The Ruth Quilt - The Jean Quilt

47" wide x 40" high

In 2013 our Minnesota quilt study group had chosen 'Words or Letters on Quilts' as the topic of one of our quarterly meetings. We  wanted to focus on examples where they are a primary design element as opposed to such things as signature and friendship quilts which we had studied previously.
It was also our chosen 'challenge' that year. Anyone interested in trying techniques or styles we've studied does so and then shares their piece and what they learned through the process at the last meeting of the year.
I like doing the challenges and had been thinking about a few options for my project when this quilt was shown during Show and Tell at the AQSG seminar that fall in New Jersey.

47" wide by 40" high

This close up reveals interesting construction.The white squares and rectangles are hand appliqued to the red background, not pieced! It is knotted/tied with multi-strand cotton thread. The front is brought to the back and hand hemmed









I knew right away that I was going to make my own version for my study piece. When inspired by a vintage quilt I usually personalize it by making a few changes rather than 'copy' it. In this case, of course, I used my own name and as I usually do, I scaled down the size. I chose to do it in blue and cream. I contacted the owner and she generously measured all the dimensions and gave me permission to make and share my version.**

I worked on graph paper following old embroidery cross-stitch charts. I'm guessing that form of needlework was the inspiration for the early quilts with pieced letters.





For practice I made two pot holders for my friend, Gail Bakkom.

vintage example

Even though my name also has four letters, the cross-
stitch "N" takes up more space than the others. I tried various ways to narrow it and but it just didn't work.

Studying old quilts with the pieced alphabet I saw the wide N's W's and M's and decided just to do it that way.

So here's my project....a bit late, yes. But it's done!

21" wide by 19" high

 squares measure 1/2"

Here's a current pattern based on a vintage quilt with pieced alphabet border called  A-is-for-Apple available at the National Quilt Museum shop

Quilts with words and/or letters can be a fascinating topic of study. Some are cross-stitch style lettering as are mine and RUTH's. Many are appliqued.
 Here are a few more:

Bible Verses

Is this MOM? Or turn it upside-down...

WOW!

Made by Gail Bakkom for our challenge

**Thanks to Carolyn Maruggi for permission to share RUTH quilt photos

"Bias Trim Quilt":Chain or Fan Layout

Like so many quilt designs, this one has more than one name and numerous variations. I bought the top several years ago, loving the graphics and the fact that commercial bias tape was put to such a unique use.
It's in great condition, the workmanship is precise; it deserves to be finished. I planned to hand quilt it. That was the plan but, as with some of my other grandiose plans, it has languished on a shelf with lots of other tops, some also deserving, yet also unfinished.

Recently my interest in it was revived due to social media, really, and the generosity of Sharon Pinka, a fellow quilt lover. I had posted the photo on a FaceBook's Quilts Vintage and Antique where Sharon saw it and remembered that she had a pattern for it. She gave me the pattern when we met in Arizona recently, expressing how gratifying it is to find a good place for some of the things we all gather and store.

The February 1934 issue of McCall's magazine advertised their transfer printed patterns suggesting the 1930's as the approximate time period for this pattern.

The pattern includes two designs and sold for $.30. The package is smaller than later patterns; 5.25" x 6.5".




Referred to on the pattern tissue as Bias Trim Quilt you may prefer to assemble the blocks either in the 'fan' design as on the left (more Colonial they say) or the 'chain' (for the more "modern type of room".) Mine is set in a chain.

 You can see that my variation does not use a colored wedge in each corner and employs four colors of tape instead of three. The border on mine uses a LOT more bias tape and adds an extra touch not suggested in this pattern.

I enjoy reading directions and suggestions on old patterns. You are to sew the seams with a 3/16th seam. I've often seen old tops with skimpy seams. I've never seen it in printed directions.
"Three shades of bias trim...peach, lavender and rose" are suggested in tape  "1/2" wide as it comes on the card".
Directions for applying the binding suggest you trace the curved pencil lines on each 9" block as per pattern and stitch one edge of the binding along the inner curve using "Sheer Fabric Colored Cotton"; presumably a thread. The outer edge of the binding should then be "sewn to position flat."
Mine is machine topstitched neatly along the very edge. I suppose it could be hand appliqued but by the 30's I'm betting most people were happy to use their machine for such work.

For finishing, the term 'interlining' is used. I see no reference to batting. What do you think? It says, "Use double sheet cotton. This is sometimes sold in folded sheets. Leaving the sheet double, catch-stitch the sheets together to the required size and baste to the underside of quilt top."
After thus interlining the quilt you are to "join the seams of the lining (what we call backing) and baste to the back of the quilt."
This appears to me to be a top with three layers of woven cloth basted to it; a double layer of interlining and a lining. Is this how you interpret it?

Finding vintage patterns and studying them closely can yield helpful tips for those of us who love to study old quilts and ponder the sometimes puzzling construction.

When I did a quick search under 'fan' or 'chain' on the the Quilt Index and  the International Quilt Study Center none like this showed up but I have seen a few others in books and posted on-line.

Do you have one? Have you seen one?



Cardboard templates for the Double Wedding Ring design were also in the pattern envelope

Another example of using commercial tape for household items.

 A dish towel....I didn't think I had a photo of it but came across it recently.

I welcome your comments