THE DRAPERY BLOG

  How good is natural linen? It's great for garments and just about any other fabric-y purpose. Recently, I couldn't resist its call for a quilt I'd been planning. I was looking for a not-white neutral, something to go with the indigo-hued scraps I'd collected and something with a bit of texture... but of course - natural linen ! This quilt is a kind of modified wonky, scrappy string quilt. I'm sure there are plenty of tutorials for this kind of thing out there on the internets, but here is how I made this one. There are no hard and fast rules for this kind of quilting, and it really doesn't matter if your corners don't match. The four segments that form each diamond shape aren't supposed to match, either (but of course, they can if you prefer!) It's a great way to bust through your stash and would look awesome in a variety of colours, or monotone like this one. Finished quilt measures : just over 100 x 130cm (lap quilt size) ...

The Drapery has recently received some really lovely Japanese brushed cotton fabrics, and the weather here is beginning to make them look so appealingly snuggly. So what can you use brushed cotton for? Cool weather garments We tried one of our favourite shirt patterns, the Esme by Sew Liberated, in  Nani Iro 'Birds Eye' brushed cotton. We think you'll agree, it's such a lovely match of pattern and fabric. This garment will be on display in-store. (For as long as one of us can resist snaffling it home to wear.) Sew Liberated - Esme - in Nani Iro brushed cotton FYI: this top used 2 metres of fabric at 110cm wide.  You can use brushed cotton in pretty much any circumstance where you would use cotton flannel / flannelette. It's slightly sturdier (very stable to work with) and has a slightly less fluffy surface, making it more appropriate for daywear. We can also imagine: button-up shirts, dresses  and skirts for women and children, kids' pants, scarves....

Whole cloth quilting is just what it sounds like - making a quilt without the fiddly piecing! It's a lovely way to showcase a single gorgeous fabric like our Nani Iro double gauzes. Firstly, credit must go to this tutorial at The Purl Bee , which is the blog of New York yarn and fabric store Purl Soho, and a treasure trove of inspiration. You can follow their tutorial if you like, or use ours for The Drapery's take on it, adding simple hand quilting to the loveliness. These small quilts are gorgeously light and soft, filled with the warmth of our 100% Australian wool batting. On the front is the beauty of Japanese Nani Iro double gauze featuring designer Naomi Ito's stunning hand-painted designs. On the back is silky, lightweight organic cotton. The finished size is around 105cm square, perfect for keeping your knees toasty on the couch, or as a cot quilt or baby playmat. A beautiful gift for a new baby or anyone who'd love a bit of warmth, colour ...