An Aboriginal Quilt for an Artist

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Instructions

This pattern is free on the Joel Dewberry site. This pattern is free on the Joel Dewberry site.

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Difficulty:

Category: Quilting

Type of item: Functional

For: Unisex

Style: Mod, Traditional, Ethnic, Whimsical, Outdoorsy, Classic, Funky

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Materials

100% Cotton Aboriginal Fabric from Australia. The fabric uses designs made by Aboriginal artists. Each fabric has symbols, designs, and pictures of things that have special meaning to the Aboriginal nation.

What was your inspiration?

I have a friend who is a very worthy artist and blacksmith. Last January, she issued a challenge to hand make gifts for each other. I participated and this is what I made her. She told me that her preference was for something that was not traditional, since she has eclectic tastes. This piece is unexpected because it is a traditional design using non-traditional ethnic fabric.

What are you most proud of?

I had been collecting all this fabric and loved each piece individually. Figuring out how to put it together into something that would work and be pleasing was overwhelming and I spent a lot of time looking at patterns, magazines, online, etc. Then, I came across this keyhole pattern and decided that the black fabric should be the keyhole block and the same would be the binding. It is amazing that something this simple could pull all these colors and designs into a cohesive quilt that was very difficult to give away!!

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

Again, do exact cuts and lay out your placement before you stitch.

I quilted this freehand on a long arm machine and used black King Tut thread.