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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

What was she thinking?

I'm sure I mentioned this in the past but I am primarily self-taught. I had made many quilts before I moved to a place where I discovered quilt shops, quilt guilds and places where you could take classes. Up until that point I improvised and today I thought I would share with you one of my very early quilts. This one is more than 28 years old as you can likely tell based on the small calicoes that I used. When you see some of the pictures I'm about to share I'm sure you will be asking yourself "what was she thinking that she put the quilt together in that way?" She/me was thinking outside the box. Because I was self-taught I was figuring things out and solving problems in ways that would work for me.

I made the quilt in question for my brother and recently asked him if he still had it. About two years ago I gave him another quilt for his bed and he swapped out the original for the new quilt. He knew he had folded up the old quilt and put it away but couldn't remember where. He eventually did find it (packed away with a missing transducer for his fish finder). From a distance it looks pretty good but it is in a state.


The colours aren't quite right in this picture but you can see the design. The inspiration was a picture of an antique quilt in an old magazine. I still have that picture!

The wagon wheels are entirely English paper pieced because I couldn't figure out how else to to construct them. There isn't a machine stitch in the quilt.


I also couldn't figure out how set the wheels in the background fabric, sew the blocks together, add the sashing or bind the quilt. I pretty much didn't know the "proper" (i.e. efficient) way to sew the quilt top together. So, I turned under the edges of the wheels, cut out a circle from the green fabric and turned under the edges and then I whip stitched the wheel into the centre of the background block. Okay, maybe that part makes some kind of sense. But I did the same thing to sew the blocks together as you can see in the following picture!


Why I didn't just sew them on my sewing machine is not too much of a mystery. I didn't know that there was such a thing as a 1/4" patchwork foot (this was more than 28 years ago so maybe there was no such thing). Also I strongly disliked marking sewing lines (and still do to this day) so turning under the edges and whip stitching the quilt together just seemed (or is that seamed) like a reasonable approach.

Not only did I sew the blocks together in this manner but I also added the sashings in the same way!


I had no idea how to bind the quilt so once it was quilted I turned the backing to the front, turned under the raw edge and stitched it to the quilt. Needless to say the edge of the quilt is well worn and frayed (notice the lower left corner). I'm going to have to search for some matching olive cotton so that I can add a double fold binding.


Not only did the binding fray but the off white quilting thread is breaking down. I am pretty sure that I used white Mettler cotton quilting thread. I recall when I was quilting with it that the end of the thread would get fluffy and separate but didn't give it much thought. However, the thread is breaking down terribly and what I am seeing is the same effect I saw at the end of the thread as I was quilting. I am going to have to requilt all of the wheels. The green thread I used in the background is perfectly intact (it wasn't Mettler). This time around I am going to use YLI hand quilting thread. In this picture you can see there is missing quilting thread. In some blocks it is entirely gone.



I've already requilted the Dresden plate portion of this block. The quilting in the outer ring of triangles is also breaking down but I will requilt all of the Dresden plates first to stabilize the quilt. Then I can go back and quilt the triangles at my leisure.


There are also a few worn spots on the back ..... toe holes my brother calls them! Clearly this quilt was well-used but honestly, if a quilt is developing "toe holes" it is time to tell the quilt maker that there is a problem and give her a chance to fix.

Although this quilt would not win any ribbons and likely wouldn't fetch much in an auction, it is one of my favourites and I am proud of it. It is full of memories. I recall spending many hours at my father's bedside in the hospital. I sat and sewed while he slept. He eventually recovered but all of those moments spend with him are stitched into the quilt.

I'm not upset about the condition of the quilt. I made it and gave it as a gift. I let it go. All of the wear and tear speaks to the fact that my brother had many years of enjoyment out of this quilt. So once it is mended, requilted and freshly bound will he get it back? Not a chance! This one will be given a gentle laundering and it will be retired from use!

Hope you enjoyed this post. I've got plenty of sewing to do so until I post again, happy sewing!

Karen H

27 comments:

  1. Dear Karen! I really love, that you share this quilt with us. Here we say, "There is no master falling from sky", all of us have to learn first and even if it's not perfect it is a lovely quilt!!!!!
    Hugs from Switzerland

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  2. I love seeing first quilts--mine was simply all green squares all hand sewn that I TIED---my Dad used it for years--I now have it folded away and only taken out to air...
    amazing how the information on quilt making has exploded since those days. I also flew by the seat of my pants...but it was fun....and I was so happy to have finished it....thanks for sharing hugs, Julierose

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  3. Karen, thank you, this was an extremely valuable post! First, using whip stitch for construction makes perfect sense to me for those blocks, AND, I am impressed with how well it's held up. I want my quilts to last, and it is good to know what worked and what didn't.

