My good friend Julee and I spent a fabulous day going to thrift shops yesterday - and having lunch at Dutch Mother's in Lynden.
At the first thrift shop I spied this old quilt from the 30s and when discovering that the price was only 12.50, I knew it had to come home with me. (It could have come home with me for a whole lot more - but I was tickled to get it for 12.50). Julee is not a quilter (she's a fabulous painter) so we both didn't covet the vintage quilt.
The background is that wonderful 30s green. It has circles hand quilted on it - and in between the circles are triangles of YoYos.
Most of the YoYos are no longer attached and some are in bad shape - but since my favorite fabrics are 30s reproductions, I know I can redo this quilt to its former glory. I have two medium sized plastic boxes of 30s fabrics - the only fabrics I buy without having a specific project in mind - I just adore the 30s reproductions.
This is one of the few diamonds of YoYos that is still mostly intact . . .
The edge of the quilt has a row of solid color YoYos, and as you can see, a gentle washing is going to be needed for this quilt.
The hand quilted circles in between the diamonds made of YoYos. Someone put a lot of work into this quilt.
I think it was made for a young girl's bedroom. Can't you just feel the excitement as the mother lays the new quilt gently on the bed. The young girl dances and twirls about her room, so excited about the lovely quilt her mother has spent hours making for her. The little girl touches the YoYos, remembering the sun dress made of the same fabric, or a bit of fabric from Grandmother's apron. Each fabric tells her a story of her family and she will cherish it forever.
And now it is mine - to cherish and redo so it will be remembered once again. The stories of the quilt will tell themselves to me as I work on the pieces, getting them back in place, or adding new ones that match. And once again the quilt will have more stories to tell.
What stories do your quilts tell you?
What a beautiful old treasure.I think I might reproduce it instead of repair it.
ReplyDeleteWhat size are the yo-yos? I have lots of vintage yo-yos and vintage fabrics if you want to come over sometime and look through them, see if there are any you can use. Great find! I also have some vintage green that might match that green.
ReplyDeleteThat will be a chore to redo but I know you can do it as well and it will be well worth it. Look forward to seeing the progress you make.
ReplyDeleteThis will surely be a labour of love for yourself! It's fun to think of the quilt's past life.
ReplyDeleteSometimes when I'm working out of Abbotsford I go down to Lynden, so I'll make note of the restaurant you mentioned.
What a find! You have a wonderful repair job ahead of you. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! How wonderful that you are going to fix it up. AS long as the background fabric will hold up to the stitches, it should work. Some of the fabrics in the old quilt on my bed are starting to fall apart. Part of me wants to just keep using it every day until it just dies of old age well loved and well used. And part of me wants to preserve it and keep it safe on a shelf. I wonder what my Great Grandmother would say... she made it.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome find. The color is dreamy. I can't wait to see it all repaired!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I look for these too as I love the old quilts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous find - perfect for such a talented lady!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful and worthwhile project for those dark winter days and nights. I think it will be lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love that shade of green. I hope you will show us the quilt when it's been repaired - a project for winter evenings perhaps?
ReplyDeleteI love 30's fabric repro or real, just like you. I can't wait to see what you do to revive this lovely quilt. Thanks for saving it and getting it to a good home.
ReplyDelete