Monday, January 22, 2018

Shibori Dragon, Sashiko Stitching, Kaffe Facett Fabric in Border Units

Beautiful Japanese fabric and Japanese utility garments on display.

Examples of Japanese vintage utility garments collected by the owner.

This is a close up of shashiko stitching on the long jacket.

The Shibori Dragon quilt shop was friendly and well stocked!

The Shibori Dragon Quilt Shop, University Place, WA.

My stitched and pressed units for my improvised border.

Trimming up border units with KF fabric, batik and Tim Holtz fabric.

My butterfly quilt top finished with three borders.

Winter in our neighborhood.


Hello from the Pacific NW, where we are staying with family, helping out and doing a little sightseeing on the side.

Last Saturday we visited  The Shibori Dragon Quilt Shop in University Place, WA west of Tacoma.
I saw their display in a local sewing and craft show last fall and I didn't realize they were so close until I found their web site. The shop is 45 min south/west of Renton, where we are staying. 

There was everything you could want in a quilt shop and a large collection of Asian fabric and Japanese specialty fabric. The owner grew up in Japan, military family, and she had beautiful Japanese dolls and utility garments on display with wonderful shashiko stitching on them in the shop.
I made a pest of myself oohing and aahing and asking questions. If you are ever in the area, you must stop in!

I finished my small butterfly quilt top. As I was finishing piecing the borders I was thinking of working with units as Maria Shell talks about in her book, 'Improv Patchwork Dynamic Quilts Made with Line and Shape'. When I'm improvising, it's easier to get the process under control when I'm focusing on units. She's got good ideas for design.

I'm linking up with Kaja and Ann for AHIQ 29, where sharing of the 'improvising' sort happens.
Stop by for inspiration and to share your projects. Thanks Kaja and Ann for hosting.

That's news from the shire where I'm remembering to share a smile.
Have a good week and I'll be by to visit.