RUSTICITY and Seminole Piecing

 

I've been wanting to work with some of the methods of Seminole piecing that I learned about in the 1980s, as I haven't experimented with the methods since 2016.  I can't find the book I had in the eighties about the subject, so this is definitely an experiment and a design-as-you-go project. 

 Seminole patchwork is sewing strips of different fabrics together; then sub-cut, inverted, and/or rearranged to create geometric patterns that were then used as design elements in their clothing.  Their technique in patchwork first appeared around the turn of the 20th century -- they were certainly innovators for their time!! 

An example from my quilt:

THE STATS:  Rusticity, 2024,  30"x32", Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted.

The colors and patterns of fabric I have chosen crosses over between Rustic and Urban; thus, the name Rusticity.  Rusticity is an interesting word combining two opposite implied words -- rustic and city; rustic relating to countryside and rural, and city indicating inhabited place.  I'm in no way a student of words, but I surmise the juxtaposition of the two words was not intended by a lexicographer.  Never the less, that juxtaposition of the word intrigues me.

STASH BUSTER

As I check out the new quilt fabric collections, I realize that I'm out of touch with the current trends.  Well, maybe not "out of touch" as I keep up with what's going on in the quilt industry.  A better assessment might be "out of sync".  Since I have been interested in and quilting since the l950s, I remain a traditional quiltmaker.  My aesthetic leans toward the grayer, but saturated fabrics -- not the modern graphics on real bright tones or pastels.   I have decided, however, that I will stick with what I'm comfortable with, and not dive into the trends for the most part.  There must be a place for me (and others?), as a traditional, frugal quiltmaker, in this time of quilting history.

This quilt contains a total of 138 different fabrics with some of my favorites from over the years.  It's a simple pattern to make, and was so enjoyable to reminisce and construct.  It was definitely a scrap buster; and I couldn't just stop with the top.  Light fabrics can be helpful to use in delineating a pattern of darks. Some of my favorite lights are pieced on the back along with some of the selvages that I salvaged. 

The back ---

THE STATS:  Stash Buster, 2024, 34"x36", Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted.

The idea for this quilt is not new to my repertoire.  I made this table runner in 2016 to showcase my collection of Da Gama fabrics from Africa.  I've always loved it; and it was time to revive it in another project -- perfect for showcasing a variety of fabrics.

WILD FLOWERS

Over the years this has been one of my favorite blocks to paper piece.  I have made it in several sizes, in different settings, and various fabrics.

THE STATS:  Wild Flowers, 2024, 30"x30", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted.  The number nerd report:  93 different fabrics.

For me, an enjoyable part of doing any quilt is in the planning.  A scrap quilt often appears random, but one with 93 different fabrics usually takes some thought (or as they say -- curated).  Here are my cards that were part of my planning process. 

Edited to add:  "Wild Flowers" now owned by Michael M. Saulmon

Some of my other quilts based on this block pattern: