I love this wool utility quilt, made in New York state around 1900. It is so amazing and dynamic:
close-up:
The quilt appears in the book Living with Quilts by Phyllis George. The book shows 50 different quilts--running the entire gamut--in household settings. The book never shows the whole quilt except for small wallhangings which makes me nuts but on the other hand: great quilts, fun settings. (you can get the book used really inexpensively - I do recommend it despite the quibble).
Back to the wool utility quilt. I LOVE it. Try and figure out how it was made and keep in mind: no rotary cutters were used. I'm sharing this quilt today because I've been thinking about it when I visit the 15 Minutes Play blog, where a bee is working together to create this wondrousness. V explained how to make the blocks here.
On the subject of utility quilts, ComicBookLady had a great opportunity to meet several of the quilters from Gee's Bend AND see some amazing quilt. Read about it here.
Lily is waiting for me to get back to work so she can jump on the cutting table - although sometimes she does stay in the cat tree that I've airlifted her to.
take care!
23 comments:
Tonya,
What a great quilt! The colors and long and quite skinny strips make me wonder if only the scraps from the tailoring were used in this quilt. Quite an inspiration for today! I am loving the 15 minutes bee!
Thank you!
I would never have guessed this quilt was made around 1900. It looks so much like the modern liberated quilting of today. And then just to think about making with what was available back then. Amazing! Thanks for sharing.
That's a great quilt. I am assuming the long strips are not appliqued. The colors are wonderful. It looks like they may have been cut from coats or vests. So so interesting.
That wool quilt is to die for! Wow- I'm going to be looking for wool shirts on my next thrift store visit. Thanks for passing along the info!
Fantastic! It looks so much like the free piecing that Bumble Beans has been up to lately - piecing and slicing, and inserting strips.
We are so spoiled with all of our amenities aren't we?!!! It is gorgeous and the armoir would be perfect in my home..hint hint hint. Happy Sunday friend!
Oh that little cat has the prettiest eyes!
oh my goodness! Makes me wan to run out and buy WOOL! I was inspired by my grandmothers crazy quilts...how to do what she did, but do it how I would do it..
I LOVE this wool, thanks for showing it!
there's a other book i need to buy...
sigh.
Oh WOW...COOL!!!...no...SUPER COOL!
....well....AMAZINGLY COOL!!!
I.WANT.
that cabinet is not bad either.
Great!! I love all the work put into this beauty. Snuggie on a cold winter night.
What an awesome quilt! The old ones are still the best inspiration.
Kandinsky was wrong. Nonobjective art started before he painted his 1910 abstract water color picture.
He would have loved this one! And El Lissitzky would have freaked out.
You'd hardly think it was over 100 years old. Stunning.
Isn't there something similar in one of Gwen's books?
Definitely an I WANT ONE TOO!
Just of out interest, what do you classify as wool in America speak. Wool as in jumpers, or wool as in thick shirting fabric?
It's hard to believe that that "modern" quilt is over 100 years old!! I would never have thought they would make a quilt like that! Thanks for the insight!
Hope all is well with you - your book will be out soon!!
I wonder how much it weighs.....yep we can get really liberated by antique quilts!
So was it all pieced or was there some applique too?
Happy Sewing
IT LOOKS LIKE WHOMEVER MADE IT REALLY DID USE SCRAPS TO MAKE IT. THE PERSON MAY HAVE BEEN A SEEMSTRESS OR WORKED IN FABRICS AND USED ALL THE LEFTOVER SCRAPS FROM SUITING. WOW!
Oh Tonya - that is tres' cool beans. SO Gee's Bendish and so far ahead of the times. But then, is there anything new under the sun? Thanks for sharing this piece of inspiration
Wow, that is a fantastic quilt! I'll bet it weighs a ton too.
I have that book. Hmm, I should pull it out and look at it again! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration. . .again!
Thanks for the link to Comic Book Lady. I loved her post!
Wool seems to hold color and photograph great...I also love the cabinet the quilt is displayed on!
I can't get over what lovely photos of the cats you always seem to take! And I want to lie in a sunbeam with them, on your carpet. We don't have carpet, too many muddy dog feet around, but yours looks so comfy!
Can't wait til Dec, I want an autographed book in the WORST way! I hope you're resting up your signing hand. :)
Wow I have just discovered your blog. I finished my first quilt a couple of weeks ago and am now on my second. They are rather haphazard as you can see
http://tabithasquilts.wordpress.com/
I am totally over whelmed after seeing your greatness!
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