For a few days this week, Charlotte and I flew down to FL to see my parents. My Grandma and her sister are here - super cool ladies - and they always have some project going. I mean always. So my Grandma found this family quilt out in a barn - it was made by my great-great grandmother in the late 1920's or early 30's.
Why it was in a barn I do not know. In case you were wondering - don't put heirloom quilts in a barn.
I know you are all super smart about that stuff anyway :)
SO needless to say, it needed some repair. She has been patching some of the pieces, and she put a new binding on it.
Here's how she's been doing it - in case you are wandering through an old barn and happen upon a 90 year old quilt ;)
*Find some fabric that matches the color scheme of the quilt (the point is you are restoring - try to honor the original artist).
My great-great grandmother used a lot of feedsack fabric for the pieces. Apparantly they used to sell feed in pretty flowered sacks. Why did they do that? I don't know. But my grandma said she and her sister would go to the feed store to pick out fabric for their dresses. One of their sisters was voted best dressed in her class - and her dresses were made from feedsacks! Impressive. (and I am thankful we don't have to dig through piles of feedsacks to find just the right fabric...)
*Handstitch the fabric on - right sides together - along one edge of the damaged piece.
I know you are all super smart about that stuff anyway :)
SO needless to say, it needed some repair. She has been patching some of the pieces, and she put a new binding on it.
Here's how she's been doing it - in case you are wandering through an old barn and happen upon a 90 year old quilt ;)
*Find some fabric that matches the color scheme of the quilt (the point is you are restoring - try to honor the original artist).
My great-great grandmother used a lot of feedsack fabric for the pieces. Apparantly they used to sell feed in pretty flowered sacks. Why did they do that? I don't know. But my grandma said she and her sister would go to the feed store to pick out fabric for their dresses. One of their sisters was voted best dressed in her class - and her dresses were made from feedsacks! Impressive. (and I am thankful we don't have to dig through piles of feedsacks to find just the right fabric...)
*Handstitch the fabric on - right sides together - along one edge of the damaged piece.
*Fold it over the damaged piece allowing an extra 1/4" to be turned under.
Finger press. Cut along the fold that you made.
*Turn the raw edges under and pin well.
*Start stitching at a corner.
Secure it well and then continue with a small blind stitch all the way around the piece.
Pretty soon (...um, I mean days later...) your heirloom family quilt will be good as new!
So sit on the couch in your p.j.s and shop for fabric today - and be grateful you don't have to find a feedsack for your baby daughter's next dress - and wait for the fabric store to mail it to you and have it dropped right on your doorstep - so you really don't even have to get dressed or fix your hair to be surrounded by gorgeous fabric.
happily spoiled by modern America,
jessica
