What Qualifies as Trip Around the World?
 

A biscuit quilt my grandmother made for my high school graduation was selected for display in Lubbock's Ranching Heritage Museum's special quilt display in May. I am writing up the description for it now and have a question.

The basic design to me is "Trip Around the World" except that the design is not "on point". I don't know the actual definition of the design, but the ones I have seen have the design "on point". Please take a look at my picture and let me know if this is "Trip Around the World". If not, is there a name for the design?

Thanks!

Dayle

P.S. Take a guess at what was used to stuff the squares.

I am not an expert, but I would agree with your first assumption that it is a Trip Around the World - it will be interesting to see what other quilters think.

The stuffing? The very first thought that jumped into my head was nylons!

Oops! Forgot to tell you that it is a beautiful quilt!

Gorgeous quilt! I would agree that it qualifies as a TATW. As to what stuffs it - plastic bread wrappers?

Nice quilt. I'll throw another curve and ask if it a Boston Commons.

Darren

My understanding is the traditional Trip Around the World, looks more like this ...
http://quiltville.com/tatw.shtml

It gives a somewhat on point look, because of the layout starting with one centre block (the world), and then squares around.

Whereas yours is an on point layout, which gives more of a square look.

Because of that, I'd think yours is more likely a Boston Commn variation ...
http://smartflix.com/store/video/648...n-Common-Quilt

To me it doesn't matter! It's beautiful!

I believe you'll find out that it's puffs of poly batting!



GMTA ... you posted while I was looking for a link! :)

It reminds me of a trip around the world too. Just wanted to post and say it's lovely.

Wesing and QuiltE: I think you are right - it must be Boston Commons now that I have seen your references. Instead of a long center, the long rectangular quilt shape on my quilt is obtained by extra rows at the top and bottom. But definitely, the fact that mine has the individual squares set on point makes it fit the Boston Common group.

w7sue, you are right -- the squares are filled with nylon stockings! This quilt dates to pre-pantyhose. Everyone in our family and half the town, supplied my grandmother with their used stockings. She cut the thicker tops off the stockings, as well as the reinforced toes. The squares were sewn by machine, filled with a stocking, and then attached to one another with hand stitching. The quilt is super heavy!

Thanks, everybody for your input!

Dayle
Dayle

Can't help with the pattern but that quilt is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

Really love the colors!! Beautiful quilt!

Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous!

I still think it's more like a TATW, with the squares set on point rather than straight across. It looks like this vintage TATW - http://annchampion.com/?tag=trip-around-the-world-quilt. The Boston Commons seem to be very much like a TATW, but without the center square from which the trip originates. However, I suspect that these names are used interchangeably, and perhaps the TATW is just a variant of Boston Commons, or vice versa. Whatever the pattern, it is a beautiful quilt and a real heirloom.

Love your quilt, it is so beautiful!!

Wow! I love your quilt! And your grandmother made for you! It's so stunning!

The quilt is lovely, congratulations on its being chosen for display at the Heritage Museum. My guess for stuffing is small fabric scraps, to small to use for anything else.

After the exhibit is over, I am considering a remake of this quilt. I would like to open the squares and take the nylons out. Then use it as a quilt top for a regular quilt. The reason for the modification is that the quilt is just too heavy. Right now I am not using it for that reason. I have a trundle bed that it would be perfect for.

Any opinions on that? I know some people think it should be left as it is, but I think my grandmother would rather see me using it -- she was a very practical person. Some of the scraps in the quilt come from clothing sewn by my mother for our family 50 years ago, so it is definitely a treasure.

Thanks for letting me share this with you!

Dayle

While I understand your desire to make it more usable ... I would leave it as is. To open it and change it ... would change it! And I don't think you'd ever get it looking so beautiful in a re-worked life!

If you find it too heavy, could you use it as a bedspread, rather than the practicality of sleeping under it? JMHO!

Very pretty. I have a pattern from an older quilter of the biscuit / or puff. This quilt is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

It's a Boston Commons layout and a really pretty quilt. Everyone will enjoy seeing it, thanks for sharing it with us.

That is a gorgeous quilt. I had to stare at it for a little bit and just simply admire it. Maybe one day I will make a quilt that beautiful.

The quilt is just gorgeous! I never heard of using nylons in a quilt...it is just awesome!

Very lovely quilt and great colors. It reminds me of a big Easter egg with all those wonderful colors.

It is as Boston Commons, and it is beautiful.

Anita in Northfield, MN

What a gorgeous quilt

I wouldn't change it. Right now, it's very rare and what makes it that way are the nylons used as stuffing. Once you remove those you'll still have a pretty quilt, but not a unique one.

It looks like the quilts my daughter made about 15 years ago which was squares filled with poly and then sewed together,

I also forgot to let you know it is a very beautiful quilt which I would be proud of

The TATW pattern has been interpreted many, many ways. Here's an "image" search result on Bing:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...HDRSC1#x0y1733

unless you completely take it ALL apart you can't make it a flat quilt. Those biscuits were meant to PUFF...that means bulk when deflated....they won't lie flat so quilting quilt be a night mare! maybe you could use it as a decoration on the bed!

also this is a boston common, not a TATW!

I read about the Boston Commons and I agree I think it is that. I love the quilt. I'm glad that others will get to see it and enjoy it too!

Its a beautiful quilt - I can't imagine stuffing all those squares then sewing them together - what a wonderful job.

What a gorgeous quilt - love the colors. TATW was the first "big" quilt I made. But I agree that this is probably Boston Commons.

I love this quilt. It is so pretty how lucky you are to have something your grandmother made for you. Do you have infromation on how to make this quilt?

I made quilts 35 years ago for my two daughters. The idea was in Woman's Day, if my memory serves me right. The puffs were stuffed with nylons. Remember, we wore those suckers everyday back then and had sacks of ones with runs. The nylon is much lighter than poly filler and washed better too. Each square had a tiny pleat on each side. You sew them all together with a size smaller square on back. Then you cut a small slit in the backing square and stuff, hand whip the slit close OR sew three sides, stuff and sew last side. I remember it went really fast and I enjoyed making them and the daughters loved them.

My quilt is made a little differently from yours, quilterlois. I am not sure where my grandmother got the pattern, but it would have been closer to 45 years ago. I did recently see a Coats and Clarks brochure with instructions for puff quilts and other energy saving items dated 1977. I don't believe that there is a difference in the size of the square backs and fronts on my quilt, since the puffy quilt shape is the same on both sides. There are no pleats and no slit in the back. The nylon was stuffed in before closing up the square on the last side as you mention as an option.

My quilt is extremely heavy, and it is hard to imagine that polyfil would be heavier. Perhaps I need to open up a few squares and see if Grandma inserted some of her cotton stockings or support hose!

I don't know how long it took her to make this quilt. I am sure that compared to the hand quilted applique quilts that she usually made, this went very fast. I do remember stopping at her house in town after school or staying with her because of an evening basketball game and seeing her working on it that spring. Wonderful memories!!

Thanks, everybody, for your kinds words about this quilt.

dayle

So pretty! To me, this quilt is an excellent reminder that I don't need 100s of dollars to buy designer yardage and perfect batting to make a quilt. A little creativity and resourcefulness can go a long ways and make an amazing finished product.

A gorgeous quilt!

Love your quilt. I believe from my research that the pattern is called Boston Commons. Kelela

how about calling it "a trip around Boston Commons" just to throw all for a loop!! ;-) It is beautiful!! (I personally think it looks like TATW)