Quilt Curious
 

I've had this quilt for many years, think it belonged to my great-grandmother, but never gave it much thought. I've been looking through the patterns on this website and they are generally quite lively compared to the relatively simple pattern of this one. It looks handmade, some odd shapes stitched together on the backing and uneven rows of stitching. Wondering if anyone has seen similar or even what it would be called...four block?? At the moment just enjoying looking at all the fabric patterns that make it up. If this is made from scraps of cloth used for clothes people were not afraid of patterns when this was made! It's a good size as well, about 200 x 190 inches.

Thanks!

Wow! I'm sure it was all pieced by hand. Can you imagine the hours that went in to this???

WOW! What a treasure!!!! Antique quilts are, to me, the real works of art. They are made with what every they had to work with, cut out with scissors and probably stitched by hand. Beautiful!!!!

That's a treasure!
As Tartan said it's a four patch alternated with single blocks.
Wow!

Ha! just looked at my post...it's big but meant to say 'cm' instead of 'inches'!!!! It's about 6'6" square or so....big but not that big!

Yes, it is a four patch. It is a pattern that can be used so many ways. This is a fun quilt.

Lovely to have this from your heritage. Not sure of the pattern but very nicely done.

That is a beautiful quilt and what a treasure!

Very nice quilt and what a treasure you have. It is a four patch with solid fabric squares alternating. In those days the women used many fabrics that were available like old worn out dress, aprons and sometimes I know my grandmother used sheets.

That quilt really is enormous. Lucky you to have this heirloom:thumbup:

I made a mistake on the size...should say 200 centimeters, not inches!

Even so, it's still big!

Whoever made it, had a good eye for design and color!

I think it's interesting that the light colored blocks of fabric are almost always on the same diagonal across the quilt...with just a few exceptions...wonder what happened there...

You have a beautiful treasure.

That’s the type of quilt I grew up with! I have one about the same pattern and used to tatters but I won’t get rid of it! Yours looks to be in good shape, treasure it!

A lovely treasure! :)

You have a treasure for sure! From the fabrics, I can see this quilt dates to the mid 1800's, and it looks in great shape. Take good care of it!

I think that makes it look more interesting than if it had been completely consistent in the layout.

It may or may not have been intentional, but I like it the way it is.

That is a special, special treasure. I love antique quilts. We have several that my husband's grandmother made in the '30's and they are truly treasures. Love yours!

I second the Wows and cannot imagine the hours of handwork in that beauty. Thank you for sharing your treasure.

I thought about the size you gave first and thought it might have covered the entire family,... if it were a large bunch!

It is a real treasure! So well done without our fancy tools and machines. Lovely!

Awesome old 4-patch! As has been mentioned, quilts were made very differently back then. Loved the close ups of the fabric.

Well, if it is as old as you think...it is in great shape! There are just a few patches...mostly dark brown fabrics for some reason...where the fibers have come apart and the batting is visible. Suppose I should have these fixed or stabilized or something. I'm a bit naive on this but what constitutes taking good care of it? Perhaps I need to rethink this but we still use it...this pic is from last weekend! You can see the red and black check pattern backing in this pic as well, I like the contrast with the green front. What's the thinking among quilters about using what might be an antique quilt?

Oh my gosh that is fantastic. Quilts are meant to be used.

The acid green, pink and the shirtings look like Civil War fabrics. Love all those interesting prints in the 4-patches.

Such a treasure!

LOVE it. Thanks for sharing. BrendaK

A beautiful keepsake.

Wow, what a delightful quilt!

It's up to you, but in using it, it will eventually wear out. I don't use mine, but instead store them properly (no extremes of hot or cold like in an attic, not touching unfinished wood, etc.) When I initially got mine, all were dirty and all were first properly cleaned before being stored. I soak them in Restoration in either a bathtub or washing machine with absolutely no agitation, rinse and spin out twice with cool water and again, absolutely no agitation, line dry out of the sun.

You could stabilize the fragile parts by putting tulle over them. The benefit of this is that the tulle, if matched to the color it is covering, will be nearly invisible when finished. I have done this when repairing antique quilts.

It is not uncommon to see some fabrics disintegrating in older quilts. This was caused by certain dyes which destroyed the fabrics. Use tulle or some stabilizing fabric to prevent further damage and continue to enjoy the quilt.

Many comments about how long it must have taken to sew this quilt. I counted the blocks to see how many pieces of fabric make this quilt. The pattern is 49 x 51 blocks =2499 blocks. Half of those are four patch blocks so that's 1249 x 4 = 4996 patches + the 1250 solid blocks = 6249 pieces of fabric not including border and backing which is also pieced together. So....how many hours do you think it took to sew this, never mind cutting, etc?

I love your quilt!!!

But I have mixed feelings about it.

On one hand, I am sure there is a museum out there that would love to have your family quilt in their collection, especially if it is indeed from the mid 1800's and can be "verified". Or cherished by future family members as having been done by an ancestor.

But then I think of all the hours spent putting that quilt together with the thought that it would keep the family warm on cold nights. And then you posted your picture of it being used for just that purpose and I literally got goose bumps and then a warm glow in my heart.

Preserve it or use it, only you can decide.

What a treasure you have there. It's wonderful

Oh my, it is good thing I wasn't from the pioneer days because my family would have frozen to death before I got all those tiny little pieces cut out and hand sewed together. LOL

It is really a beautiful piece of art. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Wow what patients you have. This is wonderful!