Constantinople Quilts

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 applique 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 Eyup 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. Publishers Weekly, February 2015 Lovers of exquisite floral applique will find new inspiration in these eight original patterns inspired by Turkish Iznik tiles from the Ottoman Empire. Projects range in size from bags and cushions to wall hangings and up to throw-size quilts. Photographs throughout the book of the intricate tilework seen in historic sites in Istanbul, Turkey, show the real-life sources for Harvey’s designs. Includes basic quilting and fusible applique instructions and a pattern pullout sheet. Quilters Newsletter, October/November 2015 “Constantinople Quilts” (C&T Publishing) is a gorgeous compendium of applique quilts by Australian quilt-shop-owner Tamsin Harvey that were inspired by Turkish Iznik ceramics, known for cobalt blue and intricate designs. Harvey’s quilts are highly detailed and prominently feature flora designs. – Jennifer Forker ABC News, 12/29/15

Tamsin Harvey is a pattern designer and co-owns a quilt shop with her mother. Tamsin brings her passion for history and exotic places to her designs, and her quilts have appeared in several Australian patchwork magazines. She lives in Australia’s Southern Highlands.