Finishing a vintage quilt top

Plaid borderThis vintage quilt top was probably never finished because of that wild plaid outside border. So, why not remove it and find something more appropriate? Of course I’ll save the removed border for another project down the road. dress sleeveI have a stash of vintage fabric, and this old cotton dress seemed to have just the flavor I was looking for. It was in good condition and there was plenty of usable fabric. custodia iphone se apple originale serged edgeUpon close inspection, I see the edges were serged. custodia guscio iphone 8 I wonder how long sergers have been around? OK. I just did a Google search and discovered that “overlock” machines were invented in 1881 by J. Merrow. custodia iphone 7 amore I never would have guessed they were that old! I remember getting my first serger around 1980 (One hundred years after they were invented!)New borderIt looks better already, huh? I think it is absolutely charming now and can’t wait to quilt it. quilted and boundAnd here it is quilted and machine bound, just waiting for the final handwork to complete the binding. I used the sticky buns pattern to quilt it, which is like following the lines on a pan of cinnamon rolls. custodia iphone 8 lupo It lays so nice and flat and has such great appeal. I really love how it looks now and I’m sure the original maker would be so pleased that it is finally useful. DSC04832OK, now for a closer look at the blocks: I think the maker had a “use what you have” mentality. I like that! DSC04833Three different fabrics used for one block that normally would have been made using two fabrics. In my opinion, they don’t even “go” together. DSC04835Then the maker throws in something like this, two different pinks, and a shot of red! DSC04836And finally, this one: six different fabrics, almost completely unrelated. And if you double click on the picture you can see that many of these were pieced. custodia iphone 8 braccio Now go back up to the finished quilt and look how charming the overall quilt is.

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4 Responses to Finishing a vintage quilt top

  1. Sue Winkel says:

    Great job Pam:)

  2. Dee says:

    Like that pantograph. The quilt is adorable. Is your label on?

  3. Amy Kay says:

    The Japanese have a term: wabi-sabi. I think it means that less perfection equals better outcome. Seems the original maker of the quilt top was inherently aware of this in regards to matching up fabrics. Someone really did go wrong with that plaid border though. Good for you that you didn’t feel obligated to keep that- this quilt is much more enjoyable now!

  4. pkay says:

    I LOVE it! I am wabi-sabi. I’m going to keep that term, and hopefully it won’t become hackneyed with me.

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