Silk

When I visited Lincoln a few years ago, we went shopping in a used clothing store that had some "retro" items downstairs. I found a green silk kimono-style robe and fell in love with the fabric. I took out the batting in the quilted collar and cuffs. I was surprised to find it was newspaper printed in oriental characters instead of cotton. I waited to find a pattern that was suited to the print, and this is the result. The solid color silk borders are from the fat quarters at the quilt store. The border is diawabo taupe, a reproduction of Japanese fabric. I love how it turned out. If you look closely, there are tiny, turquoise seed beads to give the kimono a quilted texture. Sometimes ideas stir around in my head until my fingers can figure out how to make it happen. I once asked the quilt store owner if she thought quilters found fabric they loved and then chose a pattern, or if the pattern came first and then they found fabric to use. I am a fabric first person, because I see so many as new shipments come in. This project is special because it holds the memory of the trip to Lincoln. I am a happy quilter.