Red + Kawandi # 1

It's been a bit of a slow sewing week here.

I can't really pinpoint what I've spent most of my time doing, but somehow I've managed to whittle down the daylight hours quickly and before I know it, the day seems to be over and I'm in the kitchen preparing dinner while the kids tell me about their days, squabble with each other or prepare themselves to eat and run to whatever activities they have to attend that evening... oh and while this is all happening, the cat walks into the kitchen and starts his meowfest to be fed too. Whew! That was a long sentence.

As part of the rainbow scrap challenge, I've finished making scrappy red hexie flowers and have appliqued them to their monochromatic background squares. I like how these are turning out and I wonder how I'll end up putting the quilt together. Keep all of the colours together or make it a great big random mish mash? I tend towards the random rather than the orderly.

I also made a little 7" kawandi style (quilt) yesterday. After seeing so many gorgeous kawandi quilts appear in my feed on Instagram, I decided to have a go myself. I watched a tutorial on YouTube and then lots of videos of Margaret Fabrizio talk about her kawandi journey and seeing her beautiful work. Before I could be swept away in the YouTube vortex, I turned off the computer and grabbed a scrap bag (which turned out to be blue) and started.

It's a simple process of folding over the raw edges and then sewing a running stitch over the top of the layers, beginning at the outside edge and working our way into the centre in a sort of spiral fashion.

I must admit that there were a number of times I wanted to head to the iron to press my seams before adding them to the piece, but that would defeat the idea.

I plan on making another one of these kawandi style quilts, though bigger than this first one as I really enjoyed the process. I love slow hand sewing and making this was a wonderful way to play with needle and thread.

11 comments

The Cozy Quilter5/14/21, 9:55 PM
Those red hexie flowers look wonderful on the background squares! What a fun RSC project. I have been seeing lots of kawandi quilts lately. I may have to give it a try!
Alycia~Quiltygirl5/15/21, 12:55 AM
Love the reds - but that Kawandi - I have never seen that - it looks so cool! Enjoy your days!!!
Ondrea5/15/21, 12:21 PM
I love that technique and the hand made look. I may need to try it myself seeing as I am exploring different things lately. Love your red hexies.
Marly5/15/21, 6:06 PM
Love your red flowers, but, what really grabbed my attention was your Kawandi piece! I LOVE it. I'm so glad you showed the process; I'll be trying it too very soon.
FlourishingPalms5/15/21, 10:40 PM
I'm so glad you gave kawandi a try! I'm sure you and I watched the same YouTube videos. None are quite like Sujata's workshop though, so I recommend it if you get a chance. She goes more into the tradition of it, and gives meaning to some of the parts. As for pressing, finger-pressing is adequate, but I keep a wallpaper roller with my supplies, so I can firmly press under the seams. Also, pins aren't supposed to be used, but I tend to use them abundantly. They're a nuisance though, as thread is always catching on them. You did a lovely job, and I'm glad you'll try another.
Bonnie5/17/21, 11:20 AM
It's wonderful what I learn from the Internet. I've never heard of Kawandi style quilts. So seeing a bit of how you did it along with a finished project is wonderful. It's cool.