Adventures in Quilted Garments
I decided recently that it had been too long since I made something for myself and that I would make a quilted garment. Ever since the show MQS ended, I’ve had trouble motivating myself. I’m a person who really needs deadlines, and MQS provided that. They were one of the few shows that let you enter an unfinished quilt. Now by unfinished I’m sure they meant mostly done, but the rules didn’t actually specify this.
I’m not admitting anything here, but they may or may not have received entries over the years that included a picture of a pile of fabric and a note that said “I think it’s going to look like this.” The entry deadline was always the middle of March. Quilts due at the show the beginning of May. This gave me roughly six weeks to get my act in gear. I miss this.
There aren’t any quilt shows that let me get a way with this now, but there is a garment challenge. You enter the challenge and get your “challenge” fabric at time of entry. They don’t expect you to have even started at this point. This works well for me.
This year’s fabric was a pretty blue/turquoise batik. I’d been thinking about a Stevie Nicks/Flower Power inspired coat for a while and this would work perfectly. Most of the time when I make garments I start with a commercial pattern. Next, I alter to fit because I’m vertically challenged. This time I couldn’t find one that looked like the image in my head, so I improvised. I Frankensteined a pattern out of multiple other patterns creating additional pieces as needed.
The first step was compiling all the fabric and trims I would need. Fortunately I have a moderate (read copious) stash of these things. Needing to use a recognizable amount of the challenge fabric on the garment, I decided to make the sleeves, and the sides of the upper bodice from the challenge fabric. I don’t like to quilt the sleeves as I feel it makes the garment to stiff and as any quilting I did was not going to show on this fabric this worked out perfectly.
Next I made a mock up out of muslin to make sure it would fit. Occasionally, I’ve skipped this step in the past always regretting it. After assuring that the coat would indeed fit, I started making crazy quilt blocks. Each block measured 15X15 with free form piecing using random fabrics and trims that I had picked out to mostly follow my color scheme. When I had enough blocks, I joined them together to make sections big enough to cut the pattern pieces from. I always cut my pieces several sizes too large initially to allow for shrinkage when quilted.
I spent the next couple of days frantically alternating between quilting the pieces I already had cut out and piecing the rest of the blocks. (Did I mention that I started this process 5 days before the deadline) After quilting everything, I cut the pattern pieces to the actual size I needed and began to assemble the garment. I had already constructed the lining so I just needed to insert it into the coat.
I was getting awfully close to the deadline at this point and I needed to take pictures to send it in, but I wasn’t actually done. Fortunately I had enough finished that it looked done. I pinned on the buttons, and tacked up the hem and sent off my pictures a full 27 minutes ahead of the 12 pm deadline. Ok, so maybe that was cutting it a bit close even for me. I stayed up till about 3 am finishing the coat and sent it off the next morning to the show.
I always make my quilts and garments for me to enjoy, but I have to admit it is nice when they win something. This one did not disappoint and came home with the first place ribbon. One of these days I’m going to see what happens if I actually finish ahead of time. (probably not lol) I wish I knew the name of the beautiful model that wore it at the show. I wish I was as tall. Oh well, that’s what boots are for. Can’t wait to start my next quilted Garment. This time I think I’m going back steampunk. Stay tuned for details and as always Happy Quilting.
12 minutes! You never cease to amaze me.
Hi Kris, It looks like YOU! ha. You are always so creative with your pieces. Congratulations on the win you deserve it.
Thanks Joan. Hope you are doing well.
It’s stunning! Really love it! Congrats on the ribbon!
Thank you
Well done! And congratulations!
Thanks
Hi Kris,
My brother, Andrew Westphal, is in Ireland now to improve his fiddle playing and met you. In a Zoom call today with his family, he shared your website with us, because my niece, Laura, is interested in fabric work. We were all blown away by your work. It’s fabulous!
So glad you like my work. I really enjoyed talking to your brother at the pub. Feel free to have your niece contact me if she ever has any questions.