ok....ok....! I didn't catch the center floral arrangement....I didn't think to note mirror images...to me it is a symmetrical obvious...Glad this is sparking so much interest.....Kind of like a forget me not quilt....

Sandra--YOU didn't notice??? I have the quilt right here in front of me and I never noticed there were 3 flowers in the center!!!! Great work, Suzanne!

Thanks ladies! As many of you have learned, I am "appliquer" at heart.

One of my current projects is making an applique/pieced quilt that is dated 1860-1890. When I saw it, I knew I'd be making it. I must learn to take a digital and then how to post for you to see.

The blocks remaining to be made are pieced. (Of course, I did the two different applique blocks first.) The best description would be, if you can follow me, is 1/4 of a sunburst in three colors in seven rays. The smallest piece is about the size of your little fingernail. I plan to paperpiece these blocks as the three pieces in one ray are so small. Then four rays, radiate toward the center from the four corners. --- When you see this block(s) one has to wonder who a quilter from the 1800's was able to piece with such accuracy owing she did not have the tools and template plastic we use now. I stand in awe of her. No name accompanies it which is such a shame as she will not receive the accolades she had earned and deserves.

The quilt described is in plain fabrics, two pinks, two greens on a muslin background.

Regardless, the quilt at hand. As photographed, note that the top row, center flowers (blue on white), the stem is not a mirror image to its counterpart at the bottom. I would be interested in learning if the top row of flower groups (white on blue) is a mirror of the bottom row of white on blue.

Thanks again. Suzanne

Suzanne

Suz, I took a few shots of the borders folded to be beside each other. I think the quilter did her best to mirror the applique.

Leslee, have pulled my old McCall Needlework mags from 1949-51 and have been searching them...no luck there , but have found some wonderful patterns. I did e-mail a couple of companies concerning the pattern offers listed in there. Yes! some of these are still around and expect to hear from them soon...if they have copy will let you know. Also could check in the Dayton papers or Cincinnati papers archives for mention of patterns. Two of the largest commercial quilt and pattern manufacturers main offices were in those towns. Quilt and search...quilt and search....

This is really fascinating. Not only did we see a beautiful pattern and old quilt but ar learning the history of quilts and pattern companies!

Isn't it fascinating? When I posted the pic, I thought everyone would write to say their grandmothers had made this pattern dozens of times. And there's something else I've learned and hoped this quilt will remind us of. Tho it's an old quilt and it's been often-used and well-loved, we can all see the damage that could have been avoided. Proper folding over the years and the right storage most likely would have stopped the holes and tears along the fold lines and the yellowed areas. Not leaving large areas unquilted would have avoided the cotton batt shift. And the rule I'm reminded of the most: DOCUMENT the quilt!! Put a date and a signature somewhere on it, your quilt may live for decades and become somebody's mystery!! :roll:

Good point! Over the years as my skills have grown, i've started trying (in some cases) to make a teeny replica of the block to use for the label and done just that. Put who it was for the date and my name. Its a quirk of mine--like a teeny Sunbonnet Sue or aq teeny fan like the bigger one. But it gives the quilt some more individuality that makes it exclusively for the recipient. Dating is so important! Its a shame, that more of the old ones weren't dated.
I have what I think is old quilt in the closet. It has a crocheted afghan and cotton batting in the middle. I paid $25.00 for at a flea mkt in Hot Springs ARk 25 years ago. It is bad shape but I don't know what to do to fix it and hate to get rid of it because I think its really old. I wouldn't mind donating it to a museum but really don't know how to go about even doing that or if anyone would be interested.

Vicki, Check these sites for now....RockyMountainQuilts.com....or OldTrinitySchoolhouseQuilts.com.....Having something from the purchase would give you a name to locate...but that water has long been under that bridge....Documentation is certainly very important...remembering even more so....I gotta'work on it too. As for your local museum, ask them...if they don't they would know where they would...

Good idea!