UniquelyMade: April 2014

The original quilt, made around 1910,

was on display in New York at The American

Folk Art Museum in March, 2011.

I got inspired to make a Vortex quilt after attending the CVQG meeting in February when Texas Quilt Museum Co-Founder Karey Bresenhan presented a small part of her collection of vintage redwork (red and white) quilts. One of her quilts was one like the picture above.

On my way home from the meeting, my head swirled wondering how was this made, how would I go about finding out HOW to make it, would I even be able to make a quilt like this, etc., etc., etc. That night I started researching via internet. I found Quiltrascal's tutorial and Collector with a Needle had a pattern for sale. The next day I ordered at pattern, Vortex in Variation.

This pattern differs from the antique Vortex quilt in a private collection.

It is larger (95" x 95") with different corner designs and center sizes.

I like that it is a full sized paper pieced pattern with tip sheet.
I plan to draw butterflies for the corners similar to the antique Vortex quilt.

The pattern arrived within a few days and I studied, pondered, contemplated this pattern as I finished another quilt project. On March 14th, I purchased high quality white muslin and ordered a bolt of red fabric which I purchased on April 1st.

After finishing my other quilt project and several charity/guild items, on April 21, 2014 I officially started my own Vortex in Variation!

I began my Vortex by washing the fabrics. I washed and dried the white (all 10 yards of 118" fabric) and then proceeded to wash the 15 yards of red fabric.

I used three sheets of Shout Color Catchers to keep the red from bleeding.

I spend most of the day washing, drying and re-folding the fabric and cutting out the pattern pieces.

I set up the cutting "center" in one of the bedrooms. It worked best for me to keep the yardage of fabrics uncut until the width of each piece was determined. I'd cut 28 pieces of red and 28 pieces of white of each size.

As I cut each set, I placed a red on one stack and a white on another stack. This stack in the above picture will be used on the wedges that begin with white.

I began sewing after I had a few sets of pieces cut. I began sewing the wedges that started with red since I began cutting the largest pieces first. The wedges that begin with white will be sewn starting with the smallest pieces first. That will have to wait until ALL the pieces are cut out.

By Thursday, I had finally finished cutting out the pieces for all the wedges. I have every set marked and separated.

I very carefully sewed on the lines,

Trimmed the red slightly shorter than the white,

And pressed everything as I sewed.

I began sewing by first sewing the first (red) piece to each of the 28 wedges, then the second (white) piece, than the third (red) piece, but this was too cumbersome. Way too much moving such long strips of paper.

On Friday, I completed two (red) wedges! I trimmed the edges to exactly 1/4".

Also on Friday, I completed two (white) wedges. I placed them next to each other. I'm getting excited!

As of Saturday, April 26th, I have 14 wedges that begin with red sewn.

I sewed wedges that began with red and white together and then sewed the two sets together. Four done, 52 to go!

I'm all set up to start sewing more wedges. By Sunday evening, I finished the rest of the wedges that begin with red to make a total of 28 now complete. On Monday, I sewed 12 wedges that began with white and trimmed 16 wedges.

On Tuesday, April 29th, I sewed the remaining 14 wedges that began with white. I really pushed myself to get this part of the project complete.

Also on Tuesday, I sewed seven sets of wedges together to complete the first quadrant. So excited to see this much of my project completed.

I trimmed the wedges to exactly 1/4" seam allowance so I'll be ready to sew more sets together tomorrow.

Wednesday, the 30th was spent removing most of the paper piecing pattern from the quadrant that I'd finished already and from sets that I sewed together to make the next quadrant. Quite a tedious process.

By Wednesday evening I'd completed two quadrants and placed them next to each other. I won't be able to sew them together until I have the corner pieces cut, appliqued and sewn to the pieced wedges.

I sketched the butterfly and swirl filler for the outer edges. Tomorrow I plan to go to the fabric store to get more white thread and red applique thread so I can get started on the corners. I still have quite a bit of paper to remove from the other half of the wedges. All in all, my Vortex it taking shape.

April 18-20, 2014

As I was thinking about this quilt and attempting to double check the spelling of my friends soon-to-be-born baby's name (due day 5-5-14), I discovered that she had just arrived!! What a trill to work on this quilt with constant thoughts of what the happy couple is experiencing.

I had selected pink Minkie fabric several months ago but was waiting to hear about color scheme/themes before proceeding. I selected various pinks and a couple of green fabrics and used a very simple big log cabin pattern.

To make Addisyn's name, I found one of my fancy fonts, printed her name, and then attached the copy (reversed) onto fusible web with glue stick. I ironed the fusible web/copy of name onto the back of another green fabric and then cut out the skinny letters. Carefully, I removed the web backing and placed the letters onto the front of the quilt. I pressed the name in place and appliqued it using a very tiny zig-zag stitch. I also added a quick butterfly.

Then center section is shadow-quilted around the name and the butterfly. Most of the rest of the quilt is straight-stitch quilted about 1/4" from the seams. Three pink strips are quilted using a decorative leaf stitch. The back is folded over to form a quick binding. Can't wait to present this to my friend later this week or next week.