Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Vintage Utility Quilt and AHIQ September 2016

It's time for another utility and improvisational quilt linkup. What have you been doing?

I've been away so long my sewing space looks very cluttered and crowded. I've been trying to clear out the partially finished pieces. Also, my fabric appears to have had babies while I've been gone. Time to sort through it.

DH's grandmother made this quilt in Wood County, Texas. I slept under it the last time we were there. Rod Kiracofe's collection includes at least one quilt from Wood County. There are a couple of places that need mending. I'm planning to bring a bit of old fabric to applique over the fraying sections and preserve the fabric underneath.

Scrap strings edged with pale orange. Border of pastel yellow and orange.
Scrap quilt from Wood County, TX

The hexagonal lozenges may have been pieced on newsprint although the entire quilt is hand pieced and quilted. The orange solids are set in with Y-seams. It's also unusual for the yellow and orange borders. She finished it with Baptist fans.

Enjoy the day, Ann

InLinkz removed because it was hacked.

21 comments:

Marly said...

What an interesting old quilt. It's hard to see "blocks" in the conventional sense in it at all, except for the orange squares. I love the colourful effect which comes from using so many scraps apparently haphazardly.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

What a great quilt! I love that orange color.

KaHolly said...

It's gorgeous!

Nifty Quilts said...

Wow! What an inspiring quilt! It makes me want to drop everything and sew some scraps together. Thank you!

patty a. said...

Love that quilt! Repairing it before it gets any worse is a great idea. I just love old scrappy quilts. The orange in it just sets it off!

Cathy said...

I love the colors in this - makes it look so warm and inviting. So does the quilting. I've always wanted to try Baptist Fans. I feel like snuggling.

Ann said...

Square blocks almost appear but they are an illusion. This quilt is composed of hexagonal lozenges of strings and small orange squares. It was a joy to handle and spend so much time looking at. I'm glad you like it, too, Marly.

Ann said...

I agree, Shasta. It looks like orange sherbert!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Beautiful old quilt -- the colors are wonderful! I've shared one of my rescue quilts (older unfinished top updated and quilted to give it new life)

Ann said...

Thanks, Lee Ann. String quilts have the same effect on me. It was a treat to spend so much time with this quilt and look at all the accurate but improvisational piecing. I know this was quilted before rotary tools.

Kaja said...

Beautiful. How lucky you are to have been up close and personal with this.

Ann said...

Thank for writing, Patty. A friend used to repair quilts for museums. She recommended encasing bindings in a new binding and using tulle on the front. Basically, keeping/conserving everything. This quilt is fraying along the strings in two places but it's still in use so tulle doesn't seem like a solution here. In old plaid shirt of my husband's seems like it would cover those areas and maintain the style.

Ann said...

This is a snuggling quilt. Baptist Fans look so lovely, don't they? They seem to require a lot of marking though.

Ann said...

These old utility quilts have such a variety of fabrics. I looked at yours and it's just a interesting. Congratulations.

Ann said...

Thanks, Kaja. It is interesting how much more you discover when you can hold them in your hands.

audrey said...

So unique. Love the scrappiness and the bolder color choice! Thanks for the reminder that Vintage Utility is improv. I am very drawn to that style.:)

Mystic Quilter said...

Wonderful old quilt, I love the design. Must be exciting to find these treasures.

Monica said...

What a great quilt, thanks for sharing! Isn't it interesting how some of the strings go across instead of along? She probably had some shorter pieces left. And I love the orange background. Orange is a neutral! So many great ideas. :D

Ann said...

It's so typical - we think we invented everything. But then discover how similar styles were used in the past. Looking at this quilt, I believe she saved clothing for the strings but purchased the solids just for the quilt. Partly that's from the amount of fabric and partly from the shapes of the pieces.
You make this style so well yourself; and then add lovely applique. Always fun to see what you're doing.

Ann said...

Thanks, Maureen. It's a treat to have so many still in the family.

Ann said...

You noticed that, too! I think you're right; she had shorter pieces to use up. Her color arrangements on the strings are also intriguing. I think of the orange as scrumptious sherbert.