Embroidered Crib Quilts Part II

hand quilted

Here are a few more of my embroidered crib quilts along with one recent purchase that I assume to be for a doll.
Of the quilts shown in this and the previous post, you can probably tell which ones were kits; certainly those with pre-quilted backgrounds would have been and the central motif styles as well.
The individual blocks such as the previous Scottie and the others with miscellaneous animal images were probably available commercial motifs which were set in various ways by individual makers.

The Maypole

Applique combined with embroidery

35 x 48

Here is one that stands out as different from the other examples in a couple of ways. It's a bit larger in size and many of the blocks include a name or initials indicating that several ladies contributed to the work. 

51" x 70"

Unusual, too, is the setting which groups the bigger motifs in the central portion with the blocks on three edges quite different; all with small motifs that are unsigned. Maybe the maker wanted the quilt to be bigger but in the interest of time, those simpler blocks served to extend the size.


The elaborate lettering style of the names and initials lends a personal and decorative  touch but sadly, no one thought to add a date. Redwork embroidery was popular around the turn of the 20th century so I would date this c. 1910.

And last but not least is this little single layer of plain white cotton embroidered with the adorable Teddy Bear images produced by Willliam Pinch and the Rainbow Quilt Block Company in the 1930's 

 It is bound with what appears to be a commercial bias tape. 

17" x 20"

and....

Click Here

to see my blog on an embroidered top that I took apart and the

 'new' projects I made with the rescued blocks

Embroidered Crib Quilts Part I

hand quilted in simple grid

As promised in my last post, here are some embroidered vintage crib quilts from my collection. You'll recall that my sister noticed the cross-stitched outline of  the images in the little quilt I showed in my last blog.  She thought that was unusual and she was right. The stem or outline stitch is the most common technique used in thirteen examples in my collection. Most use two or more strands of six strand embroidery thread but some use a single twist, probably perle cotton, which has a different look.


 Here's part one. Click on any image for a closer look.
 You'll notice a theme.

30 x 34

Outline stitch in black

More animals:

33 x 40

tiny motifs!

simple grid hand quilted overall

 A prayer - with animals

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep  33 x 53

machine quilted through motifs

Bambi ...with  -you guessed it, animal friends

Pre-quilted background

Bambi  35 x 55

Hot Air Balloon with ..... bear and  bunny

 32 x 43
Pre-quilted back. The maker applied a fleece backing - probably to cover the embroidery threads.

No outlining - all cross-stitch



Celestial Bears

Motifs defined with short straight stitches
Hand quilted with gold thread

41 x 54


Early to Bed

 Cross-stitched except for outline stitches for the face and hands
Done on prequilted back

36 x 57


Scotties

35 x 51

Each with a different comment. This one, " Wake up"
Hand Quilted


Ring Around A Rosy

 33 x 44

Again all cross-stitching


I have a few more embroidered examples that are not animal themed. I'll post them at the end of the week and then move on to share with you a couple of recent "salvage" projects

and

someday, I'll feature my pieced and appliqued crib quilts....

What I learned.....or Confessions of a Quilt Collector

I was planning to share some things I learned at the AQSG seminar in this post but I was overwhelmed...there is just so MUCH!
I will still do that and hopefully soon while the event is fresh in my mind - but for now I decided to tell you what I learned on the way TO the seminar.

I learned that I have to stop saying I'm not collecting quilts anymore.

I ended up with three new (old) pieces before we even arrived. Well, what do you expect on a road trip with two quilt loving friends - about 450 miles to cover- and numerous stops (at antique stores) since one must stretch once in awhile to maintain good circulation?



This top is from what I have for some time referred to as  "MY time period" - the first quarter of the 1900's. I love the look and have a growing number of examples of both quilts and tops.
For that reason I had signed up for Virginia Gunn's study center, "Exploring Early 20th Century Quilts", so I brought it to the class and she held it up as a great example; fabrics include chambrays, indigo and cadet blues, claret (burgundy), plaids, dots, stripes etc. Each individual square is about 4" to give you the idea of scale. I'll share more about that study center later.

24" X 32"

But the funniest shopping experience happened when we made a quick stop at the Brass Armadillo in Des Moines, Iowa, to ask directions to the restaurant which I knew was nearby. We were hungry and decided we'd eat first and then come back and shop. I ran in and as the nice lady gave me directions my eyes wandered....I spotted a quilt...I couldn't resist going just a few more feet into the store.... and as I looked down a long aisle to my right this caught my eye!

I snapped it up and quickly asked if she could 'hold' it for me. I was laughing so hard by the time I got back to the car my friends didn't know what was going on. I said, "I found a quilt!" I had not been gone 5 minutes!

We did go back, of course - we HAD to now!

