T Block Quilt Along

This month T block was called Imperial T and I have to say it is my favorite block so far. That’s most likely because I am finally getting the hang of the flying geese.

Imperial T 

So far I have completed 3 different block patterns, the Double T, Capital T and this month’s Imerial T. Block 4 will come out tomorrow and I am excited to get started on it.

Isabella of    Then and Again Quilts  is hosting this “T” Quilts, Sew-Along – please click on either link to learn more about it and come quilt along with us.

The history of this block is fascinating and Isabella has been doing an awesome job of investigating and learning about this wonderful block, sharing her knowledge and coaching us along in the quilt along.

The origin of this block is in question but seems to have been associated with the temperance movement at one time but I want to leave the history to our hostess who has done a considerable amount of research into this topic. ** the above sentence was rewritten as a clarification and an addition to my original posting – I have heard from Isabella regarding the origins of the T quilt and that there is not enough proof that this quilt stands for the temperance movement.

http://www.womenfolk.com/quilt_pattern_history/temperance.htm

Temperance or not I found an amazing letter pertaining to the Temparance movement that I am sharing.

While looking on ebay for vintage photo’s – a hobby – I came across a ‘lot’ of pictures mixed in with some magazines and letters. One letter jumped out at me and I had to purchase the whole lot (minimal cost) to get my hands on this

Amazing Letter 

I have been unsuccessful in locating any information on a Roxborogh Throckmorton or his poor departed friend Avery Fortesque (Ancestry/google)  I have no clue to an actual time frame of this letter as no date was written on it. The temperance movement has seen many waves of renewal and activity.

I have no real proof this letter is even genuine.  However, I have been able to find numerous accounts to the movement specific to the term ‘temperance disciple’ in newspapers.com Here are two I found that are quite fun, if fun is the right word. One from Buffalo and one from Brooklyn.

 

clipping_27873275

Daily Commercial Advertiser (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) · 19 Jan 1837, Thu · Page 2

 

 

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The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, Kings, New York) · 9 Jul 1845, Wed · Page 2

 

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If you would like to participate in the sew along click here. You can also visit the other participants by clicking on their link below. Happy Quilting!

Please take a moment to jump over to Bella and Nanette’s page to see their blocks

Nanette & Bella

Cutter Quilt Ninny

More often than not, especially today, I feel like I am back in the stone age when it comes to quilting. It’s not just because I consider myself a quilt purist, (only hand quilting) I never owned a rotary cutter (bought my first 3 months ago) or pre-cut templates or quilting rulers; 60-degree triangle rulers, triangle square up ruler, strip wonky ruler, strip tube ruler, the types are endless, I was lost to the world of quilt lingo up until joining my first quilt along a year ago.

The quilt vocabulary I knew were backing, batting, and sashing. But more recently, in fact in this last week, I learned a new term; cutter quilt.

Who knew that the beautifully framed quilt square I did as a gift for Velma and one for myself came from using a cutter quilt, I didn’t. From a quilt not able to be saved I cut out two of the squares and repurposed them….I created this art piece from a cutter quilt.

It certainly makes perfect sense now. It did not make sense when trolling ebay for vintage quilts and I came across a number of these for sale. They were smaller sections of quilts and in the heading for the quilt for sale, the term cutter quilt was used. That seemed odd to me, my mind jumped instantly to a ‘cutter’ as in a boat. That didn’t make sense but I trolled on.

I eventually wrote to the poster of these beauties and asked her why these quilts were such an odd size and here was her reply.

New message from:   bayberrycottage  (631)

Good morning! These are quilt “pieces” for crafting, sewing and such. The sizes are the “cut” sizes, as they are cut from what are called “cutter” quilts. Thanks for your interest. Enjoy your weekend!

Now you may be thinking what a ninny, everyone knows this. In fact, I do feel like a ninny with a capital N.

Of course, it makes perfect sense. But in my defense and returning to the word cutter and boat here is the definition of a cutter:

Wikipedia says:

A cutter is typically a small, but in some cases a medium-sized, watercraft designed for speed rather than for capacity. Traditionally a cutter is a smaller sailing ship with a single mast 

hmmm ~ smaller sailing ship ~ smaller quilt piece, do you see where I am going with this? or is it simply what it sounds like ‘cutter quilt’; cutting away pieces from a larger piece.

And then there’s good old handy google – I could have just googled ‘cutter quilt’ and brought up all kinds of information on this but I didn’t.

