Batik Geese

quilts
A large square quilt draped over a porch railing. The quilt is bright jewel-toned batiks in pinks and blues and greens and yellows especially on a black background. Bigger triangles form diamond shapes around central black diamonds that are set in multi-colored batik squares.

Years created: 2017-2018
Piecing technique: machine
Quilting technique: hand
Summary: I don’t have a name for this quilt, but the base block is one I’d call “Big Goose, Little Goose” (there may be a name I’m blanking on). It’s just that, repeated and arranged so the big geese form diamonds and the little ones form up around them. I saw a photo online and felt inspired by the idea. I started it in Indiana and finished after moving to PA. It was a trade to a friend for a 1913 Singer treadle sewing machine which had been in the family for several generations. Her house and aesthetic really give off “jewel tone” and I was inspired by the vibrancy of these batiks. While they’re washed out in a few pictures, I think you can pick it up from all the photos I’ve included here. The pieced back includes wool scraps we found in the drawers of the treadle’s cabinet. They appear to be from men’s trousers which someone had hemmed.. Also a 2018 selfie of me.

A pieced top hanging in my 2018 sewing room. It has diamonds in squares in diamonds with rich batiks alternating with black background. The indoor lighting makes some of the darker batiks contrast poorly with the black background but the yellow is quite rich.

The quilt hung on the deck to show its back. The back is black but a skinny T cuts it into two medium and one large segment. The T is pieced from long, thin strips cut off the hems of men’s trousers. You can see intense diamond quilting.

A closeup of the hanging unfinished quilt. You can make out some of the dark purples better than in the distant picture when they blend with the black.

An outdoor closeup of the quilted top. Black quilting stitches are visible in batik squares.

An outdoor closeup of the quilted top focused on just one diamond’s pattern with a black diamond set in batik square set in black diamond set in batik diamond. Black quilting stitches are visible in batik squares.

A selfie of me, with shoulder-length brown hair and skinny-framed glasses. I’m in front of the quilt, wearing a hat and looking at the camera with a slight smile.

A segment of the quilt in a round lap hoop. The partial quilting is somewhat visible against bright batiks.

A view of the quilt lying on the floor with visible batting.