The tag said it was made by the daughter of the maker of a red and white Irish Chain displayed with it. It could be the work of a young person as it is crudely pieced and quilted but all such quilts are not made by children. Either way, I love red and white quilts. The close up shows a small pink and white check used with the red for the triangle units and a shirting for the 'white' block. I like the little check - would you think to do that? Was she out of the white shirting or did she just like the check?

Somewhere near Omaha  I bought this embroidered bird quilt - a  Ruby McKim design. Ruby designed a total of 22 'series quilts' between 1916 and 1937, according to Quiltkitid.com. Designs were published in newspapers; a different design each week. This quilt is from her Audubon or Bird Life series. There are 24 blocks in this quilt but some are repeated.

It's nicely hand quilted and the pieced diamonds border with angled corners really adds a nice touch, doesn't it? I'll post a full photo when I get my stand set up. My friend found this one first but she decided not to get it.... so what could I do?

So there you have it - I'm a Quilt Collector and I am having fun!

Embroidered Cross-Stitch Quilts

At our last study group meeting here in Minnesota we tried to cover the 1950-1970 era. We discovered it was a lot to cover in one day! 
Rosie Werner, our resident kit quilt expert, stated that kits continued to be very popular during this period; applique florals as well as cross-stitch embroidery. 
The X's were pre-stamped on the white background fabric and the quilting lines were also designated as is typical with kits. The embroidery thread was available as a separate item; often with more than one color palette.


This one from my collection is one of those rare textiles....it's dated on the back corner in green thread. Thank you, anonymous maker, for taking the time to stitch the date on the back. I would have loved to know your name and where you lived, too!

The color scheme surely fits with the date - remember avocado green and gold?

Wedding Ring Kit Quilt
by Bucilla

The workmanship is excellent. It's beautifully hand quilted. I got it a few years ago at the flea market price of $32! Crazy.

The cross-stitch embroidered kit quilt seems 'under-appreciated' by many collectors today - probably obvious by the price I paid. Machines for quilting and embroidery have become more sophisticated, put out nice end products and surely take less time, but I believe that as fine handwork becomes increasingly rare these items will become more appreciated and sought after. There are some lovely examples.  

More vintage cross-stitched quilts:

             The same settings used in pieced or appliqued quilts can be seen. 

Central Medallion

Strippy

The block setting for this type of kit below is often printed on vertical sections which are then sewn together.  Some companies did stamp individual blocks for embroidery, however.

Block setting - at least in appearance!

Enlarge to see blue dots indicating quilting lines 

Unusual design with swag border

Some cross-stitched children's quilts:

 Embroidered on pre-quilted yardage

which became available in the 1970's

Hot Air Balloon

Early to Bed - Early to Rise

Thanks for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments and suggestions. 

(Did you notice a new feature along the right side? I've added links to a few blogs I thought you might enjoy....I'll change it from time to time.)

Old is New Again - Two New Quilts from One Old Top .....so far

Last year I bought this poorly constructed, faded old quilt top for $13.  The photo just gives you an idea - at this distance it was blah.

The twenty-eight embroidered  blocks were so cute and the embroidery was quite well done ..... and you know how I love to rip. (see Ripping Series in May )
Closer examination revealed that some of the blocks were from sets sold by the Rainbow Quilt Block Company; Teddy Bear and Teddyville, Kewpie and Dutch Boy. Designed by William Pinch, the blocks were sold stamped and ready for embroidery.There were a few miscellaneous nursery rhyme blocks as well.


The top must have been used for some time ‘as is’ because the outside edges were turned under carelessly  (going right over the embroidered design in some cases) and machine stitched to prevent fraying.

The pink setting blocks were very faded.

 Evidence of fading -- the seam allowances retain the original color  

At first I thought I'd take it apart and put the embroidered blocks in a different setting or just replace the faded pink setting squares.

When I showed the top to a few quilting friends someone suggested I could make more than one quilt. Great idea - especially with a natural division of blocks from different sets.

I started ripping.....

Clean and pressed and released from that 'blah' pink setting they were ready to take the plunge!







My first project was this doll quilt. I chose five identical bears, trimmed them to size and set them with a pieced nine-patch variation for the chain effect.

Hand Quilted     21" square


 Next I decided to use the twelve teddy bear blocks. Each is different - the bears are shown driving a car, riding a scooter, raiding the fish barrel and climbing a tree.

I used a check from my stash for the alternate block.  

Hand quilted - 42" square

There are eleven blocks left;  seven are Kewpies. Should I put them all together or keep the Kewpie's by themselves?  What to do???  hmmmm.....A girl has to give this some thought........

I really enjoy the process of ‘re-purposing’ an uncomplete or damaged project from the past. I like to think that perhaps MY unfinished or unsuccessful projects may, in turn, find new life and give creative pleasure to someone in years to come.

Next: My Second Wedding Quilt