What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Family history tells us that this Rolling Stone quilt may have been made by the owner's great -grandmother.

I'd date most of the quilt top fabrics to the 19-teens to 1920s, with some c. 1900 fabrics included. 

This quilt holds a couple of surprises.  The back and binding fabrics and strips added to the long sides, however, are c. 1940.  This suggests that the top was enlarged a bit and then quilted a while after the top was made.

Another fun tidbit is some older patching.  I always enjoy seeing a quilt that has been mended sometime in ...

I'm showing this quilt because it's simple and sweet.  The owner wrote:

"The quilt measures 60 x 78.   It is on the smaller size.  I picked it up at a quilt show a number of years ago.  I love it!  As you can see, it is white with red quilting."  

      

The pattern name is Sawtooth Star.

There is concentric circle quilting in the alternate blocks.  I do love circles!  

There were a few places with small tears and holes, and some worn spots just about to break open, which I was able to mend.  A few ...

 

I made this quilt, actually a tied comforter, back around 1980.  I had been quilting just a few years.  I stepped out of the initial "pillows and place mats" stage, and made my first bed quilt.

Past blogs detail both the story of the quilt and the stories of the fabrics I used.   

The fabrics in the quilt are all mementos of past sewing projects, sewn both by my mom and childhood self.  And my husband and I have slept with it, as did our kids when young and in our family bed.  So, by 2020, it was showing signs ...

I love this quilt!  This is especially notable because the era and colors are not among my favorites.  What pleases me so much is the full-out exuberance of the fabric choices.  The wild (for a background) print makes the whole design dance.  This quilt makes me smile!

At some point in its history this Dresden Plate quilt was probably thrown in the washing machine. The wool batting (which may have come from the family's sheep) ended up with lumpy and uneven shrinking.  Also, that wild background fabric is unsuitable for the washing because it was very, very lightweight, almost ...

It's been a loooooong while since any activity here on my blog....  Here's what's coming up:

To do right now: 
I've started a newsletter.  Sign up here.
I'll be posting twice a month, with fun little tidbits about antique/vintage quilts, quilt repair, art quilts, and newsy items.   The second post will be up in a day or two.  Sign up now to get it hot off the presses!

To read the first post, you can access the archive here.  
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In a couple of days:
I'll be posting a new quilt repair story here ...

On May 3 and 4, I’m participating in the Global Quilt Connection’s Sampler Platter program.  I’ll be joining 17 other quilt teachers, who’ll be presenting short programs demonstrating the topics we teach about virtually.  Both guilds and individuals can register, and the presentations will be recorded and available for a few days after the weekend.  I did this last fall, and it was super fun - a wide variety of topics to learn about!

Here’s where to learn more and register:
https://www.globalquiltconnection.com/samplerplatters

This time, I’ll be presenting “Quilt Repair Tales - Saving ...

Occasionally,  I get requests to mend things other than quilts.  This is Seminole patchwork, a technique developed among the Seminole peoples in Florida.  Traditionally and continuing today, these patchwork strips are used to make clothing.  This wall hanging was likely made for sale to tourists.  I think the colors of the fabrics date it to the 1940s.  It measures 51" x 64".

A family memento.  Here's the story the quilt owner told:

This quilt was made for us by our friend Shelia in England.  It was given to us as a thank you gift for housing her daughter one summer.  Her daughter, Sally, was twenty years old and wanted very much to work one summer in the Chicago area.  Our youngest son was staying at college that summer, so we had an extra bedroom.  We spent a delightful summer with Sally who quickly became our English "daughter".  We later attended Sally's wedding in Broughton, England.  Sally has made subsequent trips ...

A couple of years ago, I told Part 1 of this story, in which I mended a memory quilt for a customer.  She shared its sweet story for me to share here.  On the post, you can see the quilt and read the story of family love across generations and many miles.  I've also described the mending and rebuilding that I did. 

Here are a couple of photos from Part 1 to whet your whistle.  In today's post, I will share Part 2. 

Part 2 began when I received this email from the quilt owner.

