Clean Slate - for ProjectQUILTING 17.1

Although I had little hope of joining Season Seventeen’s first project, the planets aligned to make it happen. We traveled over the holidays, returning on Wednesday of this week. After a 2:15 a.m. wake-up call to catch our flight, followed by 14 hours of sleep, Thursday brought the ideal opportunity to jump on board.

Challenge 17.1 for Project QUILTING highlights Pantone Color of the Year, CLOUD DANCER. Okay, so that’s really WHITE. A returning shopper in my Etsy Shop requested a white/off-white coiled rope basket to replace her previous one after changing the decor in her home. I’m off to achieve two ends with a single effort!

I want to give a huge shout-out to Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams and Trisha Frankland of Quilt Chicken. Project QUILTING is just the inspiration to be creative during the darkest, coldest months of the year. These challenges encourage our creative minds. These adventures push us to go off the beaten track, give a new technique a whirl, explore our stash, and feel accomplished for creating and completing.

THE PLAN

A quilt is defined as two layers of fabric stitched together with a layer of batting between. Using clothesline as the batting and wrapping the rope on all sides, this qualifies as a QUILT!

Here’s the original clothesline basket my Etsy shopper purchased several years ago. She would like one approximately this same size and shape.

No shopping trip was required! I pulled these white-on-white, batiks, white-on-off white, and textured whites from my stash. I save EVERYTHING…we did pay for the entire yard after all.

THE CONSTRUCTION

Using a rotary cutter and roller, an assortment of strips is cut 3/4 inch wide. I cut these on the straight of the grain. Coiled rope baskets are a great way to use every inch of fabric purchased. Leftover bindings and scraps created when squaring up a quilt make great basket strips.

The clothesline is wrapped with the fabric strips. Although the color looks much the same as the rope color, wrapping does make a big difference in the finished project. Functionally, t adds durability and structure to the finished project. Aesthetically, it adds a subtle color change and texture.

My trusty BERNINA Patchwork 140 will sew through ANYTHING! This cotton clothesline with a 100-weight needle stitches the bottom of the basket.

With the bottom completed, the project is turned to create sides. The smaller the ‘head’ of the machine, the easier it is to tip up and stitch. (apologies for the dark photo…the shadow makes it look darker than it is.)

THE FINISHED PROJECT

This basket finished with a 4 X 8-1/2 base and 6 X 12 inch top opening.

This basket is off to its new home, but others can be found in my Etsy Shop. I’m happy to do special orders if you need special colors or sizes.

I’m linked up to the challenge here.

Published by Sally Manke, Fiber Artist

Sally Manke's mission is to delight others with textile art that exemplifies her passion for joyful, creative expression through color and texture. She is a speaker, teacher, pattern designer, and fiber artist. Contact her to book a workshop or trunk show at this link. Visit her Etsy Shop at www.sallymanke.etsy

Sally is a brand Ambassador for BERNINA USA. All stitching on this project was completed on a BERNINA 140 PATCHWORK.