Ke Alahou, Volume I, Number 6, 1 May 1980 — Hawaiian Quilting [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian Quilting

liy Elizabeth Akana

The Waianae quilt show was a tremendous success with a crowd of about 1,000 people drifting in and out. It brought togethermanybeautifu! quiltsand fine quilters too. There was also the opportunity to add new patterns to your collection by copying any or all the over 40 pillow and quilt patterns laid out for copying. WaianaeLibrary hasacollectionof over3oo quilt patterns that ean be.copied at any time for free. There was a!so a continuous Hawaiian quilting demonstration being put on by Deborah Kakalia, who is a real master. "Auntie" Debbie showed how to create a pattern in the kapa lau stylē (the overall design in a single applique). how to applique or overcast (in Hawaiian: humu wilī or kawih'] and finally how to do the beautiful quilting or kuiki. "Auntie" Debbie suggested that it is not necessary to use white quilting thread for all your quiling but sometimes the same color thread as your fabrics is just as appropriate. Her idea is to give eaeh quilter a little more freedom for self-expression, after all the

early Hawaiians used onty w r hite thread because that is all they had. I was able to copy a few patterns myself and have chosen the Baby Woodrose pat'tern to share with you. How to start: 1) Make a copy of the pattern and cut it out. fabrics - you will need 3 4 yards eaeh of two contrasting colors; 3 4 yard of muslin; 3 4 yard of bonded polyesterbattmg in 3.5 ounee weight ormore Fabric mustbe at least 45" (inches] wide and shouldbe in a broadcloth weight. 100% cotton broadcloth is always safe to use for your first project. 2) Cut fabric chosen for the applique into an 18" square. Fo!d fabric in ha!f (see diagram #I], then fold in half (again see diagram #2), now bring the folds together with a diagonal fold (see diagram #3] - be sure all folds are even. The center is at the point where the folds all meet, This is called the piko. 3) Plaee pattern on fabric so the centers match and the straight side of your pattern is on the straight side

of your fabric and the bias of your pattern is one bias of your fabric [see diagram #4). 4] Pin pattern in plaee and cut out. 5) Fo!d background fabric in same manner and iightly press. Unfold. 6} Lay cut out pattern on background folds as guide to keep pattern straighl - be sure to lay the straight of the applique fabric onto the straight of the background fab.ric. 7] Pin and baste securely about V:" inside of applique. Appliquing or Kawili: 1) Use a #8 sharp neeile for appliquing. # 2] Start c!ose to the center and use short overcast stitches turning under about Ve" to Vi" of the edge. Use the side of your needle to gently coax under edge. 3) Stitch around entire edge of your applique design. Note: a blind stitch ean be used or a fancy embroidery stitch ean be used to do the appjique. Next time I will go inlo detail on how to quilt.