Sunday, February 24, 2019

Generational Quilting

Generous Ellen sold me this feed sack top...a few years back.
 I had planned to quilt it in the era from which it came....
However, I have learned my lesson
from my red and white Puss in the Corner Quilt
  

There are some pieces of seersucker in this feedsack quilt...at first I thought ..
.well, that cannot be from this time...
Alas...it can...Wikipedia Seersucker

My lesson comes from:
This red and white Puss in the Corner quilt below originating from Boone, NC,
 said the dealer from whom I purchased it
for $15...perfect condition, about 7 years ago.
In order to pay it the honor due, I carefully chose a reproduction backing from around the turn of the 20th century
My friends tied it for me on a Wednesday night because hand quilting is mine no longer.
Everyone loved this quilt...batted with wool...both top and backing so soft and nice.
In short order, the quilt top all fell apart.
Three children , two old grandparents, 2 cats and one dog.
Now, you can see above almost in shreds.
It has been patched with most any red spare block I could find.
So much for preserving a pristine antique.

At my age, I want to use what I have.
Another lesson learned is future generations and even now...folks have
different ideas on what is valuable.
Therefore, my feed sack quilt is backed with flannel, batted with wool
and machine quilted with the serpentine stitch over the seams as Jean
suggested.  Although this quilt probably has 40 years on the red and white Puss in the Corner,
We are still looking at fabric and hand piecing almost 80 years old.


The above generational quilt from my collection is shown here on 
my daughter's bed, in Portland.
I bought it in Oklahoma City about 30 years ago for $85.
Again, turn of the 20th century fabric, mostly, but who knows. 
It is tied with what looks like postal string...and backed with some
random purple plaid..from much later.
Looks like the batting is some netting, maybe the last of an old blanket as this quilt is quite heavy.
I love this quilt..So many fabrics..a few rips and tears..
A great example of a generational quilt.
I have given it to my next generation, my daughter.

PS  Speaking of antique...Google now says that 65% of Americans live to 70

3 comments:

Bridget said...

Interesting take on your antique finds, Diane. I have one old quilt top and also a complete one, both found at a second hand store. We use the finished quilt infrequently, but I decided long ago not to quilt (or have quilted) the top because it looks like it's already falling apart. An interesting conversation piece, but that's about it. I guess we can't rescue everything!

Teresa said...

Thanks for sharing pictures of your quilts and telling us about them. Enjoyed reading your post.

Mystic Quilter said...

You're the lucky one with those lovely antique quilts, I think I like the first quilt best of all, lovely pastel shades - strange for me to say that as I always go for the bright and bold!