Isn`t it lovely? Congratulations to Jeannie Hering Campbell for her beautiful interpretation of Lucy Boston`s Patchwork of the Crosses (POTC).
Jeannie shared several photos and information about her techniques in the Facebook Group for Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses and gave me permission to share them here. (Thank you, Jeannie.)
I think you will love this!
Each individual block is a work of art.
Jeannie’s Innovative Method
What intrigued me was her method of combining machine appliqué and machine piecing—no hand sewing at all!
Traditional English Paper Piecing was not a good option for Jeannie because she has arthritis in her hands.
EPP can be very hard on hands and wrists and is also the slowest method, as described in the book.
If you have my POTC book, you know I am not a fan of EPP and prefer a hybrid method, sewing some seams by hand and some seams by machine.
Jeannie’s hands don’t enjoy hand sewing anymore, but that did not stop her! I admire that.
Jeannie’s website is called Quilt Contrary, so we should expect some surprises, okay?
My method for POTC is a hybrid and Jeannie’s method is a hybrid but she takes a couple of cool twists and turns.
Jeannie wrote, “This is probably sacrilege, but due to my arthritic hands, I have figured out how to machine stitch a POTC block. Much faster too!”
No, Jeannie. It is not sacrilege. It is inspiring and innovative. Lucy Boston would have loved it! She was an innovator when she was making quilts, when she was creating her magnificent garden at Hemingford Grey, and when she wrote her imaginative Green Knowe books.
Jeannie’s method of combining pairs of hexagons
This is very cool!
When Jeannie fussy cuts, she sometimes uses double hexagon templates. It allows Jeannie to get some intriguing effects.
She does not use freezer paper for this step, which is what I would do, but otherwise, this is compatible with my hybrid technique. I would mark the sewing lines manually and sew them by hand. Jeannie does it with machine appliqué.
Jeannie’s method of machine appliqué
This is something that might inspire you too.
Jeannie describes her method of pinning, gluing, and taping the shapes together in messages on the POTC Facebook group.
No matter what method of sewing you use, I think all of us would be thrilled to make beautiful blocks like Jeannie’s.
Jeannie’s low-contrast fabric choices
Another difference in Jeannie’s approach is the way she chooses fabrics for POTC.
For me, quilting is all about the fabrics. I do a lecture about Choosing Fabrics. And it’s not just about the dreaded color wheel! Because fabric isn’t like paint (paint doesn’t come in prints) besides value, there is scale. Scale of the prints. Put it all together and you want to achieve Balance and Unity.
When I choose fabrics for a quilt, I often use a focus fabric that has a big print that gets used as my border. I like a print that has at least three colors in it so it can take me in three different directions. But I usually choose fabrics with different scales so there is a contrast.
These POTC blocks I have been doing are different. I made a mess out of my sewing room by pulling a whole bunch of print fabrics and dividing them by color. They all have multi colors, so my table ends up looking like a Trivial Pursuit game board with spokes coming out in all directions connecting different piles of fabric. I find two fabrics that have the same two colors with one of them having good kaleidoscope potential for the center.
Jeannie goes into more detail about her concepts of value, contrast, balance, unity, and scale in her messages in the Facebook Group. It is worth reading.
You can leave messages for Jeannie below. I’m sure she would love to know what you think about her fascinating methods.
Beautiful blocks! I’m confused as to what part it appliqué.
Hi Kelly, It is a compliment to Jeannie that you cannot tell! 🙂 The outer ring of hexagons has the seam allowances folded under (similar to EPP) and positioned carefully on top of the seam allowances of the interior hexagons. Then Jeannie uses a machine zig-zag stitch along the edges. I think she uses an invisible thread.
Hi Kelly, As soon as I figure out how to add a picture to this post I will show you several pictures of the steps. Jeannie
Fussy cutting is beautiful and the blending of colours is so well done. Thank-you for sharing.
Jeannie’s blocks are an inspiration to me too.
Gorgeous blocks and very inspiring. Her method reminds me of Karen K. Stone’s English Paper Piecing by machine, which I love.
They are good photos, aren’t they? Jeannie did a great job.
Thank you for posting this. Jeannie’s step by step photos posted in the group are so helpful and very appreciated
I’ve know Jeannie for over 20 years and her work has always been above and beyond beautiful! I’m so glad she’s been able to adapt EPP to her needs.
Hi Eileen, I really admire anyone who can overcome an obstacle and come up with such a creative solution!
That is a lot of talent right there! Beautiful and inspiring! 🙂
I agree, Laura. Very inspiring.