Here is my most recent purchase on ebay — a big quilt top made up of single flower garden blocks sewn together without a path. When I purchased it, I was planning on taking the blocks apart and resetting them, but now that I’ve seen it in person, I’m having doubts.
The top is a nice size (72″ x 90″) with a couple of uneven edges.
The 1930s dress prints are so sweet.
And, unlike most vintage tops/blocks I purchase, the stitching is very neatly done.
I just can’t get past the randomness of the set, and all those flowers butting up against each other. Since there’s very little contrast among all those pastels, it just looks like kind of a mush to me. Am I being ridiculous?
Here’s some alternative sets I was considering when I bought the top. The most obvious idea was to separate the single flowers with a white path.
The second idea was to add a third row to each flower in a coordinating solid, and add a white path. I love the printed hexagon border on this example.
The last set is a little more unusual, with a third row in white and a solid color path.
What do you think? Do you like any of these alternatives, have another suggestion, or am I crazy to take this top apart?
Yes it is a bit blended but would still make a lovely quilt.
I guess it’s a matter of do you have the time and inclination?
Let us know what you decide!
I love option 2… Cant wait to see what you decide.
I absolutely love it exactly how it is. It’s perfect just the way she intended! Quilt that baby up and save it from the destruction of hanging around unfinished. 🙂
I’d be tempted to add a round of cream or white hexagons around each flower and then join them with a green path made with diamonds.
Or I’d just quilt it the way it is!
What a marvellous find!
I love it just the way it is in all its scrappy loveliness. However, when I looked at the next photos you showed, I loved them, too. What a decision! I’m glad it’s yours to make and not mine. I hope you’ll show us the results of your decision.
I love the original quilt because it makes the vintage fabric and pattern, strangely enough, have a modern looking twist. That may not be what you are going for, but I love it just the way it is.
What a dilemma – I love the ones with the paths, but I really love this one in the original version too. I’d probably keep it as is, especially if the stitching is so well done. I admit to having a problem taking another quilter’s stitches apart, if they’re well done!
I definitely like it as it is. It’s unusual and different from most Flower Garden quilts, that gives it a special charm. I’d just straighten up the top and bottom edges and quilt it, Very lovely, a beautiful find.
Oh how lovely! I’ve never seen one like that before… looks like a meadow of full of flowers…
Goodness what a find!! I love it the way it is also, but if you are feeling up to it I like the one with the solid blue path, that is really cute.. Let us know what you decide!!
Martha, The quilt is absolutely gorgeous! I love the fabrics, but you are right. Because the fabrics are so light in color, they don’t show up as well all mushed up together. I think the fabrics would show up so much better if they had the white around each flower. I also liked the last option. But I know it will be a lot of work to take it apart and redo it. So you may want to think about it for a while. It will be a beautiful quilt however you decide to do it.
I would leave it in all it’s vintage scrappy loveliness !!
I like it the way it is. It reminds me a bit of those pastel floral prints from a couple of decades ago – the ones that used to be worn by bridesmaids.
Hey Martha, I like it the way it is but I’m on this kick to challenge myself out of my normal choices. I like order too. I think it is a unique piece the way it was originally designed. If you wanted to emphasize the unique flowers, I guess you could take it apart and even a small green path would be interesting or you could just do a thin embroidered outline stitch in green around each flower. I think there are a LOT of possibilities. Can’t wait to see what you decide!
Hugs, Mickie
Second or third choices would be lovely.. Taking them apart by hand slowly on a cozy night by the fire ….enjoying a sip of warm tea now and then…
This is a tough one because I can see both sides of the argument. I would not envy you taking it apart for the re-do. I do like those more, but there is something to be said for honoring the original seamstress. Especially since she did a nice job of stitching. So, I am no help!
I will say, I’ve been working on one of my own for 15 years! I’m 90% done with the blocks. I’m not too motivated! A good friend mentioned it would make a good wedding gift to my daughter. She’s now 15…so I have some more time!
My comment: I think you would be ridiculous to take this good work apart. Who made it obviously intended it to be a blended flowerbed so why overstructure it with your vision of neetly ordered paths and flowers? I would border it, but not ad or take flowers from it. Yes, that would mean a quite modern feel, flowing flowers into the border, but it would do justice to the original idea.
I’m so sorry, this comment came out way too harsh. I should guard my big mouth better and not comment in haste. I hope you accept my apologies.
Making a yo yo quilt in the flower theme, really like the one you purchased. I would leave it as is and quilt it. It will be lovely want ever you chose.
Martha, I really like all of your options. I think separating the flowers makes them stand out individually and highlights their colorful prints. Love the one with the blue path. The only problem I see leaving it as is, is it’s uneven and would be hard to quilt. Whatever you decide I’m sure will turn out very pretty.
I too “rescue” quilts from antique stores, flea markets and garage sales. I feel these quilts have a story to tell. Therefore, I would not take this quilt apart. Let it tell it’s story as it is. The seamstress knew what she was doing and it is sewn together beautifully. Perhaps you could do a blanket stitch around the flowers to make them stand out a bit more. Use the same colored thread for the centers of each flower. Use a color that matches the inner flower. You would have to use the same color thread for all the outter flowers since they are touching. Or maybe just turn it into a crazy quilt and embellish each flower.
Lucky you to find a quilt in really good shape. I only tear apart ones that are in not so good shape and use them in craft projects.
Good Luck to you!
personally I should like your first option, of the white or creme haxagons in between, but i would like to advise you, not to follow the usual pattern but to look at http://www.myBearpaw.com/2010-10-29. This way of surrounding the flowers gives them a little turn, and makes the quilt more playfull, less rigid. It took me some time to see the difference, but now I am very happy I did my little flowergarden this way.
But, as a lot of the comments suggest, just finishing and quilting in a way that the original maker could have had in mind, is a very decent option too Thanks for your inspiration, also on other projects, Marian from amsterdam
What if you just appliqueed small green leaves here and there, scattered among the blossoms? The idea could be carried out to a border, perhaps…..
I like that quilt, it is like a meadow of wild flowers.
My suggestion would be to take the last 4 flowers out from the bottom right and sew them to the bottom left and add a blue flower at the end of that left bottom, so it would finish like the top row. And I would applique the quilt to a border of solid color.
I love it the way it is!
I realize I’m a bit late on this one, but I love it just the way it is and I think it would be lovely finishing it as is for the woman that wasn’t able to.
Have you made a decision yet as to what you will do? Would love to see a photo of the finished product!