Day 15 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Nine Patch Fun

 Love this simply wonderful uneven 9 Patch or Puss in the Corner. A classic pattern. Blogging every day in December with Cheryl Sleboda's 2021 31 Day Blogging Challenge. 

And another great touch is the zigzag border. You can't go wrong with adding a zigzag border or setting. Look at all that intense diagonal rodded quilting. Click on photos to enlarge.

The full yummy Nine Patch quilt, circa 1890. Starley Quilt Collection.

Day 14 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Rolling Stones

Another antique signature Rolling Stone quilt from SE Pennsylvania. This is the only one I've seen so far with alternating star blocks <3 

 

Day 13 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Rolling Stones

Another design that is part of my Pattern Through Time trunk show is the Rolling Stone block. It also plays a big part in my antique signature quilt trunk show as the pattern was very popular for signature quilts in the 2nd half of the 1800s in Pennsylvania especially in German communities.

Thankfully, these signature quilts quite often include a dedication, presentation, or ownership block like this one. Quilt was made for Miss Sarah A. Xander of Weisenburg Township, Lehigh, County, PA in 1852.

Here's another Rolling Stone signature album block with a different arrangement of colors which makes it look like a different block.

 

Day 12 - A Month of Antique Quilts

 Did I mention that I love antique signature quilts? Well, I really do!! This one is done in a lovely Oak Reel applique pattern with a great swag and bow/ribbon border. It has names in the center circles (see 3rd pic below) but no place names or dates. I really do need to work on finding out where it was made.

The blocks are striking and the border bows are delightful!

Unfortunately it suffers from a condition that is regularly seen in mid century, circa 1850 Turkey Red fabrics - damage from the black dye. The dye or mordant (a substance that keeps the dye on the fabric) was very caustic and erodes the fabric. On this block, there was a 4 line black stripe and it is disintegrating wherever the line was placed. Commonly, the reds were decorated with flowers outlined with black and they now look like someone took scissors and cut out the flowers. Luckily, it doesn't affect the signatures or the quilt's history.

Day 11 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Rocky Road to Kansas

 I have collected a great variety of quilts but I like to also find several examples of the same pattern especially from different time periods and in different styles or sizes. I share these sets of patterns in a trunk show called Patterns Through Time. Here are two examples from my trunk show each of the Rocky Road to Kansas pattern. I love how different each of them is from each other in size, style, color and age.

Rocky Road to Kansas to Kansas via Lancaster County, PA circa 1880. Carefully planned with the same centers in each block and same first round from the center X.

Rocky Road to Kansas via Kanosh, Millard Co, Utah. This is a much scrappy version and made in much larger scale than the pink one above.

Day 10 - A Month of Antique Quilts

This is another one of my favorites - a most unusual combination of blocks, especially for a signature quilt. Made in Easton, Pennsylvania.

There are signatures (names) in the centers of the pieced blocks. And the thing that always makes historians happy - an ownership, dedication block. 

Presentation quilt inscribed and dated: "Easton PA 1846. Presented to Solon Chapin by his Mother in law Mrs. Hocker 1846". This is the presentation block: (click to enlarge) and read

Here's the full quilt. It is a lovely combination of blocks. It is the only antique signature quilt that I've seen (so far) presented by a mother-in-law to her son-in-law. And, no, it wasn't made at the time of the wedding. But the pairing or marriage of blocks and techniques does seem appropriate for a son-in-law's quilt.

Day 9 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Hmmmmm, what treasure to share tonight?  One of my absolute favorites is this Rose of Sharon with fabulous applique birds, berries, and blooms. The star of my Birds and Blooms trunkshow. 

Aren't these birds delightful!!! Every inch of this quilt is filled with love and JOY. Hence, the name, Quilted Joy.

It is a 9 block Rose of Sharon created by someone who loved hand applique and was pretty good at hand quilting too.

