Several years ago; I took a class to learn a new applique technique called "Back Basting". We started with Baltimore Album blocks. I took me over one year to do nine blocks. When it came time to put the borders on I realized that I didn't buy enough white on white fabric and by that time the fabric was out of print. And so the quilt top sat in my closet for a long time. Until the beginning of 2014 I decided to complete some of my WIP. I decided to take part of the Baltimore blocks apart and make individual Wall Hangings out of three of them. I have other plans for the rest of the blocks.
The "Rose Wreath with Red Birds" is one of my favorites. A truly Traditional Block dated 1854, it can be found in "Baltimore Beauties and Beyond" Volume One by Elly Sienkiewicz.
I used needle turned applique along with the back basting method for all of the pieces. I find that using YLI silk threads are best for needle turn applique - it seems to make your stitches almost invisible.
(If you're interested in learning the back basting method there is a very good easy to follow tutorial By Sentimental Stitches)
After taking this block apart from the others; I thought that it could use ...something. so I decided to hand embroidered around the turquoise flowers and center hearts using a simple blanket stitch. I think it gives it a little more texture and interest.
To keep with tradition this quilt is hand quilted with straight line quilting on the diagonal. Also, some echo quilting around the leaves and flowers.
last year on the internet. I had stored it away until I had the time to work on it.
I'm a member of a Quilt History Study
Group here in Lancaster; so when I saw this piece for sale I was so excited! I recognized some of the fabrics from about 1890 - 1900. But I wanted to bring it to the Study to make sure. Now when I say a "piece" for sale I mean that the seller called it a "cutter quilt".
I clicked on "buy" and bought the piece. Later I went back to view the piece again and I noticed that there were SIX OTHER PIECES for sale! So I e-mailed the seller and asked if they were cutting as they sold or if the rest of the quilt was still whole. To my relief; they said it was still whole and asked if they should cut another piece for me....NO!! I will buy the
remainder of the quilt "UNCUT"!
When I received it in the mail I was
so excited! Granted it does have some
torn spots but it's Queen size!
Just look at these old fabrics! This is just one piece of the corner of the quilt that was cut. The quilt was not quilted but tied.
You can see where some of the pieces are torn.
Here's the back....
All hand stitched with small stitches and straight lines. That's a lot of work for all these pieces and queen size! That's one of the reasons that I would like to salvage what I can. I noticed that one of the blocks were repaired.
Front view of repair
Back view of repair
What I did so far to this piece is
I removed the back and the batting.
The quilt did have a funny odor sort
of like a chemical smell. I had to
put it outside in the shade to air
it out for a couple of days. Taking
it inside at night.
Here I just removed one block that was in shreds. I will continue to remove all of the damaged blocks on this piece before I work on the rest of the quilt. It will take me a long time but I believe it will be worth it. I will post the other part of the quilt very soon. Happy Quilting!
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