Antique blocks become a quilt

I was charged with the task of taking these Northwind blocks and alternating homespun squares and turning them into a quilt.  Oh, be sure to click on the picture to make it larger so you can really see what is going on.

It’s going to be a little bit like making sausage, I don’t know if you really want to know how I did it.  Check out the edges on this block!  By the way, they are hand pieced.I started pressing all of the Northwind blocks. Someone washed them, and they were in a big mess.  They were more or less flat, but the seams were wonky in every direction.  Then I arranged them in a planned random order on my design wall.

Then I sewed the blocks into rows.  There were plenty of areas that had bias, so careful easing was in order.So the rows are assembled. See the wonky block? And the off-grain of the homespun on the left?Now all the rows are joined.  There is a lot of “action” going on here, ripples and puckers.Now it’s time to figure out what kind of backing I’m going to use.  I resort to my trusty antique fabrics.This was formerly a feed sack or a flour sack. The string chain stitching is still in the fabric. I’ll bet it is at least 75 years old, which goes well with the blocks.Here’s a look at the back of the quilt top.  Pretty scary, huh?And another look at the back. . .And one last look.  See the little pleats?  Do you remember me telling you that I carefully trimmed the blocks?  No?  That’s because I didn’t!  I left them all exactly as I was presented them.  I know better than to try trimming up hand pieced blocks. I would undoubtedly trim all the knots and then I would really have a mess.  I had a method to my madnessNow I skip through the quilting–my favorite pattern for antique quilts–Baptist Fan.It’s pure magic!  It lays flat, the blocks look pretty good, and I’ve taken a pile of totally wonked out blocks and beat them into submission.  They will take on life now as this absolutely charming Northwinds quilt!  Now I have to go digging for some appropriate binding.  It has been a most rewarding day.