Once a month, we will try to showcase a quilt from one of our MPS members. Whether we’ve been quilting for decades or are just beginning our quilting journey, we are a talented bunch; and we inspire each other regularly with the many wonderful quilts that are created. So it seems fitting that we showcase a quilt in hopes it will inspire others. (You can click on any of the images to see a larger view.)
grand old gal
This quilt top spent many, many years in a travel trunk. Then it was given to Marcia, because the owner of the top knew that she was a quilter. The top spent another year and a half in Marcia’s closet until the time was perfect for it to finally see the light of day. Marcia then turned it over to Linda for help.
This is what Linda learned about the quilt top:
- The log cabins were foundation pieced by hand using lights and darks for the logs
- The fabrics probably date back to the 1920’s (exemplified by three-color patterns, soft solids, and polka dots)
- The fabrics had a previous life as clothing or curtains
- More than one person probably made the blocks (there was some discrepancy in the block sizes, seam sizes, and the sewing expertise)
Because the quilt top was so dirty and dinghy, Linda gave it a gentle rinse before she began working on it. None of the fabrics bled which validates Linda’s belief that the fabrics had been part of something else before they were cut into logs for this quilt.
She is careful to say that she only repaired and stabilized the top; she did not restore it. There were quite a few places with very narrow or fraying seams; so she did the repairs using a small basting stitch with quilting thread. Repairs were possible because it had been foundation pieced.
The foundation pieces for these log cabins were made from flannels, curtains, clothing, and muslin. You can see from the photo that the block sizes were not congruent, which added to the challenge of getting the quilt flat and square.
After making her repairs, Linda added batting and a soft yellow backing. Hand quilting this was a difficult because of the numbers of layers and the kind of fabrics used for the foundations. Linda earned herself a new callous and an inflamed joint. But I think we can all agree that the effort was worth it.
After the quilt was bound, Linda gave it a good bath. She placed a bed sheet in the bathtub and used a little Dawn dishwashing liquid in the water to clean the quilt. When she was finished, she was able to lift the quilt from the tub using the sheet and then place it on a beach towel to dry flat. Both Linda and Marcia say the change in the quilt’s appearance is remarkable.
So, kudos to Marcia for recognizing this quilt top deserved another look. And kudos to Linda for giving this top another chance to show itself as the quilt it was meant to be. The owner is delighted with the finished product and we hope she will display it proudly.
You can let us know what you think of this Grand Old Gal in the comments below.
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What a wonderful story! I have washed quilts in a bathtub using the method described here. To dry each one I laid a fresh white sheet on the lawn in my backyard then put the quilt on it. It dried quickly because the lawn helped air circulate underneath. Has anyone else tried this?
– Sharon Rub
Thank you for sharing!
I would appreciate full names so that we can fully credit the women who worked on this. Marcia S?, Linda G?
This is such a beautiful story of love for quilting. Thank you to Marcia and Linda for trusting each other to bring a beautiful piece back to life. Thank you to Dianne for focusing on this quilt.
Remember when we used to focus on one of our members each month? MPS is a very talented group and a generous group willing to share with each other.
Wouldn’t it be story to know about all the fabrics and how the quilt was pieced! I appreciate our MPS guild blog focusing on a quilt each month – look forward to the next quilt.
What a labor of love!
Kim K
So glad it was able to be restored. If that quilt could talk about its history. Just as an FYI…I have an acquaintance who also wanted a quilt restored. Lo and behold, our dear Miki L does this as part of her business (Enchanted Rose Emporium) . I had a very interesting conversation with Miki about the process. Kim T.
I would love to learn more about the process of restoration or identification of old or damaged quilts as part of a quilt college presentation.