There is clearly something in my temperament that makes me suited for hobbies that most people would consider slightly obsessive and insane,* or at the very least extremely labour intensive.
I hand-sew anything I can, create historical clothing that involves massive amounts of engineering, insist on buying my furniture second-hand so that I can take it apart and re-finish or re-cover it with a finish or fabric I like, and finally, make Hawaiian quilts.
Hawaiian quilts (at least the proper hand-sewn ones) are quite possible one of the the most labour intensive quilts out there. First a stylised pattern, symmetrical across four quarters and usually representing a plant or something else in nature, is basted and appliqued to the base fabric. Then the top, batting, and bottom fabric are all quilted together with little tiny hand-quilting stitches that mirror the lines of the pattern.
Even if I work at it pretty much non-stop, it takes me about 6 months just to make 1 baby quilt. If I have it as a nice hand sewing project on the side…well…let’s just say I have to start a quilt long before anyone thinks of having a baby!
I’m not brave enough yet to make a full size quilt, so far I have confined myself to pillows and baby quilts.
Anyway, (finally getting to the finished project), here is the quilt I finished this time last year:
The pattern is based on a pineapple, which I am very fond of.
I tried a ‘new’ quilting technique with this quilt – the stitching inside the pineapples looks like the pattern on a pineapple, rather than following the contours of the applique.
I use wool batting or organic cotton and bamboo batting, for a medium loft and an old-fashioned feel.
Felicity loved this quilt. She refused to get off it as I took pictures. I think she was aware of how pretty she looked on it!
It looks very nice on our bed too…but I gave it away to the newborn son of some dear friends of mine, another Hawaiian-Kiwi couple.
I hand sew the binding on too!
Brilliant. I’ve been working on a hawaiian pillow top (actually, not working on is more accurate) for almost 2 years. I’m planning to start a ukulele case soon and love the pineapple pattern. Where did you get your pattern?
Thanks! I know how you feel about ‘not working on it’. My latest quilt has been dragging on for 3 years – long past the baby it was intended for.
I actually make my own patterns for my quilts. It was something I learned to do as a kid. There is a bit of a ‘thing’ amongst Hawaiian quilters about whether you should share patterns or not. I think Hawaiian quilting is such a dying art that anything that spreads it should be encouraged.
For your patterns, there are some books of patterns. Try Elizabeth Root’s ‘Hawaiian Quilting: Instructions and Full-Size Patterns for 20 blocks’
I actually have that book and am using the pineapple pattern for a quilted ukulele case. The detail in your pattern is lovely.
Still haven’t finished the pillow, though there’s probably less than 4 hours of stitching left…
I love your little Hawaiian quilt so much that I have pinned it on my board! Very beautiful and obviously made with love. I mostly machine sew and quilt but I too have some side hand work that will take forever I am sure. I totally understand your fetish.
Your quilt is very nice. You did a beautiful job. Love your cat also!
I have wanted to something like this so seeing your quilt has spurred me along!
Thanks for sharing.
Hello, do you sell them?
It takes hundreds of hours to make a Hawaiian quilt, so if I charged standard skilled handsewing rates it would be over $10,000 for even a baby quilt. So if you are willing to pay that I’m happy to, but otherwise no!
Love the soft colours of this one. Very lovely.
Love this quilt, can you tell me where i could find this pattern?
Thanks! This is my own personal pattern, so it’s not available anywhere.
I love this quilt! I come from a mixed family of Hawaiians and Mennonites and I learned to knit and quilt from my Mennonite grandmother and aunt. It only recently occurred to me I could probably translate some of that skill and explore some of my Hawaiian heritage
Anyways, just wanted to say this quilt has inspired me to move Hawaiian quilting from my future-projects pile to my current projects pile. I figure I can put in sneak in some hand sewing hours in between cosplay projects and on planes/in lines.