quilt

Quilt (top) finished and taking Forest of Zine on tour

It took several months longer than I expected, but the quilt (top) is finished! I will get round to finishing the actual quilt at some point, but the quilt top is the main part and it gives me time to work out how I’m actually going to quilt it and let me work out how to create mossy margins around the edge. I can’t tell you how pleased I am with the quilt, I especially love the embroidered patch blocks contributed by 23 people 😀 It’s also difficult to explain what the quilt means to me, especially those contributions. I hope to be able to find the appropriate words when I make a zine about it.

The next step is to take the quilt on a cycle tour (the first of many?). This time from Aberystwyth to the Forest of Dean for International Zine Library Day on Sunday 21st July! I’ve planned my route, booked my campsites and now I need to contact some places along the way that I’d like to take the Forest of Zine to visit.

D-touring America – Craft

I did a lot of preparation for both the trip and the quilt that I was to embroider on the way. It’s to scale and shows where we stayed each night with different symbols for campsites, Warmshowers hosts (non-profit hospitality exchange service for people engaging in bicycle touring) and other accommodation. It didn’t quite turn out how I would have liked, but with goodness knows how many hours spent on it I have made my peace with having it up on the wall and showing it off when people come round, flaws and all (often, for me anyway, that’s just how craft/art goes). One day I might have the energy to tackle it again and make something I’m completely happy with.

bus taken through some of Mexico
Enclave Caracol, Tijuana
Trans-Canada train taken from Winnipeg to Jasper
“quilt” as it is currently. One day I might take it all apart again and ensure it’s smooth, but I think that’s very unlikely, so I’m getting used to it being like this and embracing all those crumples!
scale cut-outs
scale cut-outs with corresponding fabric
fabric cut to minimal size for tiny travel sized embroidery hoop
fabric in graduated colourings from purple (hottest – Trinidad and Tobago) through Red (Cuba and Mexico) and Orange (USA) to Yellow (coolest – Canada)