuring the shape comes out right. I don't think that it is wrong to use paper for large squares, but it is extra work when you just need to decide on a seam allowance and fold. That said, you have done very good work and created a gorgeous quilt.

[@amyohl5037]

Extraordinary accomplishment.❤

[@laurawilliams7782]

Morris and Co designs are so satisifying for me. They make my brain so happy, and I'd love to have a quilit, I hope you enjoy yours. I enjoyed a book that broke down the designers of various patterns - William Morris's Flowers by Rowan Bain. I'm sure there are others that break it down, but that one was in my budget

[@sophuzzy]

I have purchased May Morris and William Morris pre-cuts and am saving them for "good"!

[@heathermade7294]

What a beautiful quilt! I am a beginner quilter, and have been terrified to try paper piecing... but you've totally inspired me to give it a try

[@maleahlock]

Oh do! It's so nice to the brain 😊

[@barbaracatalano6299]

I love it. You will love the crazy quilt. They are fun. You actually hand sewed what I do on the machine and on the machine what I do by hand. 😊 Great video

[@moonbasket]

🙈 i also impulse bought some of the same fabric when i saw it at a quilt shop near me. I went to the V&A years ago and loved it. Cant wait to use the fabric. ❤

[@michellebaker4247]

You did a great job.My quilting foot guide isn’t used like that though per se,my bar actually glides along the top surface of the fabric kinda like a hockey stick does on ice.If you can turn your bar in this way it will provide more stability as you quilt your lines.

[@strawycape9693]

Paper piecing is usually used for small pieces and complex designs with lots of Y seams and on small pieces you can baste without passing the thread through the paper. To do this you make a stitch on the reverse side in each corner to hold the turned over seam allowances to each other (without piercing the paper). this way, the papers can be removed after seaming without even taking the basting stitches out! I'm not sure how well that would work on such large squares as the tension would be off (I leave the corner stitches connected so there is a link of thread running along each folded over allowance which helps hold the allowances flat against the paper) Some modern quilters use weak glue to baste in their papers which is a similar solution for easy paper removal. As other commenters have said - the papers can be removed or left in, intricate piecing can be used to make decorative wall hangings where papers left in wouldn't be an issue for example. As long as you enjoy the process and your finished project, that is all that matters!

[@jenniferhoward3168]

You could add stashing to the sides to make it bigger, or you could also add it in between the rows. The fabric is beautiful by the way😊.

[@dollydarlings]

I am not super familiar with this channel (yet) so I apologize if this is something you have already tried, but if you are looking for other sewing-type projects that don't require fittings and such, may I suggest you look into dollmaking? All the joys of garment making but you can eat all the winter treats you wish 😊 and you get a cute little friend at the end! Love the fabrics you used!

[@christineg8151]

You mentioned that you didn't have any fabric-safe glue. I like to use washable school glue sticks for my basting, because it's cheap and since it's washable, it will come right out of the fabric when you're done. I'm not sure if they're available in the UK, but the ones I prefer are purple when they first go down and dry clear, so it's much easier to see exactly how much glue you have put down. The fabric you chose is gorgeous! Beautiful quilt!

[@Meredith36]

Beautiful!

[@Kera.S.]

Halfway through this video and you want to do large squares over paper and I see the lure of this but I had the same thought once and found it so much more difficult than the smaller shapes which slowed me down so much that I ditched the project and went back to smaller pieces. Good luck!

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

Pretty! If you ever make another, you might want a 1/4" piecing foot. Paper piecing looks like a pain, honestly, and it may or may not be easier just to put all of the squares right sides together & sew quick 1/4" seams with your machine. More power to you doing all of that by hand. Also, if you're doing the actual quilting in the summer, trying to get all of the rolled up batting, backing, & top through the machine, wear long sleeves. I ended up scratched all over from the zillions of pins.