I loved this full sized quilt so much that I just had to reproduce it in 1/2 size - small scale. Pattern is available on my Etsy shop.

Day 8 - A Month of Antique Quilts

 Another pattern that I really like is the Caesar's Crown block and I have several that are signature quilts from the 1840s in Pennsylvania. This one from circa 1860 is also from Pennsylvania and though it is not a signature quilt it is still fabulous!!

Such yummy colors. Another name for the block is Strawberry and by the colors on this one, I can see how it got that name.

One of my favorite things about this pattern is the secondary designs created when it is pieced without sashing. Look at the white background between the blocks. See the cross or four bells? Such a cool effect. Enjoy.  Ps. Wondering how the block was made? It is NOT appliqued; instead, it is all curved pieced by hand.

Day 7 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 You may have already noticed that I like Star Quilts. Most people like stars and they are the most popular pattern but with the last name of Starley, it is little wonder that they feature prominently in my antique quilt collection. I especially like unusual or uncommon star patterns like the French Star pattern shown here.

Such a cheery red and green color scheme with yellow and then that fabulous paisley sashing! We think of red and green as holiday colors but it was a popular combination for home decor in the mid 1800s.

And check out the tiny stitches - hand quilted in double rodding. This is an uncommon star pattern and requires some fancy hand piecing.  If you want to see some more examples put french star in the search box (top left side of blog page). Enjoy.

Day 6 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Another favorite is this 1850 Quaker signature quilt from Chester Co. Pennsylvania (right by Philadelphia). The quilt was made for Enoch and Mary Worrall and features extensive family genealogy. Such a piece of true history and it is beautiful too.

Look at this inked drawing of cupid's arrow !

And this is the center block showing ownership. Hexagon center reads: "Enoch and Mary Worrall's Quilt, 1850". The background of the block says " Enoch and Mary's children" and lists each child (both those living and deceased at that time). More blocks featuring other family members and family history while other feature friends, neighbors, fellow Quakers.

Day 5 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Hope you are enjoying seeing a bit of my collection. I have a strong focus on antique signature quilts as they are such significant pieces of history. And I gravitate to the very oldest signature quilts made in the 1840s when they started to be made.

The block has an ownership block showing for whom it was made and when.  The crowning detail is the ownership/dedication block reading"Elizabeth Bickel or Bectel -His (sic) Property In the Year of Our Lord 1851, Berks/Montgomery County Pennsylvania

Click on the picture to enlarge and read.

Day 4 of Month of Antique Quilts Starley Quilt Collection

 Today's treasure is a Carpenter's Star variation with AMAZING hand quilting!

Look at that 5 pointed star!

And look at fabulous pineapple below. And please look beyond the fancy quilting to all the intense background stippling --- every millimeter is quilted!!! Click on the photos to enlarge and really experience the beauty of this quilt. And remember I do classes and trunkshows, live and virtual. Such a great chance to see this beauties up close and personal.

Day 3 - Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Thanks for stopping by for another installment of this month's blogathon of antique quilts from the Starley Quilt Collection. 

Lovely this Wild Goose Chase in an awesome red zigzag setting! Such a bold choice. And a tricky one as there a lot of partial seams to create that zigzag.

This quilt top is from Michigan and is likely a time-span quilt - blocks made by one quilter and joined/ sashed by a second quilter. It wasn't finished which is a good thing for me as I like to share it in trunk shows and tops are much easier to schlep around than quilts.

Day 2 - A Month of Antique Quilt Treasures - Starley Quilt Collection

 I'm again joining in on the 31 Days of Blogging Challenge led by Cheryl Sleboda, Muppin.com.

This is one of my most treasured quilts. It was made in New York City in 1858 for a beloved Methodist Episcopalian Sunday School Teacher.

