Skip to main content

Old Loves

While I've been spring cleaning I've been parting with some quilts I can't use anymore, but this is one I'll always keep. It's very heavy, worn, and presently too fragile to be used for anything but display. Despite those limitations this is one of my favorite quilts of all time.

The reason I love it is that it's the first hidden quilt I ever found. This quilt was batted with an older quilt that is hidden inside.

Using old, worn-out quilts as batting for new was a frugal way for makers to source batting. It also preserved quilts that were probably much-loved. I had a conserrvator look at this one and she estimated that it dates back to the 1930's, so it's almost 100 years old.

The maker sashed her blocks and created backing out of flour and feed sacks, too, which only adds to the charm of the quilt.

I have no idea what the quilt hidden inside looks like; I've never taken it apart. The quilting is pretty dense, and I'd have to pick that apart. Since the fabric is super fragile I'd likely tear it. I don't want to destroy the quilt just to satisfy my curiosity, so I'll just enjoy owning what is forever a mystery.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Better than Fried

I cut some chives from the kitchen garden to make garlic-chive baked fries for dinner. This is a great side dish for veggie burgers. Click here for the recipe from Taste of Home.com.
Post a Comment
Read more

Make It Yourself

As we head into December, here are ten ideas for easy handmade gifts: Cookie Exchange: If you live close to your friends invite them over for a cookie exchange. Basically everyone bakes a set amount of their favorite cookies, and these are exchanged at the gathering by lottery, sharing a little from each batch with everyone, or however you want to do it. You can also exchange recipes, too. My neighbor did this once and it was wonderful. Favorite Recipe Cookbook : For my favorite person I found a copy of my favorite cookbook from a vintage bookseller (yes, I am that old) and went through it making notes on all the recipes I used, how I tweaked them, etc. Ornament: There are probably a million free tutorials on how to make your own holiday ornaments, so do some research online. I like to make hanging pomanders , which smell heavenly and are biodegradable after the holidays. Mug Rugs: If you sew, making up a set of mug rugs is simple and easy; I add these every year to my ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Journal Find

This is a page from my 2010 poetry journal. My handwriting isn't the best, so I'll transcribe it: If my heart survives to tell all the secrets kept inside it will be an abalone shell in which the beauty did reside. But I think I will always be lost to the tides that rage in me . . . humbling and polishing . . . I don't write many self-portrait poems, but this one isn't too embarrassing. A bit overly dramatic, but the girl I was eleven years ago went through some tough times. I'm in a much more peaceful place today.
Post a Comment
Read more