VINTAGE QUILTS

Comment

Comment by handstitcher/IL on Sunday

How awesome to know so much about the quilter who made your quilt! Even better than she lived in your area. Seems sad that Opal let her grandmother's quilt go, but I'm glad it found a good home with you. 

Not sure what I'll do with my misshapen bits and pieces. Something to play with once I'm off for the summer. My tulip quilt blocks were as bad as these, but I was pleased with the way they finally turned out. My husband asked me recently why I don't make quilts anymore. Puzzled, I asked him what he meant. He replied, "you don't make your own quilts anymore, just repair other people's." I think it's because I love the traditional old quilts. That's what got me quilting in the first place.

Comment by Prairie Quilter Jan/NE on Sunday

handstitcher - that is a lot more work than what I would want to commit to at this point in my life.  Let us know what you decide.  

Comment by Prairie Quilter Jan/NE on Sunday

This is the information I received from the seller. 

"This quilt top was pieced by my neighbor's grandmother in Cozad Nebraska.  My neighbor would be 90 years old now.  It was later quilted in the 70's by my mother-in-law and some church ladies that were raising money for something I don't remember or what they charged me. Church was the Methodist Church in Cozad.  I purchased the top at Opal's mother's estate sale many years ago." 

It is so fun to know at least part of the history of this quilt.

Comment by handstitcher/IL on Sunday

Wow! That's a gorgeous quilt, PQ! You make better purchases than I do.

I haven't heard of Retayne, Diane, but I googled it and it sounds promising. We have a Joann's locally as well.

As for this find, it's a bit of a disaster. There were about 20 completed blocks like the one below and many 1/4 units sewn together for the opposing blocks, in addition to a stack of cut out quarter circles and extra fabric. However, when I went to press the finished blocks, I quickly realized that they are seriously bowed. You can't see it in the photo, but the center of the finished block is puffed up nearly an inch. So the finished blocks need to be taken apart. As you can see from the 1/4 blocks, they are different sizes and totally askew. They will need to be recut before the block can be resewn. On the plus side, it was $7, so if I give up, it's not great monetary loss. We'll see. I'm not ready to pack it in yet. 

According to the seller, these blocks were made by her mother, the same woman who made the bow tie top I posted last month. That quilt was put together much more accurately. Was this an early effort or were the curves too much for her to handle? They are hand sewn with teeny tiny stitches, so she wasn't a beginner at hand sewing. But now I know why it wasn't finished!

Comment by Pam/NY on Sunday

That’s amazing that it originally was from your area. A real treasure. 

Comment by diane on Sunday

That is lovely PQ! What a treasure,glad you were the one to find it

Comment by Prairie Quilter Jan/NE on Sunday

handstitcher, it's a good thing you noticed the tendency to bleed now and can prepare for it.  I haven't responded because I didn't have any advice about how to protect it from bleeding.  My personal inclination would encourage you to finish it.  (Easy for me to say, huh?  Since I'm not the one investing the time and work.)  :D  Have you already posted a picture of the top and I just missed it?  

Here is a picture of an acquisition from ebay last year.  It was apparently a sleeper.  The starting bid was low and if I remember correctly, there were no other bids.  In a wonderful twist, this quilt originated just a few miles down the road from me.  It feels a little bit like the quilt has come home.  The applique workmanship is flawless.  It was quilted in the 70's, but put together much earlier than that.  The poor quality of my pictures doesn't do justice to the beauty.  

Comment by diane on Sunday

i'd put retayne in the water along with the color catcher. I'd never call the quilt a loss. I'd finish it.

Comment by handstitcher/IL on Sunday

Thanks for your advice, Pam!

Comment by Pam/NY on Saturday

I’d use the color catcher. 

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