Last month, I found this hand pieced and tied patchwork quilt at a local thrift shop called Value Village. What a find. It is the oddest patchwork I've ever seen, because of its unusual construction. I've always dreamt of finding a cool quilt at the thrift store. I'm not much of a shopper, though, and was in that store purely by accident because we were entertaining Xenobia Bailey, who had a day off from her Kohler residency (click here to see the installation of her fabu work). Della, Xenobia and I just stood there petting it, the two of them saying "oh, you better get it now". The following day, it would have been half price. Of course, it wouldn't have been there. So, I'm glad they nudged me into getting it. 
It is made of small 4x4 inch fiber-filled stuffed "pouches". These are then sort of whip stitched together. Teeny tiny little whip stitching. This is the only patch that has considerable wear. The other areas I will be able to stitch back together. Although, one pouch is torn, I will probably be able to sew it back together and it will have a nice little scar.
You can see how tight the stitching is. It's crazy. Like the person was reinforcing the seat of a kids' pants that tore during play. I love it. I'm thinking this is the coolest way to create a patchwork quilt. I may have to try this myself. I am wrestling with whether or not to quilt it (by hand of course) and take those yarn ties out. Ties are O.K., but I'd rather quilt it with a reiterated square about half way into each square. The maker of this quilt was, like me, a person who got to their goal with an unusual construction method. My quilting soul mate...unknown, as is.
5 comments:
The fabrics look like they are from teh 1950's or 60's.
That is when I started sewing clothing!
Don't recognize any specific fabric, but recognize the style.
Interesting quilt. FYI Value Village is now owned by Walmart so I don't consider it a thrift store any more.
Oh, Joyce. I am disappointed to find this information out. I am not a Walmart fan. I haven't shopped there since 2007, purposefully. I guess that was my last trip there, but I'm glad that I found this quilt. THANKS FOR THE INFO.
Wow Sonji! What a find. It sounds like you have a biscuit quilt. This site says they enjoyed a resurgence in the 70s, and I recognize at least 3 of the fabrics. Somewhere in the recesses of my brain I think I still have scraps of at least one of them. Locating it would be a different story though!
http://www.womenfolk.com/quilt_pattern_history/biscuit-quilt.htm
Rhonda (aka Delta), thanks for the info. I'm so excited about it. It didn't even occur to me to look it up for some reason. That's what love does to a person...all common sense out the window.
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