As winter approaches, the desire for warmth and comfort in our homes naturally increases. For those of us who cherish the gentle sway of a rocking chair, enhancing that cozy experience becomes a delightful pursuit. Inspired by the need to ward off winter drafts in her living room, Mary, rocking peacefully in her favorite chair, embarked on a charming quilting project: rocking chair back quilts. This article delves into the creative process of crafting these unique quilts, perfect for adding both warmth and a touch of handcrafted artistry to your rocking chair haven.
Comfortable rocking chairs inviting relaxation.
The Inspiration Behind the Rocking Chair Quilts
Like many inspiring craft projects, this one began with a spark of creativity at a workshop. Mary attended Ami Simms’ ‘String Quilting’ workshop, an event that ignited the idea for these cozy creations. String quilting, a technique known for its scrappy and visually interesting patterns, became the foundation for the rocking chair quilts. During the workshop, Mary expertly crafted strip sets, each carefully composed of varying widths of fabric strips. These sets, featuring a combination of 1″, 1.5″, and 2″ strips alongside a solid strip, were ingeniously designed to create blocks for the quilt fronts. Each strip set yielded four perfectly matched 8″ square blocks, ideal for the intended design. Demonstrating resourcefulness and minimizing waste, the remaining strip sets were thoughtfully reserved to be used as quilt backings.
Close-up of quilt backs showcasing fabric and quilting details.
Selecting Fabrics and Materials
The choice of materials played a crucial role in achieving the desired aesthetic and warmth. Mary opted for 100% cotton fabrics, a classic choice for quilting due to its breathability and durability. The print fabrics were charming leftovers, treasures from the Stitcher’s Exchange table at the quilt guild, adding a touch of serendipity and sustainability to the project. Complementing these prints was Moda Marbles Hunter green fabric, chosen for its rich color and quality. The color palette, featuring orange, rust, and brown hues in the prints, was deliberately selected to echo the warm and inviting colors of autumn oaks, the very inspiration for the quilting design. For the batting, Pellon ‘Natures Touch’ 100% cotton batting was chosen, ensuring a soft, natural, and cozy feel to the finished quilts.
The Art of Quilting: Techniques and Details
The quilting process brought the rocking chair quilts to life, adding texture and visual interest. The striped triangles of the quilt blocks were quilted with a simple yet effective stitch-in-the-ditch technique, utilizing a walking foot for even stitching and to secure the layers. However, the solid sections of the quilt provided a canvas for more elaborate free motion quilting. Inspired by the autumn oak theme, Mary chose an oak leaf pattern for the free motion quilting, stitching intricate leaves that evoke the beauty of fall foliage.
Detailed view of free motion quilting showcasing an oak leaf design.
Each quilted leaf is unique, reflecting the natural variation found in real oak leaves. To achieve this level of detail, Mary collected fallen oak leaves during November, carefully drying and flattening them under books. She then sorted these leaves by size, selecting the most aesthetically pleasing ones to serve as quilting templates.
An oak leaf template used for quilting, showcasing natural shapes.
The oak leaf templates were affixed to the quilt top using double-sided basting tape, ensuring they stayed in place during the quilting process. Quilting around each leaf, Mary then added echo quilting lines and stitched in the leaf ribs after removing the template, creating depth and dimension. Sun rays were marked with chalk to add another layer of design to the solid sections. A practice piece helped refine the technique for quilting straight lines in a triangle without breaking thread, demonstrating a commitment to precision and efficiency.
Practice quilting piece demonstrating the sequence for quilting straight lines and oak leaves.
Autumn Oaks Rocking Chair Quilts: A Cozy Creation
The finished rocking chair quilts, aptly named “Autumn Oaks,” are a testament to Mary’s creativity and quilting skills. They perfectly blend functionality with artistic expression, providing warmth and comfort while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the rocking chairs. This project, born from a need for cozy comfort and inspired by nature’s beauty, serves as a wonderful example of how everyday items can be transformed into handcrafted treasures. As Mary continues to enjoy rocking in comfort, enveloped in the warmth of her handmade quilts, the “Autumn Oaks” rocking chair quilts stand as a symbol of cozy, handcrafted living.
The completed Autumn Oaks rocking chair quilts, displaying the full design and cozy appeal.
This project was also Mary’s first contribution to FDQ’s UFO (Unfinished Objects) challenge, showcasing the satisfaction of completing and sharing creative endeavors.
