I love old quilts. I have inherited a few. They are referred to in the quilt trade as "cutter" quilts. This means that, while the quilt as a whole is beyond repair, there are sections that are still in good shape. I have been cutting them apart, embellishing them with embroidery, and making pictures and pillows out of them. I have obtained some vintage buttons and lace, and am going to use them to make some other small items.
Here are a few examples of pieces I've been working on. I love the soft feel of the old, worn fabrics. I enjoy bringing the old designs to life. Here are a few I've been working on.
Note to those who are more experienced than I:
I'm not sure what to do about cleaning these old quilts. I've read that they can be soaked in something like Oxi-Clean to get out old grime. I was afraid the old colors might bleed, and that the embroidery thread I used might bleed (although it does say "color fast" on the label. Or, maybe I should clean them before I embroider them. So, I tried soaking some of the scrap pieces as an experiment. They came out looking good but the old softness was gone, and they dried feeling a bit stiff. Any suggestions?
5 comments:
I'll be waiting to hear the suggestions too. I hope there are some simple solutions, so your pretty work can stay soft and pretty.
i have no quilt experience - but have you read the quilting books by jennifer chiaverini? i think you might like them.
Hi! I do have some quilt books, but none by jennifer chiaverini... I will look for them. Thanks!
Judy you leave wonderful comments on my blog, and the one you just left touches my heart deeply. Thank you for what you said. Honestly, I try not to over praise them or gush too much in the blog, but they astound me. They do so much that I appreciate and admire and I want to know them forever, and of course I am biased, so your feelings matter to me... they give me a reassuring perspective.
You are welcome, Natalie. It's a pleasure to read about your family.
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