Tags
1930s quilts, Fabric Study, feed sacks, hand quilting, handquilting, old quilt tops, old quilts, quilt collections
I have recently acquired a couple of very sweet old unfinished projects.The first of these is a house block quilt top. It is predominately made from feed sacks and contains plains, florals, plaids and one polka dot.
Florals and plains
House block
A deliberate mistake perhaps!
The quilt was not particularly well made and is slightly wonky. Despite this it has a certain charm and as I love feed sack fabrics and house quilts I couldn’t pass it by.
I am stabilising the edges by stitching narrow ribbon to the outside edges and easing the blocks onto the ribbon to bring them back to size.
Ribbon stitched to outside edge of each block
I am hopeful that I will achieve a flatter, straight quilt that I can then quilt and finish.
The second project that I am working on is a collection of signature blocks.
Album Blocks
The fabrics used to piece the blocks are typical of the 20s or 30s.Some of the blocks are complete with an embroidered name while others have been signed but not embroidered. The piecework ranges from basic stitching to an expert level. The blocks were not all exactly the same size. With a little trimming I have a working measurement of 12 3/4 inches. I am setting them together with lattice and setting squares cut from feed sack fabric and adding these to each block. When joined this will create a nice scrappy design.
Lattice and setting squares
On the design wall.
The blocks are very charming and include interesting fabrics. These friends made use of fabrics they had on hand and the cream backgrounds include calicos, taffeta and a heavy linen.
Nellie ran short of fabric!
While peacefully stitching these two projects I am reflecting on the lives of the ladies who made the original pieces. It is lovely to finish a quilt started many years ago. While contemplating the lives of these quilters I am also giving some thought to another little set of blocks.
More Feed sacks in these gorgeous blocks
I am waiting for inspiration of how to set these adorable blocks together into a quilt.
I will keep you posted. Peaceful Stitching from Janette, The Plain Needlewoman.
The Plain Needlewoman 
I love the plan to finish these old projects–I have a number of quilt tops and sets of blocks lying around and need to do the same. And I am most grateful for the idea of using ribbon to even out and stabilize the edge of that wonky quilt–I will use the idea on my own old/wonky quilt!
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Hi Kerry, Glad that I have been helpful. I have tried this technique on a quilt I made, It is a Kansas Dugout and I had cut the blocks so the outside edges were on the bias. Rather than unpick them, I measured the ribbon to the finished size of the piece and hand stitched the narrow ribbon onto the wrong side on the very edge of the blocks. It prevented the edges stretching while I was quilting it and the binding went on very well and the quilt turned out lovely and straight. I hope this works on my house quilt. Good luck with your quilt, sending best wishes, Janette
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Your blog delights me! Is it possible to find your earlier posts? I know they would delight me just as much!
Greetings and thanks (from thousands of miles away) from Sarah
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 11:06 AM, The Plain Needlewoman wrote:
> mcinnesjanette posted: ” I have recently acquired a couple of very sweet > old unfinished projects.The first of these is a house block quilt top. It > is predominately made from feed sacks and contains plains, florals, plaids > and one polka dot. The quilt was not particularly” >
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Hi There, Thank you for your kind words. I think you should be able to see all my Posts. I only started the blog in August 2014, so that is the first post. Hope this helps, Sending my best, Janette
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Your projects are wonderful! The house quilt is charming,with quilting I think that it will help hide some of the tucks and fullness. The scrappy lattice and setting blocks really bring color to the signature blocks,shows them off nicely!!
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Hi and Thank you, I hope you are right, Will see how I go. Kind regards Janette
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Loved looking at these old quilt blocks. Thanks for shering.
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Hi Janet,
Thank you for your kind words and glad you liked the blocks.
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Should be sharing, not shering as posted. ;^)
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Oh my how I love your blog!! I love the sunbonnet sue quilt, it is really different, You are very lucky to find some neat old sweet things!! I love vintage and really love feedsacks!!
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Thank you for your kind words. The old quilts, patterns and fabrics are really lovely and we are lucky that we can appreciate these lovely treasures from the past.
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