[@jayneterry8701]

Welcome, Welcome to the world of quilting Cat! 😀🩷. You did your research and made a wonderful quilt! Someone else mentioned Shannon Makes but I would like to add , closer to home for you in the UK is Emma Jones and the Last Homely House as both are super knowledgeable. Enjoy your journey ❤🇨🇦👍

[@CatsCostumery]

Thank you so much! ☺️

[@sewmuchjoy]

Wow Cat! You did an amazing job! 'Tis so beautiful!

[@brendabelcher3197]

Look up the quilts soldiers made out of uniform scrapes. Many men throughout history have sewn, knitted, crocheted and quilted.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Your quilt is really lovely. Love how you arranged the squares. There are lots of examples of quilting scraps and then making a garment. I've seen coats and vests made so that a popular design is the central feature in the back. Something like the Dresden plate or a basket with appliques of flowers. It can get very artistic and complicated. Looking forward to seeing what grabs you next!

[@waterbitten]

I'm distracted by the lovely Croton in the background, i could never get the 3 I've had before I gave up to grown that well!

[@fischersgirl1720]

I’m not sure if someone has said already but you can use Elmer’s washable glue for this too. It washes out (at least I have had no issues with it washing out)

[@bubbles1850]

ooh you could make a robe like bilbo's in the hobbit!

[@strawycape9693]

Also a quilt taking a year to complete is very on-brand for many quilters - I currently have 3 in progress, including one that I started more than 2 years ago...

[@bonniehyden962]

Watching you go through the history of quilting, especially the paper patterning, I think I can see how less financially endowed women came to what >I< know as quilting in Texas, and the rest of the US. For poorer women, paper might have been difficult to come by and preferred for other uses. Also, the paper pattern process I saw here is much more time consuming and labor intensive. What my fore-mothers did for patch quilts as you made was to simply sew the squares together with a straight stitch and iron out the seams. Then, you're immediately ready to sandwich your layers of quilt top, batting & back. Now, you'd be ready to quilt. Of course, our fore-mothers would have had quilting frames and very well might have invited family and friends to come help with said hand stitching of the quilting, thus making quick work of said tedious, tiny stitching whilst trading news, recipes, or even 🤭 gossip and enjoying refreshments. This would also been a good opportunity to teach the younger girls some stitching skills. Twas a win-win all around. But no paper pattern involved, no basting. Just stitching.

[@taradawe]

I started two EPP quilts this year. I am handsewing a queen sized one for my daughter and a king sized one for my husband and I. It's been a very good pick up put down project. Do a little here and there. I have almost enough pieces to make the top of the queen size quilt. I am trying to decide if I do both sides as the hexagons or not. If I do it'd be about 4000 pieces for both quilts.

[@chastitysenek7499]

Have you seen Morgan Donnor's new video with her lettice cap winter hat? It may be a neat idea to do a crazy quilt piece and then use the pattern to make a cute winter hat.

[@sevenandthelittlestmew]

FreeSpirit Fabrics has original Morris & Co. designs if you’re able to access their fabric lines. I purchase online from where I live in the United States, but I am unsure if they have a warehouse in the UK. They are US based, so I don’t know if shipping costs would be prohibitive for you. They do carry the strawberry thief design in multiple colors, if I recall correctly. And the fabric is really high quality.

[@lesleyharris525]

Hi, beautiful quilting, thanks for the inspiration but now I want one, 😅 send help. ❤

[@tippylaroux3137]

Make sure you follow the washing instructions exactly for your quilt (per the wadding/batting). Otherwise there is a risk of felting which will change how the quilt feels and looks. I recently did the opposite of what you’ve done. I machine pieced the top (flimsy/patchwork), but did big stitch hand quilting to quilt it. A 12wt thread is my favorite, and I love the handmade look of it. Also-I’m obsessed with wool batting. It has the loft of a poly, but is still a natural fiber. Cheers. Welcome to the dark side 😂

[@CatsCostumery]

Thanks for the tip, I’ll be sure to look up the washing instructions for the batting! 😱 (hadn’t even thought of that!!)

