Wednesday, 31 December 2003

While I was visiting family for Christmas, my grandmother dug a quilt top out of a closet that my great-grandmother (now deceased) had worked on years ago. We think she probably did it in the 1970s. My grandmother gave it to me to finish off.

My great-grandmother had already loosely basted a middle layer, so I just need to have it cleaned, find some appropriate backing fabric, do a few repairs, and finish it. I think I'll defer working on it for awhile, until I feel more comfortable with my sewing, but I do need to figure out how to clean it (it's quite musty smelling) and start looking for fabric. The fabrics look and feel like some sort of polyester or blend. It's approximately twin-sized (although just to lay on top of one, not to fall down over the sides). I would like to find something to border it with, as well -- but that will also mean figuring out how to extend the 'batting' (which is an old, heavy sheet or two).

Suggestions welcome!

What a wonderful gift! The fabric reminds me of mens' ties. Do you have any plans for what you will do with it when it is finished? Is it for you?

      Quilty comment by Katxena on 31 December 2003

You're right -- it is reminiscent of men's ties.

I have no particular plans (and no requirements) -- I told my grandmother I'd keep her posted but that I probably wouldn't work on it this year.

I think I'll keep it for myself until such time as someone in the generation after mine shows themselves worthy. ;-) Actually, I'm serious about that -- it would be great to be able to give it to one of my cousin's kids at their wedding or something, but I won't give quilts to people I don't think will appreciate them. I feel like I'm turning into some tribal elder where the next generation must prove themselves or something, but I'll be pretty protective of this for awhile. After all, this quilt already basically skipped two generations before landing in my hands. :)

      Quilty comment by ATQ on 31 December 2003

It's a nice quilt that does deserve finishing. The fabric does not look like anything that I saw in the 1970's (when I started quilting) quilt shops, so it may well be a blended fabric. I would remove the basting to remove the old sheets, replacing them with a lightweight poly batting. While it's separated, you should be able to lightly handwash the top with a quilt soap like Orvis. I too think it needs a border--something geometric in keeping with the quilt top, but only if you can find a good match for the colots. For the quilting, I would soften the geometrics by doing a softer look with lots of curves and arcs. What a tereasure! Enjoy! Susan in CO

      Quilty comment by Susan on 31 December 2003

a priceless gift! I agree with Susan, remove the batting-and if you aren't in a hurry-hanging it out in the sunshine would rid you of the musty smell...if you feel you must wash it-be sure to do it by hand...no dryer...really-I found out the hard way by washing a top and the damage done was terrible! I had about half the seams come undone...and it frayed horribly. However, I think a tone on tone solid would complement the fabrics used myself. You could probably play in EQ5 with trying different border colors/patterns to "see" what you think. Even a solid black outer border would work I think. What an exciting project to look forward to. I totally agree with only giving quilts to people that truly appreciate them. It's a ton of work and not in-expensive either. I find all my quilts to be labors of love-so I always want to give them to folks I know value that.

      Quilty comment by Cher on 1 January 2004

Thanks for the comments. Some questions:

* Should I not try to dry clean it, either? I'm happy to try just hanging it out in the sun for a bit, but I was wondering whether I should take it the cleaners...

* What's the rationale for removing the batting and replacing it? (I haven't looked at it closely yet to see how tightly coupled it is. I think she might have quilted it to one layer already, and then just loosely basted a second layer on to the first..

* Cher -- I was also thinking about a solid black (or tone-on-tone dark) border. Do you (any of you) think I should try to find a similar fabric blend or would cotton do or .. ??

"It's a ton of work and not in-expensive either."

Exactly! :)

      Quilty comment by ATQ on 1 January 2004

if the quilt is just musty smelling what about putting the quilt inside a mesh bag with some dryer sheets and tumbling it on delicate for a few minutes it worked with my Great grandmother's hankerchief quilt before I put a backing on it succesfully.

If you are worried about the dryer how about bagging it with the softener sheets heated in dryer only?

for an edging I think solid black material would be a good option after al YOU CAN make a wonderful historical statement by braving the task of finishing your great grandmother's quilt.

I was blessed with 10 quilt tops from my great grandmother and helped her finish the quilt that she gave me for my wedding! a beautiful red/white drunkard's path in queensize all hand done! thank you! enjoy!

      Quilty comment by Samantha Rayburn on 5 January 2004

I personally wouldn't dry-clean it because of the chemicals they use - very smelly! Airing it out may help quite a bit but keep it out of the sun so that it doesn't get shot. If it's still smelly, try washing it on a really gentle cycle (silk or wool) with a really gentle detergent and some color catcher sheets.

Good Luck with finishing it.

      Quilty comment by Dorothee on 22 January 2004

You know, Lyn, I am really annoyed at you! Showing all these wonderful fabrics and patterns on-line is just too enticing. I am thinking about getting out my fabrics and starting some hand-quilting again. (I love doing the hand stuff, and it is such a portable project.) But Lyn, I just don't have time for this!!!! Enough good stuff already!!!!!! love, Jude

      Quilty comment by Jude on 30 January 2004

Teehee!

That's the fun of shared enthusiasms!

      Quilty comment by Lyn/Uncorked/ATQ on 30 January 2004