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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Pieces of the Past...





Vintage quilts and blocks hold a big appeal for me. And occasionally the appeal is in the multi-generational nature of a project. Case in point: this Sunbonnet Sue quilt, brought to our recent quilt retreat by guild member Marietta. Her mother made the appliqued and embroidered blocks in the late 1930s. As a child, Marietta was allowed to embroider on some of them. However, the blocks were set aside, unassembled, for quite some time. Marietta kept them with her through a number of moves, and eventually unearthed them in the 1990s to set the blocks together in a quilt. She even found the old pattern flyer with which the blocks were made! What a treasure.





















Sunbonnet Sue is engaged in different activities in the blocks... playing with her doll, tossing a ball, and carrying her school books. I love these expressive blocks, and am happy Marietta has preserved them in a piece that will now be a legacy in her family.













I like to "rescue" old quilt blocks, too. This small piece is one I made using a block that probably dates from the late 1800s or early 1900s. With the period reproduction print fabrics that became widely available in the 1990s, I was able to set the old block into a new piece. I even love old blocks that are badly made! Just look at the wavy lines in the patchwork... endearing. And I'm a bit of an expert at making my own wavy lines in patchwork, too!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh My! Does the Sun Bonnet Girl ever bring memories from my childhood. It seemed to be a popular patten for raffle quilts where many people would make one block and they would be assembled at quilting bees to be donated for good causes. I too used to be able to quilt a few stitches. How wonderful you are a 'rescuer'. Absolutely beautiful quilt you assembled. :o) Donn

Robbie said...

The sun bonnet quilt is priceless!!! Wouldn't it be wonderful to own this! You are so lucky your member showed to it your group so you could all appreciate it. Just wonderful!

Nancy said...

Sun Bonnet quilt brings back so many memories for me...I did one for my daughter when she was very young and she loved that quilt.......It was actually a wall hanging but she drug it around. I don't think it ever made it to the wall.....

Kathryn D. Duke said...

What the chances that Marietta would share her flyer with me????? make copies and mail them???

Please ask her...I love these !!
THanks