Ethnographic Quilt, Close-Up

I showed you my "Museum" or "Ethnographic" quilt more in a survey recently; now, as I proceed, I like to give you some close looks which probably make your hair stand up about the irregularities of my stitching. Actually, I don't plan, but improvise; I don't iron, but fold and press the edge with my fingernails; I keep it on my lap or on a small wooden board which you can see in some of the pictures when I find it a nuissance to cut up my thread because it went through the tablecloth.

I enlarge the quilt by adding strips as a support for
the new piecing

Instead of ironing small scraps, I fold them by sharpening

the crease with a fingernail.

Looks almost like ironed. But I did not burn my fingers.

As you see, the edges are very irregular and torn, they
need an equalizing strip.

Fine steel pins are indispensable for this technique.

I connect the pieces with very small, bead-like stitches.

These bridges are split by another seam for a 3D-effect. They
also make the whole piece more flexible.

Sometimes I added very small appliqué bits which become
3D when surrounded by quilting stitches.

Here, I integrated the appliqué into the print on the fabric.

Very small scraps can be used in this mosaic piecing.