Sunshine and Shadow: Manx log cabin coverlet

It would be nice to write about all the things I made this year before the end of the year is up! 

One of the makes I'm most proud of, I finished in early autumn and it had been a while in the making. I started making this coverlet when Jenni Smith taught the Manx log cabin technique at Stitch Gathering in 2019.

This traditional technique involves measuring and ripping fabric strips by hand, folding and sewing the blocks by hand and sewing them together front and then back. I made all the blocks by hand, sewed the fronts together on the machine and then hand sewed the back of the blocks. 

My previous posts detail the process and my decisions a little more. I used fabric, mostly scraps, from my stash for the blocks. The centre squares are metallic Essex linen. A lot of the backing fabrics were bought for this coverlet though because I wanted to use woven fabrics, there's some shot cotton and lots of gorgeous Robert Kaufman Fabrics - yarn dyed, herringbone and gingham. 

I did think about doing a normal quilt binding, I wasn't sure I could be bothered with the traditional butted edge. I guess this is like a knife-edge but there's no sewing around the edges or trimming of wadding required like there is with a quilt, so technically I don't know what it's really called. Anyway, I did decide to finish it by hand the traditional way. I turned the edges under 1/4" and did a ladder stitch closure.

The whole thing is far from perfect and, to me, that's what makes it so absolutely wonderful. It's not about being precise, it's so personal and handmade.

I arranged the blocks in a traditional Sunshine and Shadow layout. There's no doubt that I will make another Manx log cabin at some point, next time with a different layout. I love this though. The pink, mint and navy are quite dramatic and give it a modern look.

Big thanks to my youngest for being such a good helper with these shots!

Here's the back. You can see how the light shine though the centres of the block, where there's just two layers of fabric.

A close up of the quilt label I made last year. I did try to make the 1 into a 2 but it didn't really work! That'll teach me for counting my chickens before the coverlet is hatched!

Pretty pictures of it draped on the tree, just because.

The texture is what makes this so different and special. It's still warm like a quilt but so light. It's tactile in such a lovely way and this is my favourite make to date.

I really hope this one is treasured and my family keeps it long after I'm gone. Knowing my house though, I'll have to make another one because this one will get worn out; being loved and used, as it should be.

It's funny that I'm writing this as I sit in the living room where I spent so much time with my Nan, given my last post. I'm currently visiting my Dad and since I can't go to sleep before around midnight, I thought I'd stay up and try to catch up on writing about things I've made this year. There's a few more posts I'm hoping to cram in before 2023, stay tuned!