Tirico - A New Dimension in Wool Appliqué - Baltimore Album Style: Visual Guide - Unique Embroidery

Publisher: Amy Marson

Creative Director: Gailen Runge

Editors: Monica Gyulai and Lynn Koolish

Technical Editors: Nan Powell and Amanda Siegfried

Cover/Book Designer: Page + Pixel

Production Coordinator: Zinnia Heinzmann

Production Editors: Jennifer Warren and Nicole Rolandelli

Illustrators: Tim Manibusan and Deborah Gale Tirico

Photo Assistant: Carly Jean Marin

Subject photography by Diane Pederson and instructional photography by Deborah Gale Tirico and Diane Pederson, unless otherwise noted

Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549

DEDICATION

To my husband and friend, Frank, who has supported me along every step of my stitching journey. Thanks for all the Sundays we dyed thread together, boxed and taped kits for shipping, and rearranged my studio. Thanks for enabling me to be true to my creative nature, even when it takes over the house.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my two FranksFrank James and Frank Lucawho help me with photography, video, dying, kit making, and countless errands that support me as a teacher, quilter, and author. My deepest thanks for having both of you in my life.

To my mom, my greatest fan and supporterthanks for continuing to be impressed with me and encouraging me with kind words, tight hugs, and gift certificates to Hancocks of Paducah. I love you, Mom.

To my friend Sophia, a talented graphic designer who illustrated my patterns and provided tons of support as she helped me navigate Adobe InDesign and Photoshopthanks, girl!

To my friend Susan, mistress of the word, who proofs my copy, helps me with name development, and shares the fun of chat over cocktailsthanks for all you have done to make this book possible.

To my Embroiderers Guild of America (EGA) colleagues who share their teaching and stitching lives with me, room with me at seminars, and make me laugh. Thank you, ladies!

To my community of stitchers, including my EGA chapter, Wyoming Valley; my quilt guild, PA Quilters; my pilot students; and my bestie Helene. Thanks for the various ways you all have inspired me with your creativity, your energy, and your absolute love of holding a needle.

My mom often tells me that I am lucky to have this stitching passion in my life and I simply say, I know, Mom!

Foreword

I am so glad my sister Deb has written this book on appliqud Baltimore Album quilts of the antebellum period of the American Civil War era. In A New Dimension in Wool AppliquBaltimore Album Style, Deb has combined her flair for design, her passion for history, and her signature appliqu techniques to give new life to designs and themes from a bygone time.

During the 1840s, Baltimore was a prosperous seaport and the center of a growing textile industry. The Baltimore Album quilt blocks were each crafted to reflect a slice of life at the timepaying homage to a soldier, a wedding celebration, or a babys birth, for example. Women, who were not yet allowed to vote, sometimes expressed their opinions and even showed their political leanings through their blocks.

For as long as I can remember, Deb has been adding flair to all her creations, including her sketches, drawings, illustrations, choreography, and, of course, embroidery and appliqu. When I was nine and she was eighteen, Deb showed me how to embroider my bell-bottom jeans. We made sunsets in the pocket stitching, added flowers to the fronts, and frayed the hems to reflect the haute couture of the 1970s.

In the pages ahead, you will take a journey through time (and talent). Enjoy the stories, admire the photos, follow the directions, and enjoy every stitch you take!

Robin Keil

Montclair, New Jersey

The author (left) and Helene Maszeroski prepare to march in a 2015 Saint Patricks Day parade with the Pennsylvania 81st Volunteer Infantry. They are fellow Civil War reenactors, history buffs, and stitching friends.

Introduction

I once bought a paperback pattern book at a tag sale in White Haven, Pennsylvania, entitled Baltimore Beauties and Beyond, by Elly Sienkiewicz. I paid 25 cents for this treasure, took home my new prize, and dove right in. I did not realize at the time that I would take a historic journey and ultimately become a part of the Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqu Academy for the next eight years.

I read every word in the book and was completely amazed at what was involved in turning a perfect corner in the craft of appliqu. That someone had taken such care in the pedagogy of breaking down that information for the interested needle artist simply amazed me. Over the next year I stitched many of the blocks in the book and thus began my journey into the world of Baltimore Album appliqu.

I fondly remember my first class experience at the academy with needle artist Jane Townswick. I was a complete beginner, and the women who surrounded me in class were infinitely more experienced. Over the next several days, these women took me under their collective wing and filled me with information, tools, threads, and techniques. This community, including Kristin Gowen, Shirley Bloomfield, and Darlene Neff, nurtured me as I became a serious student of the art of appliqu.

The following year at the academy, I took a class with Elly and asked her to sign my tag sale book. She wrote, Youll take Baltimore so beautifully beyond! I hope this book is her prophecy come true.

In this book youll find classic Baltimore Album designsmany from the antebellum periodtranslated into my signature style of wool appliqu and made into rugs, pillows, and pincushions. Through bold colors, black backgrounds, matching wool threads, and even a few beads and braids, I honor the legacy and history of the Baltimore Album in a modern and unique style.

In presenting these classic designs, I also include historical vignettes, as most of these designs had social, political, or familial significance when they originated.

It is my hope that this book will inspire stitchers to create these historic patterns and keep the historical legacy of hand sewing alive and well in America.

Happy stitching!

Deborah Gale Tirico

How to Use This Book

Whether you are new to felted wool appliqu or a seasoned stitcher, you will find inspiring projects and the instruction you need to make them in this visual guide. A New Dimension in Wool AppliquBaltimore Album Style was developed for those with various levels of stitching experience and includes detailed instructions and helpful tips so you can meet the challenges of each project.

Projects

This book is separated into three sections: table rugs, pillows, and smalls, which includes a sewing kit and pincushions. Each project has a difficulty rating, illustrated instructions, and all the patterns needed.

While all of these appliqu designs will add beauty to your life year round, some speak to particular seasons: Sincerely, Mary Simon features a beautiful spring bouquet basket that could grace your table with beautiful color just when flowers are blooming in the garden. Celebrare la Cornucopia is a perfect table topper for autumn and the fall holiday season.