Basket Obsesson

Basket Block of Eggleston Quilt

For over a year now I have been obsessed with a basket block in a quilt on display at the Abby Aldrich Folk Art Museum in Colonial Williamsburg.  The Eggleston Quilt is spectacular and I plan on interpreting several of the blocks. However - this basket in particular has captured my imagination.  Intellectually, I could make an argument that the simplicity of the design appeals to my artistic sensibilities - or such like nonsense.  The truth is I just love it!  It's like a gesture drawing of a Baltimore-style block.

This weekend I finally had an opportunity to start my version of this block.  Since the block requires about 40 inches of one quarter inch bias, I decided to snap a few photos of how I choose to make and apply bias in order to share my technique with my blog readers.  There are dozens of ways to make bias and lots of gadgets.  What I am sharing with you is the method I enjoy because it's totally portable - no iron, no sewing machine, and no gadgets.  I can make bias anywhere that I can set up to hand stitch. 

To make 1/4" bias I use 3/4" masking tape as a "guide" to cut strips of fabric with my scissors.  Or, when cutting fabric for projects and I see fabric that is a good candidate for bias strips, I will use a rotary cutter and mat to cut and assortment of strips ranging from  1/2 " to 1" and then put them away for later use.
I fold the strip of bias into thirds in my hands and baste the fold.  The basting process goes very quickly and I was able to make all the bias needed for my basket in about 20 minutes while sitting in the living room with my husband watching TV.

Yes I know I can make this same bias in a fraction of the time using my sewing machine and iron.  However, I chose to do as much sewing as possible by hand and in the company of my family. For me it's relaxing and I love how soft and pliable the bias turns out.

I know the next question is going be "Do you back baste bias strips?"  The answer is "kind of."   I mark by entire pattern from the back in the manner of back basting.  However, I only mark a single line, down the middle to mark where a bias strip needs to go.  

I then baste on that pencil line from the back.  The basting line shows on the front and marks where the strip needs to go.  Again, yes, I know I can do this a lot faster using light box or an overlay or ...  This is how I chose to do it.  It's like zen stitching... just me and the fabric and a needle and a length of thread.

I then basted the bias strips in place.  The basket base is back basted in the usual manner.  Everything is perfectly placed.  I laid out and basted the bias strips on the block while enjoying the weather on the front porch. So relaxing.

Until next time,
Best stitches from Mercy in sunny Miami