Constantinople Quilts

March 2, 2015
Even if you never get past the pictures of Iznik pottery tiles, Harvey’s book has merit, for the blues, greens, and rusts of Turkish ceramics crafted during the height of the Ottoman Empire are a feast for the eyes. Harvey, an Australian quilt-shop owner, explains the tiles’ history in Turkish locales, and then she gets down to the business of turning patterns on clay into quilt designs. Basic instructions begin with lessons on the sewing machine and on fabric and batting. How-to instructions include tracing designs, using templates, and using machine appliqué for corners and angles. The eight projects range from small to large, starting with a Geliboulu (aka Gallipoli, site of major WWI battles) carry-all. Harvey has also designed blue cushions and a bed scarf fit for a sultan of the Ottoman dynasty, two table runners (a two-toned blue, based on ceramics from the city of Nicaea, and a rich rust, drawn from a tile in the Eyüp Sultan Mosque), a square quilt (sewn by quilter Angela Perry), a cornflower-blue quilted garden from Topkapi, and a Turkish peacock in a Tree of Life. Clear instructions include pull-outs; difficulty level is intermediate.

May 15, 2015

Iznik pottery, which features distinctive floral and geometric designs, flourished during the height of the Ottoman Empire and was used to decorate mosques and palaces. Harvey, an Australia-based quilter and designer, translates traditional Iznik motifs into a variety of machine applique projects using fusible web applique. The projects include a handbag, pillow covers, table runners, and quilts ranging from wall-hanging to bed size. Even the small items are intricate, requiring numerous small pieces of fabric to achieve the effect of the repeated patterns characteristic of Iznik pottery. Harvey stays close to her source material, using the traditional cobalt blue with pops of bright green, crimson, and gold for effect. The result is a sophisticated, artistic collection that is true to its origins and different from much of the fusible applique projects that commonly appear in books. VERDICT Harvey proves that fusible applique need not appear amateurish or clunky--but most of the patterns in this collection require some experience with the technique.

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