As most of you know ~ I love the Mariners Compass pattern. I’ve had a lot of fun with it over the years because my drafting technique enables me (and everyone else) to make compasses in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Here are just a few:
They also can be used in non-quilted projects like clocks and umbrellas 😁:
My workshop starts with drafting a round compass, and then I encourage students to try other shapes. In a class at WCTC back in 2013 my friend Karen stitched one of those round compasses. During show and tell at a recent meeting of the Fabricators (my group of friends from Open Lab at WCTC), Karen said she had something to show me. Then she unfolded the quilt she started way back then! Beautiful!! I was thrilled!!!
She put the compass on the background with a corded piping technique (click here for a blog topic about it), and the narrow gold border is a flange. Karen has a longarm and wasn’t sure how to quilt around these areas ~ so she just quilted over them and it worked well!
On a related note, I received an email from Brenda a few weeks ago inviting me to teach for the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show this coming March 😊. We began discussing which workshops would best fit their show. Brenda mentioned that many members of their guild have been asking for garment classes, and she was wondering if I could teach compasses on garments. I told her that my 6 hour compass class works best in it’s current form because the students need that time to learn the basics. That’s when she mentioned how nice it would be if I had a garment with a compass on it, so students could see even more versatility. Hmm…
Life has been too crazy lately to take on a full jacket project, but what if I embellished a thrift store find? Mike and I decided to take a morning off and do a bit of thrifting, and I was thrilled with what I found.
The designs on the front would be great inspiration for the back.
I felt a 16 pointed oval compass would be too much – but 8 points would be fun!
Now to make the time to draft and stitch it! Stay tuned 😊.
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I decided to end this post with a pretty photograph. My friend Judy hosted our recent Fabricators gathering in her beautiful Victorian home in Waukesha. Not only were her home and gardens lovely, but just look at the treats she made for us:
Very pretty ~ and yummy too. Thanks Judy!
Laurie says
Chris,
So excited to read your blog today. I know Karen and her compass quilt is gorgeous! I think I know Judy too from our guild, WCTC and the Fabricators. Her treats look delicious and like a quilt pattern design. Judy does beautiful work, too.
I’m looking forward to your finished compass jacket for your Indiana Heritage Quilt Show class. I bet it’ll be phenomenal.
Good to hear the Fabricators are still together… Hi everyone!!🙋🏻♀️
Have a blessed day, Laurie N
judy raddatz says
Interesting topic. Love the various aspects. You never fail to inspire!
Judy Rosynek says
The jacket you found was absolutely beautiful. I just wanted you to know I finally got your blog.. thanks for the getting me back on .