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| Simple 9 patch c. 1930 |
I recently did a talk and trunk show for a local quilt guild called "Small Wonders." I included about thirty vintage doll quilts from my collection and a dozen or so small quilts that I've made as well as a few small non-quilt textiles.
Here are a few vintage examples:
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| c. 1880 16" square |
A few of them are reversible.
Was it a case of trying to use up fabric bits, or possibly more practice perfecting the stitching of a young girl ?
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| c. 1950 22" square |
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| c. 1900 14 x 22 |
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| The back |
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| 14 x 17 |
This one was obviously made with care, perhaps by a loving mother or grandmother.
Small scale hand-pieced stars, two borders with corner squares and hand quilted.
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| 11 x 16 |
This little strippy could have been made by a little girl for her doll but we shouldn't assume that children had inferior sewing skills. In the 1800's young girls may have had better skills than older women who may have had arthritis in their hands or poor vision.
This being c. 1940, I'd guess a youngster made it.
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| Polyester knit c. 1960 22 x 22 |
We can't ignore the poly period!
This little log cabin is tied, has a green plaid polyester backing and will outlive us all.
And here's a special treat!
I just came across this poem in my files. It appeared in Good Housekeeping, July 1886.
A Jingle for the Little Ones:
The Crazy Quilt
O summer sunset give to me
The crimson glow you shed.
Violet give me of your blue -
O rose give of your red.
O parrot give me all the green
That round your neck is spread.
O thistle give me of your down-
O spider weave me thread.
I want to make a Crazy Quilt
For on my dolly's bed.
-- Frank H. Stauffer
Next:Part II of Small Wonders; quilts I've made - including a Crazy!
