The second EPP project I ever started was my Kingfisher Quilt. The project was a free stitch-a-long and pattern (that started way before I found) hosted by Stitched in Color & Tales of Cloth. Link to the pattern and information can be found below.
I had recently discovered feed sack fabrics and was a bit obsessed with them at the time so I decided to do the entire project in 1930’s fabrics. All the fabric were going to be reproduction prints. I wanted it to feel as authentic as possible.
At the time I was starting the project a quilt store nearby was closing down and having a massive closeout sale. I didn’t have much fabric or much of an idea of what I needed to buy to complete the project (I was still pretty new to quilting and VERY new to EPP) so I just got a massive stash of feed sack fabric in fat quarters. When things went even more on sale I preemptively bought the backing and borders. I may have sat on the floor for thirty minutes trying to pick out a backing. I was still pretty new to quilting and just couldn’t picture it, but I managed to get 4 yards of feed sack backing fabric for a little over 20$ so I just took a risk and tried not to have a mental break down while making the decision.
I decided to do scrappy hexie flowers in: orange, red, yellow, green, blue, purple & pink. I wanted to do scrappy white background diamonds. The hardest decision I made was the center of the hexie flowers, I went with a solid white and I was VERY nervous about this choice.
I hand sewed all my 1930’s hexie flowers up and cut out my background diamonds. Since the flowers and the background diamonds were different, I decided to lay the project out before I started appliqueing to make sure everything flowed and balanced the way I wanted.
When I got everything the way I wanted, I machine appliqued all my hexie flowers on with a basic straight line stitch. This was my least favorite part of the process. There was a lot of turning and it felt like it took forever.
I sewed the quilt top together (sans borders) and then ended up reconsidering my border plan. I decided to completely stray from the pattern for the borders. I did a tiny solid white border, a larger red print border without the applique triangles, and then a much larger blue print border. As a new quilter this caused me a LOT of stress to stray from the pattern, but I am so glad I did because I think it was the right choice for my quilt top.
The same blue print that was on the large outer border is what I had previously bought for the backing. I went ahead and used this for the backing, but I regretted not having previously chosen a different 1930’s print.
I stitched in the ditch along the diamond seams for the quilting. I extended the lines with a Hera marker on the border. I bound the quilt in the same blue fabric as the border and the backing. I regretted the fabric choice for a while, but now that it has been a while I kind of like it. I grew a lot in the process of making this quilt and it helped me figure out what I do/don’t like.
I started the quilt in December of 2018 and finished the project in May of 2019. I roped my husband’s grandmother into making this project with me as her first EPP project. She started the project the same time as me and is still working on it. She went with a 1930’s vibe as well. While she is using many 1930’s reproduction prints, but mixing in other fabrics as well. I am still not sure if I pulled it off the completely authentic 1930’s look, what do you think?
Love hexie flowers? Consider participating in my hexie flower sew-a-long. More information can be found at the link below. https://springdaisystitchery.com/2020/08/03/hexie-flower-sew-a-long/
I really love your combination of 1930s prints! I think you did an amazing job. It looks awesome.
Thank you so much! I was really trying to go for an authentic 1930’s vibe.