A few weekends ...

A Tale of Two Victorian Crazy Quilts - in Four Parts

Parr 1
Setting the Scene

This pair of crazy quilts still lives in the family and the town where they were made, with a descendant of the two quiltmakers.  

They were made circa 1890 in Brooklyn, Connecticut, by Emily Harris, and her daughter, Eva May Harris.  They are great-grandmother and grandmother to the current owner.  One of the quilts has a small piece of red fabric embroidered with the name of Samuel Cady Harris, Emily's husband.

Both quilts include bright yellow Special Constable ribbons and commemorative ribbons celebrating the ...

Preserving Our Quilt Legacy Virtual Workshop
Introductory Video

Hi, Friends!

I'm discovering new ways to reach out and find more people who are wanting to learn about repairing caring for old quilts - so we can have more quilters "preserving history one quilt at a time".

I've just listed my big workshop on Global Teacher Connection - a great website which lists all sorts of virtual classes and lectures, and also hosts informational presentations for teachers, guild program chairs, and so on.  

My new promotional video is linked at the photo above.  Full information and registration are on my website ...

Taking good care of antique and vintage quilts is taking good care of family, textile, and social history. It’s a wonderful journey! 

My next workshop will be held January 27 - February 24 2024, on 5 consecutive Saturdays.  All the details and registration are on my website.  If you have questions, contact me here or at annquilts@comcast.net. 

Restoration

Conservation

Preservation

Philosophy

Techniques

Supplies 

Each student can present one (or two if time allows) quilts for discussion of how, when, and why to use the various supplies and techniques. All eras and styles are welcome.  This will be our ...

Quilt Repair Tidbits.  The next (somewhat) weekly installment of quilt repair tidbits and photos.

This week’s tidbit:  A hand-me-down set of vintage/antique Mosaic/Grandmother’s Flower Garden blocks.

I’ll be teaching a virtual quilt care and repair workshop in winter 2024.  One thing I’ll be talking about is learning how to tell the age of the fabrics in old quilts.  These blocks have a secret key to their age. 

All the info about the workshop is on my website.  And you can email me to be added to the interest list for notification when registration opens ...

The next post of fun quilt repair moments. 

This week:  a prize-winning family heirloom quilt.  Check out the design and sewing skills, about as perfect as a quilt can get.

I hope this beauty will inspire you to join in the virtual quilt repair and care workshop that I will be teaching in winter 2024.  All the info is on my website.  Email to be added to the mailing list for notification when registration opens.

The workshop will cover restoration and conservation supplies and techniques and how to choose which to use, and also, fabric history, and preservation concepts like ...

The second installment of weekly quilt repair tidbits and photos.

Schoolhouse quilt, c. 1915-20

This week: a wonderful schoolhouse quilt, a lovely and unusual rendition of a favorite traditional block.  One of the benefits of working with antique and vintage quilts is that it’s like having your own up close and personal quilt show!

I hope I can inspire you to join the virtual quilt repair and care workshop I’m planning for winter 2024.  All the info is on my website.  Email  me to be added to the mailing list for notification when registration opens.  

The workshop will ...

The worktable.  Grandmother’s Flower Garden c. 1980

I’m starting a new little outreach project here.  A weekly tidbit and photos.  A new insight or skill?  A really cool fabric?  Who knows what it’ll be!

This week’s tidbit:  I’ve found myself ending up patching with fabrics that at first glance I was sure would look terrible.  They certainly aren’t exact matches, but end up being just right.

My underlying goal is to inspire new students for the virtual workshop I’m planning for winter 2024. All the info is on my website.  And you can ...

Do you know how there can be a project with one little glitch that ends up defining the whole process even though the project was otherwise super successful and fun?  Well, this quilt had one pesky fabric that would not "accept" anything in my stash as a fair patch.  

You see, it's actually a really fun quilt.  I date it to the 1940s or so.  I'm super fond of the color combination, especially the use of the solid orange.  I'm generally not a fan of orange, but in this case, I absolutely love the bright sparkle it ...