Boutis

18 Nov 2012 9 Comments

by averyclaire in Boutis, French, Needlearts Tags: , ,

I have loved this beautiful type of hand quilting for a long time. This is my first project.

Boutis is a french type of quilting.   Two layers of thin batiste fabric are layered together and the design is quilted with a small quilting (or running) stitch.   A #22 or #24 tapestry needle is threaded with a quilting thread.  This loop then carries a cotton yarn.   The cotton yarn is drawn through all of the channels and the design areas “stuffing” them.   The boutis is transparent when held up to the light. Beautiful quilts and clothing were made long ago by talented french women using this technique.

A couple of my friends living in France (Maggy and Nicole) sent me several books and patterns.   Nicole sent me a lovely boutis piece she made as a gift.   She also wrote to me and explained the process.   I didn’t read the instructions properly and didn’t know about the needle looped with thread. Unfortunately I threaded a needle which was TOO long directly with the yarn.    This made my holes much too large and some are still visible.    And I really didn’t know what to do when I finished.   Luckily I found a lovely blog and Elizabeth was kind enough to help me out and answer my many questions regarding boutis.

I also made the mistake of beginning to pull the yarn through on the right side of the project rather than on the wrong side…hence you can see the holes I left by using a skewer to assist in the “stuffing”… my needle was actually all I needed.   Hopefully next time my piece will look a LOT better.  Trial and Error!!!

Sending you BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Amities, Averyclaire

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My French Friends

31 Aug 2008 2 Comments

by averyclaire in French, Gifts Tags: ,

Some years ago when I was new to the internet and browsing the web, I found quite by accident a French quilting magazine.  For a couple of days I struggled to read their posts regarding quilting in France.  While I had studied French in school,  I never really learned to speak the language…but came to love all things French.  One day I decided to write a message to them and ask if anyone would enjoy corresponding with an American quilter who did not speak much French.  I received many responses.  Today I am delighted to say that I have made several good friends.   Maggy, Nicole, Claudine, Elisabeth, Anne, Carine Marie, Isabelle, Yvette, Josette, and Mijane, you know how much our correspondence has meant to me.  These women are all wonderful artists, very creative and talented.   They are all an inspiration to me and my work.  Maggy is my twin on the other side of the world…the first one to respond.  She was divinely sent to me. 

 

They are all kind, generous and thoughtful women who chanced to answer my email that day.  We have shared our thoughts, photos of our families, little treasures sent across the miles and a simple gift of friendship.  My passion for France and all things French has increased one thousand times because of their kindness to this American woman. 

 

While I have received many gifts from all of these generous French women, I share with you a photo of this Boutis Heart, which was a gift Nicole gave to my daughter when Kathleen had her second child.  I am enthralled with the art of “Boutis” and am grateful to Nicole for sending her gift.  I now have a few books on Boutis and with Nicole’s help I have an understanding of how to do it.  Boutis is an old art…but still as lovely today as it was long ago.   Lovely as the French women I have met, don’t you think?

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