This scrappy quilt top was purchased last year on ebay. It is entirely hand pieced with vintage dress fabrics (no feedsacks), and measures a generous 68″ x 86″ with finished squares measuring 1″. I really like the random selection of prints and colors and, although I have spent a fair amount of time looking at this top, I have not discovered any “rules” that the maker followed when designing her top. It appears to be completely unplanned, and I get the feeling that she just stitched her blocks and sashing out of whatever scraps she had on hand. When she ran out of a particular fabric, she just moved on to another. In checking the stitching on the back of the top, it’s obvious she also sewed elements together in a random fashion, with the top expanding in different directions and no continuous seams.
It’s hard to know what to do with this top. Although the fabrics are in good condition, it bothers me that the construction is less than perfect with many seams that do not match (which would probably require an all-over quilting pattern). I’m torn — there’s a part of me that wants to take the top apart and re-make it changing some of the things that bug me (those solid crosses, for instance) and fixing the alignment, or I could just quilt it the way it is and preserve all the little imperfections and idiosyncrasies. What would you do?
Update: Of course there’s a rule — I don’t know why I didn’t notice this before. With the exception of one square (the green center in the pink cross), all of the cornerstone pieces are predominantly red or pink.
Vintage 9-Patch Quilt Top
hand pieced, unknown quilter
68″ x 86″
It is wonderful just the way it is!
Nothing is to be gained by “reworking” it….. sure some things might be different but the effect could well be lost. If you want some neat and tidy 9 patch quilt, make one from your scraps…..
On with the quilting…… don’t even think of a “border”.
I completely agree with Mimi! Leave it just the may it is, this quilt is just so much fun as is. I’d use an all-over baptist fan or something like that and throw a binding on it. No border. Done.
Wow, what a cool top! So much to look at. I would leave it as it is and just quilt it.
When you put it on a shelf or rack for display, you could hide the solid crosses by folding the quilt so that a nice area is at the front.
I agree with Heidi and Mimi – an overall quilting pattern would be nice.
BTW: Do you know Deb Rowden´s blog “Thrift Shop Quilts”? This is just the kind of quilt she likes.
Maybe she would like to see the pictures, too.
http://debrowden.blogspot.com/
Well I have to agree, leave it! I think it’s fabulous as it is. I love the idiosyncrasies….it gives a glimpse into the mind of the maker….and I do think a baptist fan quilt design would be lovely!
It makes me think of a ‘monet’ quilt. The randomness doesn’t create an ‘image’ but it makes me keep looking for one. It is kind of chaotic, but I think it is charming, too.
Hey Martha, just catchin up. I like the top but is it going to drive you crazy when you quilt it? I think that is the real question 🙂
Love all the colors!
Hugs, MIckie
I vote for leaving it be.
I have read your blog for a while I do not see you as a haphazard quilter. Will it bother you leaving it?? I am pretty fussy myself. 😉 The fabric is fun -it is a great quilt top. My question if you decide to take it apart (which I would understand) is would you leave it exactly the way it is? Would you interrupt the areas that had a concentration of one fabric? Would you add fabric? Would it suit you to have it a bit larger? Would you machine piece it back together? Either way you decide. have fun with the hand quilting. I am sure you will make the best decision for you.
I like the quirkiness of some of these old quilts. makes me wonder what that quilter was thinking at the time she was making it or what enabled her to make the choices that she made… But if the randomness is bothering you, then you should do what you feel like. It’s going to be beautiful with your hand quilting!
Martha I know you are very precise and produce very beautiful work to a high standard but if you are bothered by this quilt I do not understand why you bought it? Personally I love it as it is – it is exactly its quirkiness that appeals to me. Please do not be offended as I do not intend to be rude or critical or anything of that sort, I am just wanting to know what drew you to it in the first place?
You have quite the find there. It is quite the lucky quilt to find a home with you. Regardless of what everyone says, you need to do what you are happy with. Ask yourself:
1. If I leave it as is, will I always be critical when I look at it?
2. If I decide to disassemble it, will it ever get finished?
3. Will it be taking the time and efforts of a better project?
As long as the Quilter is happy, everybody is happy!
Add me to the list of those that love this quilt just as it is! It’s the quirks that gives the old beauties their charm, and this one is just oozing with charm.
I say a Baptist fan or similar allover design would be the way ro go with the quilting?
I’m drawn to quilts like this with mis-aligned seams and random piecing. My type A personality won’t allow me to piece this sort of work, but I just adore seeing it! It’s the kind of quilt that was made to be used and LOVED.