Rescue Quilt Series – Old and New again
Happy Birthday, America!
You are probably at a barbecue, or park or chilling somewhere on the lake, river or ocean, and you are probably reading this after the 4th, but this quilt is all red, white and blue, so I just had to post about it today. Β Enjoy your Independence day!!
Old and New again – a Rescue Quilt Series
If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that from time to time I will purchase a vintage quilt top that was left unfinished by some known or unknown quilt. Β Somebody’s work whose story was never told.
I’ve discussed in detail how I find these here. Β And I’ve discussed how I clean them up before I begin working on them here.
But I’ve been in to them more lately.
I thought it might be fun and constructive to start purchasing only the rescue quilts that I want to replicate. Β For example, what if I purchase a rescue quilt, finish it, and then create a pattern, replicating the same pattern with modern construction OR putting a twist on it.
I think this could be fun, plus it will give me some direction with the rescue quilts I bring home and future quilt patterns.
So this is the plan. Β Stay tuned for it with my next rescue quilt finish. Β Until that time, let me show you the rescue quilt I found, (maybe from the nineties) and recently finished.
I’ve been sitting on this one for a year. Β It’s been in a pile of other rescue quilt tops waiting for me, beckoning me. Β “The last maker didn’t finish me,” it says. Β “Will you?”
With the 4th approaching, I felt inspired to pull it out. Β I’ve put it off, because I found it kinda simple, and the fabrics weren’t that old. Β I’m not really sure why I purchased it. Β Maybe I got a good deal? Β Maybe because of it’s mint condition? Β Regardless, I found nothing special about it. Β And I’m not a big fan of the cream colors. Β They always feel dirty to me and they don’t pop like whites do.
But I forced myself on. Β It’s almost the fourth and I should be working on something related to that. Β That’s what I told myself.
But then, as always, something magical happens. Β My eye catches something that it didn’t notice before. Β At first all I saw were stars in Americana colors. Β Once on the design wall, I saw they were simply all part of a bigger star or four bigger stars, I should say.
Do you see it?
Plus, the maker’s use of the white with the cream that makes the blue sawtooth stars pop was SUCH a great touch.
Then, of course I noticed the toile fabric features all these little scenes of the flay being driven into the ground, of horses and buggies with the flag flying. Β It really is a lovely quilt.
So note to self: Β don’t judge so quickly. Β Take your time, take it all in, and find something beautiful about it.
I mentioned that I’m not a big fan of cream colored materials and I didn’t have much of anything for backing, except this wide minky fabric. Β Which is utterly luscious! Β Find it for sale here.
I binded with a check from Art Gallery fabrics. Β I’m not sure if they have it available any longer.
This quilt has already sold.
Next time I discuss rescue quilts, the series begins!
a note about quilting on minky
This gets asked quite often. Β I have no problem quilting on minky using my home machine as long as the minky is not embossed or it’s not minky or cuddle dotted fabric. Β The kind I like is smooth, so you get the minky feel, but not the issues. Β It feels like butter running through my machine. Β It is however, harder on my arms. Β It’s heavy, so it takes more effort to move the quilt around.
With that said, I have quilted on the minky dot fabric and I was also able to do it. Β It just wasn’t as smooth.
Minky will make your quilt incredibly soft, thick and warm, and heavy.