[@TartantazCreates]

I am so glad to see you did your quilt your way. Ok you might have said that was all you had but what stiffness of paper you use is your choice. I use printer paper when I do english paper piecing and I do just fine. I personally would struggle with using anything stiffer to be honest. I use small hexagons and sometimes they have to be bent to get sewing some of the sides so to have paper any stiffer just doesn't seem practical. But each to their own. I would suggest that the stiffness of the paper comes down to personal choice. Your quilt looks great thanks for sharing your process :) T x

[@amyohl5037]

You really took on a challenge. Rock on. Look up The Last Homely House You tuber. Kate made a octagon paper piece for a grand child. She is fabulous at explaining and hand sews the pieces together.

[@Auntie7024]

Your quilt turned out lovely. However long it takes is okay. I'm not familiar with the quilt guide that you can attach to your machine; it's brilliant. You did a great job.

[@sharonfischer7767]

A few thoughts for if you ever want to do paperpiecing again. i have pieced two large quilts s with much smaller pieces as scrap busters. Your use of newspaper is quite authentic, however I use either card stock from the hobby store (which in the states is available 10 10') or from mailers, brochures and postcards etc.which I find makes the process much more enjoyable because you have stiff edges to work with. Also with such large pieces, I'm guessing it was kind of floppy and harder to work with. With card stock and smaller pieces, there is a technique of just tacking the corners which allows you to simply "pop" the papers out. Like you, I am not a gluer.

[@wellthisisnice]

Watching you hand-stitch your first patchwork while i hand-stitch my own first patchwork but mine is uh. A potholder.

[@margaretsmith8066]

There is a wonderful lady called Kate that does you tube videos that would help you quilting called "The last homely house" you should take a look at her EEP videos 😊 Beautiful job ❤

[@jilliedillie]

So excited to see you make that beautiful quilt! Coincidentally, I decided today to make MY first - a temperature quilt with English paper piecing (EPP) 1 inch hexagons. Today I found my last 2 colors, so each 5 degrees between -10 and 100 degrees F will be a different color, rainbow order. Each week will have 7 hexagons in a flower shape. I’m quite intrigued by what the year may bring. Tomorrow I’ll start making hexies in periwinkle and blue - to start 2024 in a cold Minnesota USA winter. I’m so excited! Do you have plans to sew another non-garment?

[@CatsCostumery]

That sounds like a beautiful project!! I’m definitely tempted by the hexagons, I think they’re so gorgeous ☺️

[@dianacampbell9598]

once the cloth is sewn remove the paper because it will be a mess if it gets wet

[@maleahlock]

But she did remove the paper . . . 18:10

[@dianacampbell9598]

yeah i figured she would@@maleahlock

[@DAYBROK3]

cat my grannie quilted most of her life she did complicated patterns without paper patterning. i think doing the paper piecing makes it hard to wash the quilt.

[@CatsCostumery]

I removed the papers so it should be alright to wash! I really enjoyed the process of paper piecing, I found it very relaxing ☺️

[@Helen-qb4gv]

A little off topic but May I ask the pattern name of the blue/grey cardigan? The quilt is lovely and I have now pulled out my tub of Morris fabric off cuts to begin a new one. Thank you for the lovely video

[@bhavens9149]

One does not generally quilt with paper unless one is doing a difficult pattern, as a long time quilter have to say you are making this unnecessarily hard on yourself, would suggest you read a few books on strip quilting and work your way up to paper piecing. Love your videos, hope you get hooked on quilting I admit I love it.

[@canadianbacon28]

The lack of basic reserch drove me nuts, why you would use EPP for giant squares I have no idea.

[@bhavens9149]

@@canadianbacon28 Was probably drawn to the one book that she found near the fabric as well, but every extra quilter means fabric will be made, and we all need more fabric (insert maniacal laughter here)

[@annacatherinesendgikoski1965]

@@bhavens9149 Wow, be nice! This was her first quilt! She did a fantastic job! My first quilt needed to be burned!

[@annacatherinesendgikoski1965]

@@canadianbacon28 An expert, no doubt! Have you never tried something just a little bit extra?

