Wanna Kawandi?

Earlier this year, I was introduced to kawandi for the first time. Upon coming across a picture of one of these quilts, I was captivated by its beauty. Learning about the materials used to create them, I realized it was a craft that suited my preferences because they are commonly crafted from leftover fabric and vintage saris. Can these be anymore upcycled? 😍

While I did not have had any old saris, I do have a treasure trove of leftover fabric and scraps that I was eagerly excited to use. The first thing I did was cut the fabric into squares and separate them into several piles. I figured this would make it easier to select the squares that I would be needing.

When trying out this new technique for the first time, I decided to begin with a project smaller than a quilt. I decided to sew a long trivet or hot pad suitable for a casserole dish. For the backing, I repurposed an old black bed sheet by cutting it into a rectangular piece of the desired final size for the trivet.

The distinctive feature of constructing a kawandi is that it is sewn from the outer edges inward. Prior to securing the squares in position, I experimented with them to determine the pieces to be used on the outer border, or perimeter.

After positioning the squares, the perimeter edges needed to be folded underneath and pressed. Subsequently, one side of each square had to be folded under, creating an overlapping edge for the next square. There was no need to be concerned about the other edge as the following square would conceal it. The pieces were then pinned onto the black sheet and stitched around all outer edges about a 1/4-inch in. This resulted in the creation of a pocket where an old dish towel was inserted instead of batting. I appreciated the opportunity to repurpose the towel, which not only added weight and thickness to the trivet but also enhanced its sustainability.

After completing the initial step, the next task involved stitching a spiral pattern of parallel lines with a 1/4 to 1/2-inch gap between each line. I repeated this process until reaching approximately an inch and a half from the bottom of the original squares. Then, I proceeded to attach additional squares around the perimeter using the same method until the entire surface was covered with squares.

In order to finish this trivet, I cut an additional piece from the black bedsheet that was 1-1/2 inches longer on every side of the kawandi. This allowed me to fold it in and form a binding for a polished appearance. I also attached my sewing tag to the backing. 😉

Here's a little extra sparkle I sprinkled on the trivet. I take presentation very seriously, as you can see! 😁

It is fulfilling its purpose here and I am enjoying the Dr. Suess vibe.

Because I so enjoyed making the trivet, I decided to make an oversized potholder.

After that, I created a decorative pillow.

So, you wanna make a kawandi piece, huh? Well, it's not exactly rocket science, but it is time consuming. Still, the end result is beautiful to me, so it's worth it. I mean, maybe I'll whip up a cute baby quilt using this technique someday, but making a ginormous king-sized one for my own bed? Nah, that's where I draw the line! Who's got time for that, am I right? 🤪

This Week’s Tea Spilling

Have you ever had something that you wouldn't mind if it broke accidentally? Well, that happened to me this past Monday and I ended up feeling upset in the end. When my mother passed away, one of the items I brought back home was a set of (3) Corningware casserole dishes with lids. I managed to stack (2) of the lids perfectly, but the third one was always unstable. While I was far from the cupboard where they were kept, I witnessed that glass lid falling from the top shelf, hitting the countertop, bouncing, and eventually shattering into pieces on the tiled kitchen floor. Although I fixed the stacking issue, it saddened me to think that my mother had owned that set since the late 50s or early 60s, and despite surviving the long journey from NH to FL, one of the lids broke after just over 2 years in my possession. I will still use the dish itself, but only for food that doesn't require heat retention. 😟

I’ll be back next Wednesday to show you what I’ve been working on. Hope you’ll stop by again for a visit.

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