What's in the bag? What's next?

With the Morrell top finished (it's away being quilted) and being all caught up with the CCCQ I've been casting about for a new project. 

What's in the bag?

After the complexity of the Morrell I thought I would do something *simple, like the Swoon quilt...

...but then I thought my Comfort quilt is relatively *simple. This quilt has now moved from my design floor to my design wardrobe (must do something about having a design wall!).

The Comfort Quilt blocks 1 - 10

This beauty that is currently all over the blogosphere, creating a lot of well-deserved excitement, almost had me entwined entrapped. 

I signed up to the group and even downloaded the first pattern. However with Love Entwined I was more taken by the fact that it was a shared project on the internet and that it would be a quilt to learn from and develop skills (the pieces are so tiny!) rather than falling for the actual design but you never know I may return to it one day.

So whilst I was dithering about with possible fabrics and colours for Love Entwined I came across a pattern that I had been contemplating for some time and actually had it on

my list for 2013 that I devised back in January. 

Can you guess?

So what's in the bag? 

One of these Clover tools to make 1000 inches of binding - yikes!

And some yummy chocolate fat quarters and cream background from Kaye's for the binding...

... and an Irene Blanck pattern which is her interpretation of an antique quilt that was made in England and ended up here in Australia. 

Have you guessed yet?

It's 'Auntie Green's Garden'. 

The interesting story of the original 'Auntie Green's Coverlet' is on the Australian National Quilt Register. According to this source the coverlet was made in England by Auntie Green somewhere between 1860 and 1880.

'Auntie Green's Coverlet' images from the National Quilt Register

Auntie Green made the quilt 1860-1870 and gave it to Auntie Annie (Mrs Kirby) who took it to New Zealand when she went there to get married. She (and the quilt)travelled in a windjammer round the Horn somewhere between 1870-1880.  When her husband died Mrs Kirby returned to England bringing the quilt with her. There were further travels and the quilt finally ended up here in Melbourne in the 1920's. I'm finding the history behind quilts so interesting, I wonder if this original coverlet can still be seen somewhere?

I will also be able to do a class for this quilt with Irene at the end of the month (yay!) so off to do some homework. It'll also be good to have some hand sewing ready so that I don't have to face the bus commute 'alone' next week.

* I don't believe any quilt is simple.