Kantha is one of the traditional styles of handwork popular in Eastern India - especially the state of West Bengal - and Bangladesh. It is used to either add embroidery to fabric or to quilt.
You can read more about it here in Wikipedia.
This month Aurifil have asked some of the Aurifil Artisans to experiment with Kantha quilting and Kaffe Fassett fabrics.
I've decided to use my variegated 12wt Aurifil threads on this fat quarter of Kaffe's fabric called Busy Lizzy. I'm quilting the whole fat quarter with Kantha quilting, and then I'm going to turn it into a pouch - or maybe even two.
I even decided to add a squiggle to mine, so I used a hera marker to mark the squiggle, but will then just stitch along side it with more free form lines. You can see my marked squiggle very faintly in the photo below.
If you're wondering which needles I use (John James Chenille size 24), which thimble I use (Clover Open Sided), or anything else, you can find details of all my favourite hand quilting accessories at the bottom of this post here.
I'm still undecided about which zip to use on my pouch. You're probably thinking that I've got too many options, but I do love zips with round pullers. They remind me of a ski jacket my mum made for me in about 1978. I loved that ski jacket with it's white zip with chunky teeth and a round puller. The pockets even had white zips with round pullers too!
Updated: I bought these zips from Studio Mio in Australia https://studiomio.com.au/zippers/
So that's what I'm up to this week. Oh, and trying to catch the sunrise because we're having some beauties at the moment.
What have you been up to this week? Feel free to link up a blog post below.
11 comments:
The quilting on the Kaffe fabric is really neat. I can't wait to see this finished and sewn into a bag. Happy stitching!
I make beaded zipper pulls to add to my pouch zippers. But the round pulls are so cute! I am hoping to get to a Sashiko class in May to learn how to do that method, love the surface created with these stitching methods.
This is interesting, Wendy, because I would call what you’re doing big stitch quilting. You’re doing this on a quilt sandwich (through batting), right? It’s my understanding that Kantha is more “regulated” stitching. It’s placing stitches that align with one another, so as to create a defined ripple across a surface. Of course, there are different interpretations across countries, and it can be difficult to differentiate among big stitch, Kantha, Sashiko, Boro, boho, and visible mending! I recently gave a program that covers all these, and there are differences.
Beautiful stitching and sunrise. Thanks for sharing. And, as always thanks for the linky opportunity. Blessings, M
MelvaLovesScraps(at)NolanQualityCustoms(dot)com
Quite interesting post. I may have to check this out for awhile. Know it’s different but reminds me of the work done by Samalia’s Mom. Her quilts always look so nice and soft.
I love that fabric, and the way you quilt it. Beautiful.
Such lovely stitching. I love this style of slow sewing and joined in an insta liberty kantha sew along last year (and then couldn't stop and made a bunch project).
Love the look your quilting is creating. I've never heard of this. although it seems a lot like big stitch quilting. And those zippers are fabulous. Almost enough to make me want to whip up something just to use them.
Great quilting!
I have seen it before but did not know the name, culture, or any specifics. It is lovely! Thanks for educating us with your beautiful project and words!
Those big, bold stitches complement the fabric print beautifully!
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