So how many quilts did I bring with me...well if you include the tops it totaled 38. I've decided I need to start bringing more tops and crib quilts...they certainly are lighter than a backs seat of full-size quilts! The quilt in the photo above was brought by one of the members. It really fascinated me...part hexagon and part logcabin! I looked it up in Brackman and it is called a "logcabin." Maybe a Buckminster Fuller cabin....
The black center hexagon is corduroy! It was foundation pieced by hand and then hand pieced. This one is a top but the owner has a matching one that was hand-quilted...that quilter must have had really strong hands! The quilts were made in Alabama.
While pulling quilts for the talk I found an old one that I had purchased at a flea market with the intent to use it at a quilt restoration workshop. I ended up using a different quilt and this 1930's hexagon ended up at the bottom of one the quilt boxes....
The quilter had used some silks for hexagons which not surprisingly shattered. Since the quilt is so scrappy and I have boxes of authentic 30's fabrics this project is back on the active list again....
A question came up that caused me to pause a bit. The quilter wanted to know how often did quilters in the past piece their backs with multiple fabrics. It is a good question. I know in my collection of over 100 quilts made prior to 1940 I only have one. Even that is a stretch as it is made from multiple feed-sacks and those all have a tan background but do have different advertising stamped on them. Does anyone know if there is research on quilt backs anywhere?
9 comments:
I don't know about research in the area of pieced back, but I have a couple examples with pieced backs. In some cases, the piecing would appear to be done out of necessity, not enough of one fabric. Another case, is the bars backs that are seen on PA quilts.
Hexagons, oh I am so tempted to try my hand at them.
Do you think that the quilts with the pieced backs were everday, utility quilts and didn't necessarily survive?
I got a chuckle out of your Buckminster Fuller comment. I live in a geodesic dome--that is a very familiar name to me. That quilt is incredible--can't imagine how long it took to make.
I don't know about vintage quilt backs--I mostly collect tops.
I just had to see Carolyn's quilt again and got the chance to today. I am drawing a foundation so that she and I can make our own version of the quilt. The quilts last night were very inspiring. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and quilt collection with us.
In my collection none are pieced of multiple fabrics. Many are pieced with some very tiny pieces to get a the back large enough.
I have not read any papers or studys specific to only backs.
My goodness! That logcabin with the black hexie centre is just amazing! The amount of work gone into that is mindblowing!!!! It's quite wonderful!! Also love the whimsey and variety in the hexie quilt, my favourite! so simple and made with allsorts, well worth restoration work!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, that Buckminster quilt is incredible. I wouldn't even know how to go about putting that one together. My mom did all her quilts by hand, both piecing and quilting and they were/are beautiful. I stick to the machine and feel lucky to finish anything even that way.
Oh, I am so happy that a stumbled onto your blog today! I can't speak with any wit Roth on priced backs... I have only one antique quilt that still has a back and it is all one piece. However, I JUST posted an entry about the antique quilts I have from my grandmother and I would love to have your impressions of them. I want to preserve them but also enjoy them if I can.
http://cutnitup.blogspot.com/
I just love the hex quilt... Quite time consuming I am sure! The old one is lovely and I am surprised the cottons outlived the silk... I would have thought it would be the other way around. I always heard that the danger of using sikl thread is that it might cut right through the cotton with age because it is stronger. That must be the one new thing I should learn a day!
I do love the old hexie quilt...such pretty faded wonderful colors!!
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