Revisiting My Grandma's Quilt - Getting Started with Block 1
My Grandma's Quilt is one of Freda's earlier designs and was originally stitched on 28 count Jobelan (evenweave).
Over the next few months, I will be restitching this design on both 24 count Congress Cloth and 18 count Mono Canvas. I'll be sharing lots of photos and my insights as a stitch this design on the larger count fabrics.
Please join us in our private Facebook group - Freda's Fancy Stitchers to follow along as this lovely piece is restitched on both 24 count Congress cloth and 18 count mono canvas.
Contemplating Threads
The original design was stitched with 2 strands of overdyed silk floss. With the larger count fabric, some thought will need to be given regarding the thread coverage on the canvas. 2 strands of silk likely won’t cover enough on the congress cloth and definitely won’t be enough on the mono canvas.
Do I move up to a Perle 8 or 5?
Do I increase the stranded silk to 3 or 4 or 5 strands?
How will different types of threads change how the design looks? I would like to keep the design looking as close as possible to the original on the larger counts.
I have laid out a selection of Caron Watercolours and DMC Perle #5 skeins with the original Gloriana Silk threads that are called for in the pattern. I'll add different threads as I continue through the blocks. It will be fun to try these stitches with different types of floss - Threadworx, Chameleon Threads, Cottage Garden Threads, Caron threads, etc.
** Gloriana threads are harder to get … but they are GORGEOUS!
Block 1 - 18 Count Monocanvas
I am going to jump right in with block 1A and will be testing the following threads on the 18 count mono canvas:
- DMC Perle 5
- DMC Perle 8
- Caron Watercolours (one strand is equivalent to a perle 5),
- Gloriana Silk floss - 3 and 4 strands
I am looking for two things:
1 - thread coverage on the canvas
2 - how do the stitches look when compared to the original sample on 28 count Jobelan.
I happen to have some of the Gloriana threads that the design was originally stitched in my stash and will use those for my practice stitches. I could easily use any stranded floss, but since I have these partial skeins, this is a good time to use them up.
Caron Watercolours give very good coverage.
I really like the coverage with the 4 strands of silk floss. This looks like the closest match to the original design (see picture below).
The top of this block is DMC perle #5 and the bottom is DMC Perle #8. I like the coverage of the perle 5 better.
At some point I will talk more about dye lots - especially in relation to Gloriana, Caron and any of the sampler threads (Weeks, Gentle Arts, etc) - dyelots can be very different!
At this point, I like the 3 strands of silk floss the best. I will try another sample with 4 strands of floss.
Block 1 - 24 Count Congress Cloth
For this block I am going to start with the stranded silks. The perle 5 is definitely too heavy for the 24 count. I will do another test block with a perle 8 - but I really like the look of the stranded silk. The strands lay nice and flat and the sheen of the silk looks and feels more like the original.
The big question is: How many strands give me the optimal coverage? This question is subjective as it really is a personal preference. Do you like to see some of the canvas peeking out? Or do you prefer a more solid look?
I stitched 2 different blocks - one with 2 strands of floss and one with 3 strands of floss. I like the coverage with 3 strands the best. 3 strands also looks the closest to the original sample (see picture below).
In addition to the Gloriana silk, I will be testing some different colours and brands. I had a partial skein of Chameleon stranded silk on hand so used that for this block.
For comparison, this is the original sample of My Grandma's Quilt - block 1, stitched on 28 count Jobelan.
Note - I am stitching over 2 threads as the pattern calls for on both the 18 and 24 count fabrics. I am using a laying tool! Especially with 3 strands- the threads need to lay nice and flat.
On to block 2!