Chit Chat:

This week’s chit chat is a catch up of my sewing, quilting and knitting projects. I also shared my list of clothing patterns I want to make for my spring and summer wardrobe.

Cashmerette Patterns
- Concord T-shirt: knit T-shirt
- Cedar Dolman Top: woven short sleeved top
- Webster Top: Silk fabric kit I have had for many years just waiting to be made
Helen’s Closet Patterns
- York Pinafore: Tank dress with large armholes made for layering over shirts and leggings
Made by Rae Patterns
- Rose Pants: Cropped length wide leg pants perfect for lightweight fabrics

I ordered a small spool set of Aurifil 12 wt set of thread from Kate and The Last Homely House . I have not received it yet, and I cannot wait to see these beautiful brightly colored threads that will stand out beautifully hand quilted or embroidered.

What I am Watching:

Puff Quilts: Historic to Contemporary

I begin this segment with a contemporary story of a custom made puff quilt that ASAP Rocky wore to the 2021 Met Gala Awards. It was inspired by a thrift shop find by the up and coming clothing designer Eli Russel Linnetz, who designed Rocky’s haute couture suit and puff quilt cape.

Puff Quilt Cape on ASAP Rocky at 2021 Met Gala

The first documented biscuit quilts were around 1882. They were commonly made of silk, satin and velvet fabrics and were filled with cotton or wool fiber.

Antique biscuit puff quilts

Smithsonian c. 1880-1914

Civil War Puff Quilt for Sara Polk c. 1880

Hand pieced c. 1880, IQM

1930 Baby Puff quilt - Satin

There was a resurgence in popularity of the biscuit quilts in the 1970s. The fill commonly used at this time was repurposed pantyhose, which also made for lump uncomfortable quilts, however, also around this time, polyester fiber fill started being used to fill these now called “Puff Quilts”. Puff quilts are soft, fluffy and very comfortable to sleep under and cozy up with.

This pattern book was published in 1976. It has a lot of puff quilt pattern designs.

Contemporary Puff Quilts of recent years have the same look and structure of the ones from decades ago. However, fabrics and color palettes are updated, and fiber fills are softer and fluffier with different fiber blends now available. Another update is the way the quilt is put together. Instead of making completely finished puff blocks (like a pillow), block tops and bottoms are sewn together on three sides and then sewn together into columns. The blocks are stuffed with poly fill as the columns are sewn together. This is a much more efficient way to construct the quilt. No matter what technique you prefer to use it looks like a really fun quilt to make.