Sense & Sensibility Patterns is a Great Source for your 1812 Quilt Show Dress

Sense & Sensibility Patterns - which specializes in Regency Era (War of 1812) re-enactment fashion patterns is a great resource for 1812 era fashions, so if you've had your eye on something from there to stitch up and wear for the 1812 Quilt Show, you'd better get over there and check it out! 


http://sensibility.com/category/patterns/regency-era/

The cottons of the1812 period were called muslin, but are actually much more light weight and more sheer than todayscottons and totally different from the utility fabric we call muslin. For the beautiful dresses pictured smooth cotton lawn, light batiste or fine silk are acceptable choices. Period silks were lightweight but stiff. Good quality dupioni or shantung can be a reasonable substitute, though they are more "slubby" and stiffer than period silks. I have had some success in gently laundering my silk to soften the hand. But the major difficulty is finding a period-equivalent 1812 fashion fabric at a reasonable price! 

So many beautiful dresses to sew and quilts to make!

Thank you all for following my blog over the past few months, have a safe and healthy New Year!  Chat more soon.

Would you like some Quilt Show Announcement Cards to pass around?

We have a new supply of 1812 Quilt Challenge Announcement Cards in stock and if you would like a few or a handfull to distribute to your quilting or re-enactor friends please send an email to lynette@seawaytrail.com with a note about how many you need and we will mail them out to you.  There is still time for others to also make a quilt for the March 17th and 18th  show.

In Honour of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencible Regiment

 The Glengarry Highlanders arrived in Upper Canada with their families in 1802-03. This was a military emigration, sending men who had served as soldiers to Upper Canada for the dual purpose of internal defense and settling the country.

Below is a snapshot of the quilt that Sheila from Kingston, Ontario is entering in the War of 1812 Quilt Challenge, she just finished it yesterday.   Her inspiration is the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencible Regiment.


 

MacDonnel of Glengarry is the clan tartan in the centre of the top half of her quilt.  This was the tartan of many of the men of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencible Regiment (War of 1812.)

Shelia imagined a Scots woman starting her medallion quilt in the Highlands with a scrap of tartan cloth, bringing her work-in-progress to her new home, and hurriedly adding a lower section in 1811-12. She couldn't get tartan in Upper Canada, so she did her best (in the medallion style she knew) with what was available.

Markham Towne Quilters are entering TEN quilts!

We recently chatted with Mary from the Markham Towne Quilters Guild near Toronto and are delighted to hear that they are entering ten (yes, TEN) 1812 style quilts! 

Mary is just finishing up this quilt which contains 10 sampler blocks plus 11 Stepping Stone set-in blocks. So excited to see the others too! Thank you Mary for sharing!

Help us to get the word out on the War of 1812 Quilt Show!

We currently have over 250 quilters and history buffs who sent in their Expression of Interest form, now it's time to start officially registering all those quilts. 

I had a lovely chat this morning with Mary from the Markham (Ontario) Quilt Guild and she informed me that her group is entering ten (yes, TEN) 1812 style quilts!  She promises to send photos soon (and I am "giddy" with anticipation) so keep watching this blog.   

Please click on the ad below then you can print it to pass out to all your friends and family to let them know about the War of 1812 Quilt Challenge.  Encourage them to make a quilt or just come spend the weekend!