The quilt that I am copying is from the book, Classic Crib Quilts. Because my scraps from the Album quilt are so small with just a few of each print, I knew I would need a scrappy quilt pattern with fairly small pieces. When I saw this little quilt, I knew right away that it…
Antique Album Quilt Blocks – Revised #3
Today was my day off and I was able to make several more of these blocks. My routine is to take several blocks apart in the evening while I’m watching television, then let the pieces soak overnight in a mild soapy solution. The next morning I rinse several times and roll them in a towel….
The Patchwork Quilt
Home Arts Needlecraft Magazine October, 1935
Antique Album Quilt Blocks – Revised #2
The best part about working on these revised blocks is figuring out which little scraps to use for each piece. This is a photo of the 3 striped blocks disassembled (2 whole and 1 half) and I just realized that I missed unpicking a couple of seams). The half block had to be sacrificed to…
Antique Sawtooth Star Quilt Top
This is the other $5.00 antique quilt top I purchased on ebay. It is machine sewn and the construction is significantly better than the Album quilt top — the points are good, it’s square and lies flat. I haven’t examined all of the fabrics, but they appear to be in good condition. It is clean,…
Antique Album Quilt Blocks — Revised
First, I should let everyone know that I talked with Karen Alexander, the quilt historian who commented about this quilt top and suggested I should not take the top apart because it was a treasure. Karen’s interest is researching quilts with signatures, and she mistakenly believed that my quilt had signatures on the album blocks. …
Antique Album Quilt Top
Inspired by the quilt tops from Ann Champion’s cupboard, I decided to collect some antique fabric to make doll quilts. A few weeks ago, I found this top and one other offered together on ebay with a “buy it now” option for $9.95! I was pretty excited because, even though the photos were terrible (the…
Happy New Year!
My Paint Book Samuel Lowe Company, 1941 (I added the “Happy New Year” text)
Santa’s Follow the Colors Embroidered Quilt
After finishing up all my Christmas preparations, I felt like working on something festive. My daughter, Emily, suggested I make a Christmas quilt we could hang in the living room during the holidays. Of course, I can’t bring myself to make a quilt that’s not for some kind of bed, so it will have to…
My Favorite Christmas Ornaments
My mother made these ornaments for us when Elliott and Emily were in elementary school. It was a happy coincidence that they match our Christmas stockings which were made years earlier. My mother was obviously attracted to these Charles Ross designs, just as I was. Mother was self taught in all kinds of needlework, and…
Just a Few More Days…
The tree is decorated. The houses are lit up. The stockings are hung. Presents are bought and made, but not wrapped yet. Emily and I are spending the whole day baking cookies. Life is Good.
Filet Crochet Baby Pillow
I found this filet crochet piece on ebay. I’m not sure of it’s age, but it is in perfect condition and not yellowed at all. It makes a perfect little pillow to go with Marjorie’s Rhyme Land Quilt, which I made for her when she was born last December. I think the pillow looks pretty…
Diamond Field Quilt Blocks
One of the things I love about making scrap quilts is selecting each little print for a block. Having so many different fabrics to work with makes the process much more fun. Every step — prepping the pieces, cutting, piecing, quilting — made more interesting because I am always looking at a different little vintage…
Embroidered Basket Quilt
The basket quilt is finally done, and I’m very happy with it. You might remember that this quilt started out with a print border, but I just wasn’t happy with it. After I decided to do the blue floss quilting on the white border, it seemed like a good idea to add some blue quilting…
Vintage California Tablecloth Quilt
Gordon and I decided to forego the usual Christmas gifts since we just finished a remodel of our kitchen. Of course, I have to give him some little presents, so I decided to make him his own little quilt to use on the couch. Because we lived in California for 11 years and our kids…