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Antique Circle Quilt

Posted on October 6, 2015November 25, 2015 by Martha

I’m so happy to have finished the quilting on this lovely turn-of-the-century quilt top which I purchased from my friend Patty (Patalier on Etsy). The quilter did an amazing job hand piecing the curves and matching points, and the top was perfectly flat, clean and crisp. I wish I knew the pattern name, but Patty and I both checked our quilt reference books, and neither of us could find a source for this interesting design.

Although the individual blocks appear to have circles in the middle, the circles are actually created by the four block corners, and the center of each block is a shirting or orange square. The quilter added partial blocks around the outside edges to complete the circle design, although the top edge is slightly different from the others. The original top had straight sides, but I added a border on three sides so I could extend my circular quilting design and create scalloped edges. I left the top edge straight, because of the way it worked with my quilting pattern.

The quilting pattern was stitched with navy blue Gutermann quilting thread, and it took three months and 320 yards of thread. It’s my first time quilting an old top as is — I usually take them apart and remake them.

Antique Circle Quilt
Hand pieced by unknown quilter, early 1900s
Hand quilted by Martha Dellasega Gray, 2015
75″ x 86″
Antique-Circle-Quilt

Antique-Circle-Quilt-detail

15 thoughts on “Antique Circle Quilt”

  1. Patty says:
    October 6, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    Oh Martha! The quilt turned out gorgeous with your circle quilting. Just beautiful! I’m curious what you backed the quilt with and what kind of batting you used?

    Reply
    1. Martha says:
      October 6, 2015 at 5:40 pm

      Thanks, Patty. The backing is a light blue shirting print, and the batting is Quilters Dream Request.

      Reply
  2. Carla says:
    October 6, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Oh what a great pattern and your quilting just made it even better!

    Reply
  3. Virginia says:
    October 6, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Awesome!!! Such an unusual pattern and you did it justice with your hand quilting. This is certainly an heirloom.

    Reply
  4. Dottie says:
    October 6, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    It’s a wonderful quilt. I love the orange.

    Reply
  5. Sharrieboberry says:
    October 6, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  6. Chris says:
    October 6, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    Great work Martha. Wish I’d seen it first in Pattys shop!

    Reply
  7. Little Penpen says:
    October 7, 2015 at 6:01 am

    Oh how beautiful! You sure made the quilt have a very nice finish! The original maker would be so pleased!

    Reply
  8. Joyce Carter says:
    October 7, 2015 at 6:38 am

    Wow! It is really a gorgeous quilt Martha.I love the quilting. I have never seen this pattern either, but I love circles with the orange. Great job!

    Reply
  9. nancysparrow says:
    October 7, 2015 at 7:20 am

    Hi Martha- This unknown quilt top maker certainly had an eye for color! How wonderful that her quilt came into your possession for completion. Your circle quilting gave the quilt so much movement and beauty. You really made it come to life!

    Reply
  10. Cathy L says:
    October 7, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    What an unusual pattern. I love shirting in quilts. I can’t believe it is in such good condition for a quilt that old. Your hand quilting is inspiring.

    Reply
  11. Mallika says:
    October 10, 2015 at 4:44 am

    beautiful!! no words:):D

    Reply
  12. Robin in KS says:
    October 11, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    I think whoever pieced this would be delighted to see how this turned out, and what a lovely job you did quilting it. Did you find yourself thinking and wondering about the original quilter as you worked?

    Reply
  13. Shelley Germann says:
    October 11, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    Beautiful quilt! You really did a nice job saving this one. I miss hand quilting, it’s been so long, but I seem to be busier than ever!

    Reply
  14. Nancy says:
    October 24, 2015 at 9:25 am

    I don’t know how I missed this quilt when you first posted it, Martha. It’s beautiful. Sometimes I hesitate to make “quiet” quilts because I think they will fade away, but then I see quilts like this and realize “quiet” quilts may be the very best. I love the rhythm and secondary pattern created by the circles and squares.

    And look at your perfectly quilted concentric circles. It’s a wonderful quilt. I’m so glad you didn’t have to take it apart.

    Reply

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