Winnie writes with a pattern identification question:
This top was given to my aunt to be hand quilted. The top was completed years ago, so I'm told. She and I have looked through multiple books and on line but just can't find a name for this block. I would greatly appreciate your help.
Sweetheart Quilt by Capper's Weekly
Friendship Quilt by the Kansas City Star in 1938
A Heart for Applique by the Kansas City Star in 1951
I went to my Encyclopedia of Applique, found the one-page category named "Four Hearts"
and there it was. It seems to have been published at least three times:
I asked Winnie if I could post a picture of her Sweetheart Quilt; I'm always so glad to be able to identify a mystery.
....and see how this design was actually stitched. It seems to be appliqued using a small running stitch in black thread. The little sketches I indexed for the Encyclopedia made the construction a bit of a mystery too. But in Winnie's example I can see it's a tile quilt. There wasn't much published about tile quilts---at least until recently.
Carol Gilham Jones and Bobbi Finley published a book this year called Tile Quilt Revival: Reinventing a Forgotten Form.
It's a 19th-century technique, rather rare, in which fabric shapes are appliqued to a white background and the background shows through as sort of the grout in a tile wall. The quilt below is from 1860-1890, done mostly in wool and wool combination fabrics like challis appliqued to a white cotton ground.
I asked Winnie if I could post a picture of her Sweetheart Quilt; I'm always so glad to be able to identify a mystery.
Detail of Sweetheart Quilt, 1930-1950
....and see how this design was actually stitched. It seems to be appliqued using a small running stitch in black thread. The little sketches I indexed for the Encyclopedia made the construction a bit of a mystery too. But in Winnie's example I can see it's a tile quilt. There wasn't much published about tile quilts---at least until recently.
It's a 19th-century technique, rather rare, in which fabric shapes are appliqued to a white background and the background shows through as sort of the grout in a tile wall. The quilt below is from 1860-1890, done mostly in wool and wool combination fabrics like challis appliqued to a white cotton ground.
Tile Quilt 1860-1890
Here's a contemporary version of a tile quilt block from Carol's blog Free to Bee. Click here:
http://carolgilhamjones.blogspot.com/
Tile quilt by Carol and Bobbi
See Bobbi talking about historical tile quilts by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGFAxPzmYxw
And see these blog posts about tile quilts
http://www.weewonderfuls.com/2010/07/im-reading-about-tile-quilts.html
http://lucyquilting.blogspot.com/2010/06/tile-quilt.html
It would be fun to see Winnie's quilt from the 1930s done in new prints.
Here's a contemporary version of a tile quilt block from Carol's blog Free to Bee. Click here:
http://carolgilhamjones.blogspot.com/
Tile quilt by Carol and Bobbi
See Bobbi talking about historical tile quilts by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGFAxPzmYxw
And see these blog posts about tile quilts
http://www.weewonderfuls.com/2010/07/im-reading-about-tile-quilts.html
http://lucyquilting.blogspot.com/2010/06/tile-quilt.html
It would be fun to see Winnie's quilt from the 1930s done in new prints.
I saw a pillow made like this (except with fusible interfacing) recently at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ryanwalshquilts.com/2010/03/pillow-talk-tutorial-part-ii-layout.html
I didn't know there were whole quilts made in this tile way. Thanks for sharing.
I go the book and made a couple of tile blocks...it is a fun process!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt. I have seen primitive patterns done with batiks and fun prints, makes them more like folk art. It is fun experimenting with new fabrics for older patterns.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Barbara THANKS SO MUCH for naming the Sweetheart quilt. I have seen quilts with this pattern and never ever have been able to get close to finding the name. Now ask why we LOVE your blog!
ReplyDeleteJulie in TN
Beautiful quilt. I have seen primitive patterns done with batiks and fun prints, makes them more like folk art. It is fun experimenting with new fabrics for older patterns. Debbie
ReplyDelete