Clambake

Clambake

This was a fun and ambitious project for a self-taught quilter.  I saw the pattern for the Clambake Quilt in the Winter 2012 addition of Simple Quilts & Sewing (#126).  The quilt is designed by Emily Herrick and uses It's a Shore Thing fabric by Michael Miller Fabric. 

   

As soon as I laid eyes on the quilt I knew that it was perfect for my brother. 

My brother has been in school for the last twenty-four years.  In May he graduated from seminary with his PhD in Philosophy.  (I have no idea what he is talking about most of the time.)  After all that time in school I figured it was about time for a vacation.  

This line of fabrics really makes you feel like you are at the beach.  It features the iconic pink flamingo, red and blue lobsters, sailboats, lifesavers, plenty of waves and my favorite, a seaside madras patch print.  The fun prints and the clam shell pattern begs for saltwater and sand.  This is the conch shell of quilts.  I think if you wrapped up in it on a cold, quiet night. . .you might just be able to hear the ocean.  

The Fabric was the fun part.  

The pattern was the ambitious part.  

When I decided on this pattern I only had a few months of "quilting" under my belt and the extent of my intstruction was an afternoon with my mother-in-law.  But the magazine promised "Follow our instructions for easy machine appliqué."   That along with the little picture of Emily at the end of the article with a quote that reads, "I don't like to do anything hard so believe me when I tell you:  "You can do this!'  convinced me that I could make this quilt for my brother.  

I won't give away all the details of the pattern because the designer spent a lot of time putting it into words and she deserves all the credit and royalties from it.  As of this writing, the magazine is still available at www.fatquartershop.com

Simple Quilts & Sewing
Winter 2012 Issue

For me this was an education in all things sewing.  I'm sure to someone with a lot of experience it would have been a weekend project. For me, it took months.  I wasn't able to finish it by graduation in May but it was finished in time for me to give it to my brother for his birthday in June and just in time for that well-deserved vacation.  

Quilt Size:  54 x 67 1/2

Block Count:  6 3/4" x 9" Clamshell

Quilt Designer:  Emily Herrick

Quiltmaker: Hope Phelps

Machine Quilter:  The Quilt Patch (Stallings, NC)

Fabric:  Its a Shore Thing by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller Fabric, 

michaelmillerfabric.com