31 Days of Antique Quilts - December Quilt Blogathon - Day 1

For the SEVENTH YEAR in a row Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com is leading her December 31 Day Blogger Challenge and for the SEVENTH YEAR, I am joining in. I'll need to post twice today to catch up. I hope you'll consider joining in too (click blue to learn more). It is a great way to get back in the blogging groove, if you've lost your mojo. Or just a good way to keep going and get motivation and new viewers. Hope you'll check back in to see all the treasures I'll be sharing.

To start off the antique quilt show, here's one of my red and green treasures: an antique circa 1850s peony quilt with hand piecing and hand applique and beautiful hand quilting. Part of the Starley Quilt Collection. Enjoy! 

Ps. I love sharing these treasures in person and virtually and would be happy to join your guild live or via Zoom for a trunk show and/or class. I teach quilting classes too.

Antique Cheddar Houses Old and New

I'm sew excited to give you a sneak peek at my secret sewing project that will soon be coming to your mailbox, newsstand, quilt store or bookstore. Okay, it is soon to be published in American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine!!!

 Just a tease for now. 

 Antique cheddar houses quilt top from my Starley Quilt Collection with mini repro blocks. Blocks are from the amazing Homestead Harvest Collection by Me and My Stitches - Julie Letvin. Fabric by Robert Kaufman Fabrics. It is still available in limited quantities - released earlier this year. You'll need fat 1/8's of each print (24 in all) or get quarter yards (more is better) to make the soon-to-be-published pattern, So if you find some, snatch it up and get ready to SEW!!!

2021 Color Challenge - August Pattern -Mushroom

 Cool new Geese block for the August Color Challenge.

For the 3rd year, I'm joining in on a fun project run by Jen of PBJ, Patterns By Jen; her awesome free mystery quilt - the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge.  August pattern link. Pattern is free during August.

This year the inspiration is healthy fruits and vegetables. August's pallette is supposed to be the standard tan Mushrooms. However, I'm taking my color cues from the more unusual orange mushroom to match my prior blocks. 

There are some really cool orange mushrooms - look at this collage of them from The Nature Treasure Hunt.

Jen provides great instructions for each monthly free pattern and gets fab sponsors/prizes too (see more below). Join in by posting a picture of your block at her link-up (see pattern link above).

August's Geese again features the quick & easy way to create a flock of flying geese but I wanted to do a scrappier version so I modified the pattern and used 2 fabrics (triangles instead of a large square) for my geese. 

Next step is to draw sewing/cutting lines on the background squares. I use a special ruler to mark all the lines. 

Next place the small squares on the large and sew on the lines on both sides of the center lines.

Next cut apart on the center lines (unsewn lines) and press out. Add another small square to the 2 new units.

Cut again on the center lines and voila, 4 easy Flying Geese units. Pair each goose with a rectangle and then join these sets together for a cool new block.

Here's why I wanted to use 2 different geese fabrics - to coordinate with the blocks I made in the previous Color Challenges. I think they will make a fun little quilt!

Please visit the other quilters making this month's block to see their cool blocks and some mushroom recipes too. 

August Bloggers

Anja - Anja Quilts

Sandra - Textile Time Travels

Raylee - Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting

Andi - True Blue Quilts

Crystal - Daybrook Designs

Patti - Patti's Patchwork

Ashli - Quilt 2 End Alz

Kate - Katie Mae Quilts

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Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio - Goodie Bag*

Bea Quilter - PDF pattern

Faith and Fabric - $25 Gift Certificate to Faith and Fabric

Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting - PDF pattern

Carole Lyle Shaw - $50 gift certificate to your choice of shop

Cherrywood Fabrics - Mini Monty (fabric bundle)*

Benartex - Fat Quarter Bundle*

Quilters Dream Batting - 60" square Dream Cotton*

The Warm Co - 90 x 60 Soft and Bright Needled Polyester*

Appliques Quilts and More - $10 Gift certificate

Said with Love - PDF pattern

Daybrook Designs - 2 winners, PDF pattern to each

Patterns By Jen - PDF pattern