[@bhavens9149]

@@annacatherinesendgikoski1965 pretty sure I was nice. been following cat for years now,

[@vnickcolvin4971]

Can we purchase these fabrics online?😊❤

[@BethAge95]

The blanket turned out beautiful! I'm just making my first crazy quilt inspired by Shannon Makes here on YT (go check her out, she's lovely!). I have no prior quilting experience nor any sort of method but it's super fun an a good portable sewing project for travelling (needed something small to work on while staying with my parents during the holidays). Can highly recommend for a fun scrap busting project!

[@jjudy5869]

Unless you really, really like hand sewing (English paper piecing) use your sewing machine.

[@annacatherinesendgikoski1965]

What's wrong with hand sewing a quilt? It's how my great grandmother did it! It's how all of our ancestors did it!

[@misstweetypie1]

@@annacatherinesendgikoski1965I think jjudy is just saying that a quilt hand sewed will take a long time, vs using a sewing machine. Most women, (especially in the past) would prefer to use a sewing machine because of how much time you save.

[@annacatherinesendgikoski1965]

@misstweetypie1 I know well the history of quilting, hand sewing, and the like. Cat really enjoys hand sewing, so the remark didn't hold for me. Sewing by hand is a relaxing and enjoyable venture. Sometimes, a person enjoys the sewing more than the end product.

[@nicolethijs5428]

Oh dear, its obious you never made a quilt before. You never use paper piecing with just this big squares. You cut a cardbord template of 24 x 24 cm . Trace this template on the back of the fabric with pencil. Cut the fabric 6 mm bigger all around. Now put two patches of fabric together. Right sides together. Stich from corner to corner with a small running stich. Avoid sewing in the seam allowences. First stitch the rows together. Then make the second row. Once you have two full rows you pin the 2 rows together. Place pins on the intersections of the patches. Then place pins every 5 cm. Put the pins straigt in and if your fabric is cut correctly you will find that both pencil lines are alligned. When sewing the rows avoid sewing the seam allowences down. Sew all the rows together. I am a quiltteacher of 40 years and have more then 200 handmade bed quilts made. You also choose a very difficult wadding for a first quilt. A thinner cotton mix or bamboo wadding would have been much easier. And if you hand sew a quilt you should also hand quilt it. Far easier then machine quilting. But thats another lesson!

[@katehenry2718]

When starting a new skill, find someone who's done it before. It will save you immense re-inventing. As you are seamstress We thought you'd be aware that plain squares can be sewn together with simple seams, no paper required. Peculiar interlocking shapes use paper bits to advantage. (Hexes and Kaleidoscopes.) Welcome to piecing ))

[@maleahlock]

Who's we? The guild of modern practice quilting gatekeepers? the royal we? we the court of different method disapproval? 😂 I'm trying to imagine this "we". Women have been doing paper pieced quilts for centuries in this exact way so there was no need for "immense" reinventing (ask my greatx6 nanna). She did an excellent job and clearly needed no advice.

[@susanafont-fontenot9906]

For such big pieces, it was not necessary to do paper piecing. You could have sewn them with 1/4”seam allowance. You took too much work to piece such large blocks. Nevertheless, your quilt looks great. Good job.

[@susanelliott1970]

I am an avid quilter and this is so funny. I sure hope you get someone to help you. I’m sure you will figure it out.

[@maleahlock]

Why is it funny? She clearly doesn't need any help and has used a tried and true historic method. The quilt is perfectly beautiful, functional and well sewn. . . especially considering it was her first. Jfc.

[@agirlnamedtuesdaye]

Honestly, your comment sounds pretty mean and degrading. I’m sure that’s not what you intended, but maybe think before you type.

[@eagle-eye29]

Why didn’t you brush your hair?

[@jilbertb]

If you're going to make a garment, don't make a quilt and cut it up. Instead, make quilt pieces that are rectangles, that are just a bit bigger than your pattern pieces. Quilt the individual rectangle pieces, then cut out the pattern pieces. Then sew together with French seams, (you can remove the wadding in the seam, on the first, outward seam) then sew the inside seam. Then sew the French seams flat. Do not watch the YT videos about making a quilted coat. They're hideously done. Make it as professional seamstress would...