Recently I bought a few blocks from eBay, some Dresden plate blocks, some Grandmother's Garden & a quaint little pink plaid/muslin top. They are all circa 30's I'd say & will be fun for me to complete. I love the idea & the satisfaction of finishing something that was begun so long ago- I think the originator would be so pleased by that, I know I would be & I hope that anything I leave behind unfinished will be completed by another generation quilter. Of course I also hope that won't be much, I am really trying to finish what I start!
There will be 25 of the Dresden plates to make a nice sized quilt, the plates themselves are 12" across, the muslin blocks 14". I will probably have to keep this one, I love these blocks they are very nicely made & well preserved. I have really fallen for these vintage fabrics if you look closely I think you will see why, they are adorable!
Above is a sample of those appliqued already......
and two of the half dozen that still need to be appliqued onto muslin.
Then I have 28 Grandmother's garden blocks, not all quite as well sewn but ok. They each measure 9" across & I will probably combine them with some solids to make a quilt.
This sweet little top is 60"x73" & I have no idea at all how I will quilt it or what I will do with it after that but I thought it quite dainty looking & feminine & the price was very reasonable. No one else seemed too interested in it it so I sort of felt it needed a new home & someone other than the maker [now long gone from this life I suspect] to love it! I think that it needs a muslin border to set it off & that would make it about 70"x80", reasonable single bed size. Perhaps if I ever have a granddaughter I can give it to her as she grows up, I might even be able to teach her to quilt-if this family can ever make a girl!
I also have no clue if there is a name for the "pattern" or if the piecer just invented the design?
This Double Wedding Ring quilt[DWR] was a top given to me by a friend in TX in the early 70's. It had belonged to her husband's aunt & she had lots of the aunt's quilts & tops & I was thrilled to get this one, I think I knew I would not be making a DWR. I started to once, made about 4 or 5 blocks & gave it away !I purchased the stripe in the border of this one, added on three sides to make it KS & paid two little old sisters in their 90's to quilt it for me.
I think they charged me about $25, the simple outline quilting stitches are rather large & I suspect their eyesight may have been less than perfect but I was grateful to have it done, I knew little about quilting at that time. It remained on our bed for many years, now it is displayed on a quilt rack. The wedding rings are not very round & they are rather large perhaps that was the problem but to me it is a treasure & I believe somehow that the maker is pleased that her work is in loving hands.
As I always tell others, no quilt police allowed here!
If this has whet your appetite for vintage things you will love visiting
Colorado Lady & a list of other VTT participants, it's always entertaining.
PS. Just three more days to sign up for my give away, the "Koalas In The Window" quilt, scroll back three posts to leave your name & contact info.
