funny quilts

I've decided, suddenly, that Wednesdays (or at least this one) are for quilting posts.

Spurred on by a conversation with Lene, I set out this morning to take some digital pictures of the antique quilts in my collection. I have a huge collection of them, both finished quilts and tops, having gotten into loads of trouble on eBay years ago.

While I was going through the eight foot tall shelf in my bedroom (no kidding, it's that big) that's filled with quilts, I was looking for a few that would be of particular interest to Lene. However, there are two that I want to share today, and these are the two old quilts I own that just make me laugh.

The first one is an appliqué quilt. Many people think of applique as being fine, detailed, or especially fancy. This one isn't.

This is the funkiest looking appliqué flower, and the flowers themselves are somewhat randomly placed. Although it probably bears some vague relation to traditional pomegranate appliqué quilts, it's just it's own primitive self. Shamelessly so. What I love about this quilt, though, is that the appliqué is really very respectable in it's execution. This quilter didn't choose this simple pattern because her appliqué skills were lacking, she chose it because ... she designed it? She liked it? She wanted a simple project?

Another thing about this quilt is that the quilting is beautiful. It's got feathers and wreaths quilted all over it. This wasn't hastily executed, and considering the simplicity of the flowers, the quilting stitches bring the entire quilt up a notch. Here's a close-up of both the quilting and the appliqué:

As you can see, the quilt is faded, and has lost some of it's stitching. I think it was well used.

The other "funny" quilt I have is a pieced quilt.

Now, look closely. This quilt seems like it was trying to be a traditional eight-pointed star block. But it isn't, really. The pieces, quite honestly, don't fit together very well. Yes, there are eight points, but the points in between were cobbled together and appliquéd to the background.

The funniest part is the center:

(You can click for big, and I'm sorry that it's a little blurry.)

The center was totally and completely botched. You can see that the white diamonds aren't really diamond shaped at all. The solution? Just appliqué a yellow star in the middle and call it done.

This quilter didn't let her mistakes stop her from finishing the quilt with style. This quilt, like the previous one (even more so) is beautifully quilted.

Once again, feathered wreaths, skillfully quilted. Every area of this quilt is filled with beautiful designs, and the quilting is actually quite fine.

I think both of these quilts can teach valuable lessons. About not giving up on something that isn't perfect, about taking something through to the finish, and doing it well, if not flawlessly.

Having lost my good morning sunlight in the bedroom, I won't be taking any more quilt pictures today. But I think I'll be posting more about some of the quilts I've got, as I work on getting them out and photographed.

Comments

[Carrie]

I was just thinking about all the tops I've made over the years that languish, unused, in my closet. I think it might be time to suck it up and realize that at this stage they won't be finished by me, so perhaps I should send them out for quilting so they stop weighing me down.
PS - I LOVE that flower quilt. It's completely adorable.

[Sylvia]

I know that DD and I made some funny textiles when she was young -- she'd draw something and we'd embroider or quilt or sew or knit it together. I think the first one is charming and the second is definitely a tribute to perseverence! Excellent post.

[Lene]

I could learn a lesson here! When I make a mistake, I try to hide it the best I can, either tossing the project away or ripping it; I'll do just about anything so that I will not need to live with it. Maybe instead I should admit it with humble heart and learn to live with it...

[Misty the Kneedler]

Thanks for sharing your collection! I love the flowers - it's also interesting that the quilting seems to go right over the flowers regardless of the shape of the appliques. Is this typical of older, elaborately quilted picees? It's also really nice to see that past generations of women didn't always do all of their handwork perfectly. I think many of us imagine that all women in the pre-machine era did everything perfectly, whether it was knitting or piecing or quilting, and hold ourselves to an impossible standard of perfection. Thanks again!

[colleen]

Are my non-quilter eyes just imagining that the second quilt, although not great technique, is visually balanced? Maybe we're looking at a self-taught quilter here.

[Juno]

You suppose the quilter did that thing where she pointed out the flaws to anyone who admired it? Or did she have the confidence to just say thank you?

[DebbieB]

Thanks for these - I love looking at old quilts and thinking of all the hours of loving stitches involved.

[sue]

Perhaps a young person pieced or appliqued these quilts as a first quilt? Yet the neighborhood of quilting women quilted the quilt as a group?

My mother is 81 years old and she remembers playing under a large quilt frame and WIP quilt set up in her living room as her mother with other women in the neighborhood quilted the quilt.

It might explain the discrepancy between the applique or piecing skill versus the quilting skill displayed.

[mary.l.]

great post! i look forward to more quilting posts with lessons and humor.

[Rebecca]

This is so fascinating. I was thinking maybe the daughter did the piecing and the mother did the quilting, reminds me of early sewing projects that I did.

Sometimes I wonder, as textile people, will our sweaters/dresses/quilts/whatever be around later and someone will find them and notice little quirky things about what we did? Sometimes I imagine that someone would find a sweater that I did and was too in a hurry to wear it to cut all the ends.

I think that the imperfection of the quilt on the bottom is so lovely and human...the quilt ends up being beautiful in spite of it.

[Leslie Wind]

A blog on quilting? And such wonderful pictures. I think you and I could start an ebay anonomous, but not for a while please.
I especially like the part about not having to make things perfectly. I have many more things in my life that I enjoy doing now that the "internal judges" are gone.

[Carrie Ellis]

I found my way here via the Yarn Harlot, so I am thrilled to see my other hobby represented here. Those quilts are lovely! I am especially fond of the first one. I've added you to my Bookmarks and will be back to see more. Thanks for sharing.