You often hear quilters say they love antique quilts. Then you will hear them mention that they wish they knew who the maker was. You wonder why did they do all this work? Was it for a special occasion, person or reason?
Barb from
Fun with Barb shared her Rose quilt! Does anyone out there have a rose quilt in their possession. Well, of course! My rose quilt was the first large size quilt I made. I had bought a machine and decided I was going to make an applique quilt to machine quilt. Yes, that was my thought process, after all, I had taken one quilting course ten years before. Well, the machine applique went great! That little buttonhole stitch on my new machine was perfect for this technique. I then thought what could be so hard about machine quilting a grid on the background. Boy, I sure had a lot to learn, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. So I started stitching and got puckers and I remember I felt like crying. Then a friend of mine said you might as well pitch that top cause I had used a pencil to mark the quilting lines. She said that will never wash out! Oh dear what is one to do!
Well, soon after this I found out we would be moving to another state, so into a box it went. It stayed there a few years and then one day I decided to pull it out and since machine quilting didn't work out maybe I could learn to hand quilt. I did the worst thing you could do and washed the top unquilted. Well the pencil lines did come out, and one block frayed so badly that the seam became weak. But how could I give up at this point, after all I had come so far. Thankfully I still had some fabric, so I made a replacement block. I must say my Vintage Irish Rose, which was a pattern out of an old Vintage quilts magazine practically was vintage by the time I finished it. It is proudly displayed on a guest bedroom bed, it will be always be special to me. Someday it will probably be found at a good will store and someone will say why did this person machine applique but hand quilt this quilt?????? Well, all I can say is I didn't give up! My tip to new wanna be quilters, take a class!
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| Close up of machine applique |
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| close up of alternate block |
It's beautiful! Hopefully it becomes a family treasure instead of being sent to the Goodwill store.
ReplyDeleteI would hope so too Ellen, but one never knows! It was fun to think back today and remember what I went thru making this quilt. I guess my mother's words if your gonna start something you need to finish it paid off!
DeleteI know you have to be very glad you kept the quilt and finished it one way or another. You ended with a beautiful rose quilt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! I am very glad that it taught me so many things and brought me to hand quilting. But I am going to try that machine quilting again, now that I am armed with a walking foot and a class and a lot more experience
DeleteYou are probably right Donna! So glad that I am with good company! Yours sounds beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! what a great machine applique project!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilda! It is amazing how much we can learn from our mistakes. Knowledge is priceless!
DeleteThanks! I am really glad I saw this one thru as it taught me so much!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Rose quilt! thanks for sharing it and its story. I love the button hole applique stitching. It gives it a wonderful antique feel. Lovely quilting!
ReplyDeleteLove the bed skirt too - perfect with it
Thanks Barb! I am so glad I stuck with it. This quilt taught me a lot, it sure looks better on the bed instead of in a box unfinished..
DeleteWhat a gorgeous quilt! Hopefully someone in your family will be fighting over it at some point. It is too beautiful to be sent to good will. When I grow up I want to quilt and appliqué like you =).
ReplyDeleteDeb you are too funny! Perseverance my friend! Your off to a great start! I watched Becky Goldsmith of Piece O Cake designs videos over and over. In fact I watched them again recently, she is so good explaining how and why!
DeleteI saw her quilt the other day and this is lovely as well! :) Loved the story too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb! Believe me, there were times I didn't think I would be able to finish it It was over ten years in the making. I couldn't afford to buy antique quilts that I loved so I just had to persevere.
DeleteI am so glad you didn't give up, otherwise we wouldn't get to share in this beautiful quilt you did. thank you for sharing.
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