Patchwork Quilts.
That useful branch of oldtime needlework, the patchwork quilt, has been revived, and this revival is due to the exigency of economy during war-time. The price of all kinds of materials being so very high, and the need for economy so great, have led to many useful devices, in order to maintain a reasonable amount of comfort during these trying times, and not the least of these is the patchwork quilt.
A simple pattern showing triangles in three colours.
The smallest scraps of cotton, silk, or other material can be utilised and made into coverings, which in many cases may be made very artistic, and durable. In order to carry out the colour scheme of the bedroom for which it is intended, it is necessary to combine only those colours which are found in the other furnishings.
The usual size of a quilt for a double bed is 6 ft. by 5 ft., or if the bed be very large, 6 ft. by 6 ft. The single bed size is 5 ft. by 4 ft. For a child’s cot, 4 ft. by 3 ft. is the average size.
To form the sides of the padded quilt illustrated on the next page.
Many of the more artistic kind are made up into bedspread size, which is longer than the quilt, and allows for a fall over each side. The size of a bedspread is usually from 72 to 90 inches, by from 90 to 100 inches.
An effective design for silk patchwork: black and white squares, machined or quilted diagonally in green.
The pieces of material, which are all of the same kind in each quilt, are cut up into triangles, squares, points, circles, etc., and care must be taken to have the sizes of the different shapes exactly alike. The edges are turned in, then the various pieces topsewn together on the wrong side according to the pattern. It is a good plan to make the quilt in sections, then unite all together.
A diagram showing a two-colour star design.
A quilt of this kind must have a lining, and if wanted to give additional warmth an interlining of some kind. Cotton wadding, strips of old white flannel, or any colour which will not run in the washing, sewn together. Old woollen underwear thoroughly washed and with worn pieces cut away, can be made use of, as well as light colour tweeds, etc., but all pieces must be lightly sewn together with flat seams, then tacked on the lining. See that this lining fits the quilt exactly, turn in the edges of both, tack together, then machine stitch or sew the edges together. Blanket stitch may be worked over the edge with coarse coloured silk, embroidery thread, or No. 5 “Peri-Lusta.”
To form a padded quilt.
The quilt is now ready for the “quilting,” without which it would not be complete. This is done on the sewing machine if one be at hand, otherwise hand-sewing with coloured thread, matching or contrasting with the work, is done in running stitch, with here and there a backstitch to make it secure. Use a long sewing needle with “Peri-Lusta” thread, any required colour, No. 8. The lines of sewing can be formed into diamond shape, squares, herringbone shape, zig-zag, or any other form liked.
About Quilting.
The following designs are easily made, and will only require scraps of material found lying idle in most households. Old sheets can be made use of for the lining, or perhaps faded casement curtains, which can be washed and bleached, or tinted to match.
An appliqué design to border a plain bedspread. This was carried out in two shades of blue.
Triangles in Three Colours.
This is intended for scraps of silk too small to allow of variety in the shape. They are all cut into triangles, and the colours arranged to form hexagonal shapes. There are only three colours, and of each you will require two triangles to form the hexagonal shape. Place the six triangles with a point of each in the centre, no two of same colour coming together, turn in and topsew the edges of each of two sides together. Make several of this shape before joining together, then topsew all the hexagonals, which will be found to fit into each other. Finish in the manner already directed.
A Variety of the “Star” Shape Design.
The design shown on page 82 is a variety of the “star” shape design, and three colours are used. Each star has a plain six-sided figure in the centre. In the design this centre is green. Then each of these six sides has a triangle in white. The space between the points being filled with pink, the outer edge of which is, of course, twice as long as one side of the centre.
Suitable for Silk Patchwork.
The design at the bottom of page 79 is the very latest design, and is suitable for scraps of silk, the fashionable colours of black and white being combined in the sample. Blue and white, pink and white, green and white, or any other colours can be substituted. The border has an appliqué of roses cut from cretonne. Each motif has its edges turned under, then tacked to the quilt or bedspread when the quilting is finished. The edge is worked over with green “Peri-Lusta” of the same shade as that with which the “quilting” was done, using outline stitch.
To Form a Padded Quilt.
The design at the bottom of page 80 is intended for forming a padded quilt out of small pieces of silk, sateen, or other material. The hexagonal shape is used here, and the lining of contrasting colour is cut to the same size, then five sides of the shape are sewn together, and the little bag so formed is stuffed with vegetable down, then the other side sewn up. One side of this can be silk and the other cotton.
The long narrow strips for the sides are formed of the principal material in strips of the required length, and double the width the band is to be. Sew the edges together, then stuff with the down through one end, sew the corners together, and these must be cut at right angles, so as to give a nice corner. When all the padded pieces are sewn together, a pretty effect is obtained by going over all the seams with black cotton in feather-stitch. Vegetable down is cheap, and about three pounds will be ample for a large size quilt.
A three-colour design for a patch-work quilt, in diamonds, triangles, and hexagonals.
Patchwork Appliqué Bedspreads.
Another economical bed-covering is found in the patchwork appliqué. In this bedspread there is no lining required, and cheap cotton material serves for the foundation, or old sheets, casement curtains, bolton sheeting, etc., that have served their purpose can be utilised. They can be tinted any shade desirable and, of course, must contrast with the colours chosen for the appliqué. A deep border turned up on the foundation in the form of a hem is attractive, as seen in the “Fleur-de-lis” design on [page 81]. Here the foundation is cream sateen, and the appliqué with border cut from similar material, but in a deep shade of pink. The motif is simply outlined with black “Peri-Lusta” in stem stitch, when attaching to the bedspread.