So part of my Winter Sewing over my break from teaching was to quilt these darn Sun Bonnet Sues for our friend.
Why'd it take me so long??? Good question!
Quite honestly I was scared! (I was!)
I mean these were made in 1940 and someone else's heirlooms were in my hands!
Seriously!!!
I'm a hobby quilter...in "real" life I'm a second grade teacher.
But I DID IT!!
The smaller one I stitched-in-the-ditch the Sues and cross-hatched the background.
The next quilt was QUEEN size.
After a LOT of thinking...I finally decided to pantograph this one!
Why?
Well.....the seams were thin and some even needed resewing as there were holes.
Next, the fabric was old. I wondered how much quilting it could withhold?
I remet with my friend and asked her what her purpose of the quilt was?
Her answered that they wanted to use it....eventually passing it down to their grand-daughters.
I also had to keep their budget in mind.
So I chose a light, loopy flower pantograph that mimicked many of the flowers in the Sue's dresses.
Here's the clincher! Geuss which quilt was their favorite! Yep! the one I pantographed!! OMG!! Have you ever sat on a project for months...contemplating??? When in the end, the project was much easier than you made it. (I mean they didn't know you are "not suppose" to quilt over applique.)
Lesson learned.
Click here to see more Antique Quilts at this week's Tuesday Archives.
Bravo! You are indeed a very brave person to take on such a task, I completely understand your hesitation. But they both came out great! I like the first one with the cross hatching as it highlights the Sues and makes the background so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThey both look awesome! I bought some antique Dresden blocks about two years ago and have been scared to finish the quilt and quilt it so i totally understand! But i might try to get it done this year! I even bought some fat eighth thirties prints recently that'll help me make centres for them! thanks for inspiring some courage.
ReplyDeleteSome quilters say that you Should quilt right over the applique so that it doesn't puff up and receive more wear and tear than the rest of the quilt. Quilting over the applique does mean that it holds the entire quilt together much better and longer.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with quilting over applique either, but then I'm not a avid quilter yet.
ReplyDeleteYou did a beautiful job!
ReplyDeleteThey each turned out great. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteI have a whole stack of projects I'm sitting on cause I'm "contemplating." ; ) You did a great job with both of those quilts. I'm sure they fell in love with both. My sun bonnet off to you, I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to tackle them. So much pressure. You did an amazing job!
ReplyDeleteThat's old hat quilting - no quilting over applique - it was an embellishment to shine. But in repairing old quilts and making old come into the new - it is most acceptable and actually is the best way to give the old quilt longer life - YOU DONE GOOD!
ReplyDeleteBoth quilts have turned out wonderfully. The decision to use a panto- (and a great pattern choice)- means the quilt will now be able to be used and loved for many years ahead. I to would have been scared of just where to begin.
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable Val, I would have been nervous too. And I always take forever making decisions!
ReplyDeleteYikes....I understand you being a tad nervous quilting these two beautiful quilts...BUT...you have outdone yourself, ma dear!! Your quilting has taken these two sweet quilts to another level. Your quilting maketh these two quilts. Oh you are such a clever gal!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I've sat on quilts for way too long sometimes. And then once I get started on them, they were tons easier than I imagined. This family will enjoy these for years to come!
ReplyDeleteOh, I know how that feels! You did a great job!
ReplyDeleteI think they look great and as long as the owners are happy, you should be too! I bet the quilter who made those tops would be very pleased as well.
ReplyDeleteBoth are amazing! The flower pantograph quiltings is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job with both. I really like those loopy flowers, they work in that quilt.
ReplyDelete2 beautifully quilted quilts here your friend must be delighted that after all this time from way back in the 40s they are completed
ReplyDeleteHi Val
ReplyDeleteThere's this saying I collected a log time ago....
"If there's a job which you dislike, a job you have to do,
the longer you put off that job the more it bothers you.
But, oh, how very glad you are, how brightly shines the sun,
when you can say, one happy day,
That wretched job is done!"
The quilting looks great! Perfect for that time the quilts were made!
Great job, Val. It's a great pleasure not to know "the rules" and just like what you like :)
ReplyDeleteYou did great!! Each one has a bit of it's own flair. good job!!
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of your cross-hatching. It is very, very difficult to maintain that diagonal line across a break as substantial as the applique. You did a fantastic job. :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah for you and I'm sure they were thrilled.
ReplyDeletelove these!
ReplyDeletei totally have a sunbonnet sue quilt my mom made when i was little from clothes that i wore growing up. it was well loved and had to be retired from all the use from it though.
Lovely quilting on both those quilts. Think I prefer the smaller one, but not because of the quilting, because I don't really fancy that pink on the biggie.
ReplyDeleteYou did a lovely job on both. I can see why you'd be nervous since they were vintage / antiques but how lovely they turned out in the end! :)
ReplyDeleteYou did a lovely job on both. I can see why you'd be nervous since they were vintage / antiques but how lovely they turned out in the end! :)
ReplyDeleteYou did a marvelous job! I'm sitting on one I'm supposed to quilt for a friend. I don't think it was made in 1940 but it's a huge quilt w/gorgeous Southern Belles on it that was made by her elderly aunt who recently passed. I will have to borrow a long arm when I'm ready...just not sure when that'll be...probably sooner than later now that I've read your post. Thanks for the inspiration. You've also inspired me to do something else. I wrote about it in my latest post. Have a fantastic week Val!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job on these treasures. And yes, I do procrastinate when something is intimidating.
ReplyDeleteOh I can't blame you for being nervous Val. I would have been knitting kittens. You did a wonderful job though - on both quilts! You can be so proud of the work you did in helping to preserve the two quilts!
ReplyDeleteI frequently spend more time dreading a project than it actually takes. Wise to remember the quilting knowledge of the owner and the goal of the quilt! Claire aka knitnkwilt
ReplyDeleteYou are brave, very brave! I have been gifted 4 quilt tops from the 1940s and I'm afraid to do anything except look at them. I wonder if you would be so kind to tell me what you used for batting. I just took a look at your original Sunbonnet Sue post and read about/saw the fabric you got for the backings, so that helps. As with these, some of the fabric is very thin. Also, will you share what thread you used? Thank you so much! The quilts are precious. ♥
ReplyDeleteJanie Kemp isabellaswhimsy@yahoo.com
Cute Sunbonnet Sue quilts!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see older projects. There is no rule about quilting over applique. Lots of people do it. It depends on the appliqué...
ReplyDelete