If I made the red courthouse steps quilt that is featured in Kaffe Fassett\’s \”Passionate Patchwork\” book with my own chartreuse center and red logs, would that count? Or am I just copying a quilt that I like? Would a twist like gradiating the greens down the quilt make it \”different enough?\”

Thank you for writing Amy. Just this morning I answered Juliann’s same question (comment just above yours) and I think that within my answer you will find that: no, it has not all been done, nor will it ever be completely explored because we each bring our own unique background, our own unique life experience, and our own unique thoughts to the process of contemplating what we like and don’t like about how something was done in the past.

The way you love the red courthouse steps quilt that Kaffe Fassett made, BUT, you can see the possibilities in changing the green fabrics makes you different from him. Those thoughts come from your own unique view of the quilt and they have inspired you to try it for yourself, but with a little different twist. That is exactly the process Kaffe Fassett utilized when he came up with his version that you admire so much. So, you can see that the design process, within traditional formats, goes on and on.

I am not familiar with the quilt you have described, however, I can give you a bit of advice on assessing the answer for yourself: As for entering a contest with your version of the courthouse steps, that depends on how different it looks when the quilt is complete. If Kaffe Fassett’s quilt is still recognizable in your version, then it is not different enough for quilt competition. If you don’t think it will be different enough, you may want to think of the possibilities of changing it in another way to give the traditional courthouse steps your own unique twist on a traditional and classic format.

About your question of a quilt having to be \”so perfect\” to enter a show, workmanship does count a great deal in competition and often is a tie-breaker in judging. So, it is wise to do your best work on a quilt you plan to enter competition.

However, since returning from Houston I have been working steadily on a pieced traditional quilt. It has plenty of flaws because I did not make it with an eye toward competition, but it is nice and I am now hand quilting it. I plan to enter it next year in Houston not because it is likely to win, it probably will not, but because I would like to share what I have done. Quilt contests are also quilt shows and not every quilt can win, nor should they. To me, showing and sharing what you have made is equal in merit to winning the contest.

Thanks again for writing. I hope my comments help.

Jeana

Thank you for commenting Juliann and for your thoughtful questions. With your permission I have given your question a few days of thought and I will try to answer here.

In the world of design there are certain combinations of design elements that have been repeated in many mediums and in many arrangements such as tile work, wood carvings and textile design for many centuries. Because they are logical combinations and visually appealing in whatever century they are viewed they are considered classic.

In the nineteenth century women making quilts looked to those classic forms for inspiration and from there they explored more possibilities in sewing fabric to make appealing quilt designs using those same design elements.

Following the dictates of human nature, I am sure that the average nineteenth century quiltmaker looked at the quilts her neighbors, friends, and family were making, assessed the appeal of those design to her, and put together new and different combinations using similar elements to make a uniquely individual quilt for herself. She had taken her neighbors’ ideas and pattern combinations to a new level while still using classic elements that are \”in the public domain.\” (All pieced patterns are considered \”in the public domain\” because no one can prove their first use as having been their own invention.)

Traditional quilts are made up of classic (and in the public domain) design elements. They are usually assembled in traditional quilt formats, meaning repeated blocks sewn together with or without sashing and surrounded by a border.

In applique there are certain formats, or the way the design of a block is formed, that are classic, such as a typical Rose Wreath. The format (wreath) is classic but the roses arranged there is where \”new\” comes into play. What those roses/flowers look like and how they are placed on the wreath make it a new version of a traditional pattern.

The same holds true with piecing. The format is classic, but the fabrics chosen, how they are combined and arranged on the chosen format, and then set together will make it a \”new\” traditional variation. Thus you can see that there is plenty of room for experimentation within the \”traditional quilt\” classification in both piecing and in applique.

I hope this answers your question and encourages you to try something new in the traditional vein.

Jeana

Love to you & all your family,
Shirl

I never entered a quilt show, but just sent off my first quilt to the Fons and Porter baby quilt contest. I tried applying what I learned from you in June. I wish you were one of the judges! Keep your fingers crossed for me. They will announce the winners on the 22 of October.

Until then, I’ve got to get back to the quilt I’m hoping to get pieced and quilted by Christmas 200?. There’s still time for this Christmas right?

i, too, have noticed a huge decrease in traditional quilts and it makes me sad. i don\’t know why there are so many fewer entries for traditional quilts..but it really needs to change (don\’t look at me!).

your pictures are just lovely. are these quilts that you have made or own? i especially love the second one…very unique! and your children…your heart must swell. )

(((hugs))) to you, my friend!

Thank you Tracey for your kind comments. In answer to your question about the quilts shown with this post, they are both antique quilts. They are owned by a dear friend, Judy Roche, and they were first published in my book on hand quilting: the Revised Edition of Loving Stitches. The pieced quilt was made in 1863 by a Quaker quiltmaker in Philadelphia. The applique quilt is dated mid-19th century from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Both quilts beautifully illustrate that there is much exploration of pattern and design to be found in traditional quilts. 

And, yes, you could compete with your beautiful traditional quilts. My only word of advice is to quilt the dickens out of them. Hand quilted quilts compete against machine quilted quilts on an equal basis, thus there can never be too much quilting!

Jeana

Enjoy your time back at home, a well deserved rest!