    The problem with the Mettler thread concerns me -- I have noticed that it produces a lot of lint in the machine, too. Short fibres, I guess. A good thing to watch out for!

    Otherwise, the whole top seems to have held up very well to heavy use, so I think that is a big win! And I still like those old calicos. :D

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  4. Oh my gosh...this quilt is magnificent!! I love it and I love your stitching! Adds to the charm of the quilt!!

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  5. This is some newbie quilt...sheesh! A masterpiece!

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  6. Sure like that round design! So glad he found the quilt.

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  7. I love it the way it is now. Don't do anything... just a little TLC and put it in a nice display cabinet. Of course, it's a pity that the quilt falls apart, but this quilt being used and cherished is enough I guess. It's a true labour of love. (always a problem to tell what you mean in another language)

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  8. Wonderful post Karen!! How interesting to see how you put this quilt together and how awesome that your brother loved and used the quilt to the extent that it has developed toe holes!! I'm sure it will enjoy its retirement after your care and attention and such an interesting life :-)

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  9. Oh I love your bravery to show one of your early works. Many of us are self taught and that means many of us have probably done similar things. There must be something in us makers that makes us just forge forward. LOL Seeing it in the first photo I would have never noticed all the things you pointed out, which reminds us don't point out the flaws in your work as you may think they stick out like a sore thumb but to others all they see is a beautiful quilt!!!!!

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  10. Your brother is one lucky dude to be the recipient of such a beautiful quilt

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  11. We all have to start somewhere and you did what worked for you. Your brother is very lucky to have that quilt and it has been much loved and that is what matters.

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  12. Thank you for a lovely post. This is the reason I quilt.to give quilts that will be loved and used. You gave a beautiful quilt t o your brother and he certainly loved and enjoyed your gift.

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    1. I'm glad that you enjoyed this post. I like making quilts for special people in my life. With every stitch I am thinking about them so it is made with love. My brother did love and enjoy his quilt but after I finish restoring it he isn't getting it back! I've given him other quilts that he can love and enjoy but this one is going into retirement!

      Sorry I couldn't email you but you are a no reply blogger! :-(

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  13. Thank you for a lovely post. This is the reason I quilt.to give quilts that will be loved and used. You gave a beautiful quilt t o your brother and he certainly loved and enjoyed your gift.

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  14. Yes, loved and worn is best! I like this quilt very much. I would have EPP'd those blocks too!
    I enjoy seeing your early quilts, there is something so homey about them.

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  15. Neat that he still had the quilt. I really like the block. What great gift for you to have the quilt returned! Enjoyed the story about your quilt.

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  16. Quilts are supposed to be loved and used, at least that's my philosophy. Glad you are able to salvage it. I'm wishing I would have had the opportunity to salvage the first quilt I made, but my daughter loved it so much that it's worn out beyond repair! It's good to know to avoid Mettler quilting thread. I love YLI and am not looking for another brand (although I am tempted occasionally because of YLI's limited colors).

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  17. this quilt is so special, it loves people,...

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  18. Your beautiful quilt served it's purpose and deserves a quiet retirement--lol! I think you did a lovely job of figuring out how to recreate a vintage quilt and obviously your brother loved it enough to use it for years!

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  19. Loved reading through your post. Such a great compliment to you that your quilt was so well loved and used!

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  20. I love that you figured it all out on your own!! And that it is all hand sewn is just amazing!! That you didn't do it the "right" way means nothing: you did it your way and that is what is important! I think it is an amazing quilt and I'm glad you rescued it, but also glad that your brother got many years of use out of it. Quilts should be used and loved, and that means that they will get worn and frayed a bit. Thanks for sharing it: it was wonderful to see! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

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  21. That was quite the quilt for a new, self-taught quilter. I think it's wonderful that it lasted 28 years of loving use. One thing is for sure, your eye for colour was always there. I love your fabric/colour choices in this quilt. It's gorgeous.

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  22. What a compliment that the quilt was so used!! I recently got one "back" from my sister that didn't seem to ever have been washed meaning that in the 35 years she owned it, it was probably never used. Not sure which injured my pride more, getting it back or it not having been used? Enjoy the repair work!

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  23. What a great post, so interesting to see your journey as an early quilter. That quilt is so tricky for a beginner, wow!

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  24. Lovely quilt, so warm and cozy I can imagine how much it was loved by your brother. Good idea to retire it from use. What do we do with all these quilts?

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  25. Thanks for sharing this post, Karen. It was so interesting to see how your handled the construction and reconstruction of it. It was well used. A lovely pattern.

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  26. Soy una seguidora tuya, me encantas tus quilts de hexagonos. Muchas gracias por enseñarnos este precioso Quilt que tú hiciste poquito a poco hace tantos años y al pie de la cama de tu padre. Felicidades por reconstruirlo. Un saludo

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