Making another sampler quilt
A selection of quick techniques I tried when I dislocated a shoulder a couple of years ago. Clockwise from top left: Confetti, raw edge appliqué with bobbin quilting, thread painting, 3D quilted pieces and double needle free-motion quilting.
When you were learning to quilt, did you make a sampler quilt of different techniques that were around at the time? It is a great way to learn all of the basics in one swoop. Then you were bitten by the bug and wanted to make quilts using many different techniques to see where your quilting journey will take you. After a couple of quilts, you probably got sidetracked into making quilts for family and friends. During this time you may have started collecting books on other techniques that you want to try one day.
If you don’t have the time to make a full size quilt from these books, why not make one block from each book and put them into a sampler quilt?
Blocks to include could be:
- a pieced landscape
- pictorial appliqué
- 3D appliqué
- raw edge appliqué
- bargello
- embroidery
- using paint, crayon, markers or pencil
- kaleidoscope
- confetti
- candlewicking
- 3D techniques such as piping, couching or trapunto
- stained glass
- curved piecing
- mitred corners or Y seams
- using transparency in colours
Creating a block from each technique is a great project to take to sewing group as it doesn’t take up a lot of space on a table.
Just like that first sampler taught you a lot of different techniques, this will teach you more advanced techniques that you can tweak to suit any quilt. Why not take the time to enjoy having a play day away from your current project once in a while. Who knows, one of the techniques you try will help solve a problem you’re having with the current quilt.
Have fun!
Fiona
Fiona Schiffl 
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