So just in case, there may be another ninny out there …….

 

Quilt for Baby Wyatt

A new project has begun, my favorite kind, Baby Quilts! This one is for my granddaughter Heather and her husband Trent; expecting their first baby ~ a boy.

Shhhhhh….it’s a surprise and good thing she doesn’t follow along on my blog so I can share the excitement of this new project.

I decided to use the very basic pinwheel pattern and will make it light weight with no batting.

First I choose this sweet fleece backing and then added the my material choice. The sashing will be in light gray.

I’ll use wide satan blanket binding finished with a very thin trim in gray (pom pom’s) I wanted to add a border but since baby is a boy I did not want anything to frilly. I found this Simplicity trim which was perfect.

 

I actually made a crutial error in picking my material with the patterned baby bear. Not enough bears to cut out and the pattern was lost in the pinwheel. I could have gotten more material but I decided to add a 4 patch which I will also do with the turquoise material.

Before beginning and testing my pattern pieces I worked these two sweet wheels. I just love the rainbow material, I have so much of it, soooooo another baby blanket is in the future. This one for a baby girl, extra frilly with a wonderful wide lace border.

Speaking baby blankets ~ this one is going home as a gift ~ baby shower tomorrow night for the nephew of my husband and his wife!

The Forever Home

I wanted to share this post by blogger Isabella Eisenbeil who I have had the blessings of connecting with this past year. Her story of the reproduction Double T quilt has been a journey I am so happy to say I have had the chance to follow. Not only that, but this quilt was the beginnings of the T Quilt Along I am participating in led by Isabella. It’s not to late to join along. ~ Sharon

Hand Quilt Along: January 2019

It’s been a solid year now since I joined the hand quilt along. Not only that, but my 1 year anniversary since I began this blog to specifically join the hand quilt along.

I have been inspired, encouraged, empowered by each and every one of you! Thank you!

While treasure hunting at out local Goodwill, I picked up this tattered and torn hand pieced quilt top. Then it remained tattered, torn and sad for years at my home.

Because of this ‘Quilt Along’ and you, she is being tranformed…

Along the way she was named ‘Wishing You Good Will’ and steadily each month I have made progress. I had no idea it would take me a year but here I am with 4 of her wedding rings left to stitch and then the border to finish.

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Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen

 

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link above.

 

 

 

To be or not to be; an 1862 sampler. Couldn’t be or could it? That is the question.

A trip to our local Goodwill always finds me checking in to three sections, bedding for vintage quilts, linens for anything embroidered and funky fun, and the picture frame section for old lost photo’s, interesting pictures  and handcrafted picture items.

Yesterday did not let me down with a find I am questioning and asking for help from all my blogging stitching friends ~

I found this beautiful sampler. I was first attracted to the muted colors of olive green or gray and black stitching on the brown background. The frame is not that old and the backing has been done professionally. It is in heavy black paper. Not that flimsey brown wrapping paper. The wiring seems to be quite new, redone?

I must admit it wasn’t until I got her home that I noticed the date ‘1862’

There are no other markings. This close up is interesting. The aida fabric almost looks like ratan fibers to me. Is that even possible? More and most importantly could this possibly be from 1862? That just doesn’t seem possible. It is in pristine condition.

I was wondering if there could be clues with the stitching style or color pallate with this piece. Looking for help and direction with identifying this sampler.

Progress In The Making On The Log Cabin Rework

I am making progress on the Log Cabin rework for my neighbor Velma. You may remember I had been gifted these hand-sewn log cabin blocks.

They reeked of moth-ball odor but stood up well to numerous washings in vinegar and baking soda and then a umpteenth rewash for lingering odor.

I decided on these two fabrics to sash the blocks together changing my mind from the bland white and brown original pick.

All pieced together now and looking handsome if I may say so myself.

Now to move on to the batting and backing. I am recycling a thin fleece type throw blanket for the batting and the same material as the lighter large outer L of the square for the backing. Since these blocks had already been quilted to a solid peach material, I am debating on what actually to hand quilt. I am thinking just on the outside of each square on the sashing. It’s been a fun project and I exciting to get it done and on the lap of Velma.

 

©, 2019, copyright, Sharon Haimowitz-Civitano. All rights reserved.

There Is No Place Like Home

Starting a new year is usually steeped in anticipation and excitement for what is in store, what lies ahead. This year was no exception. I am excited to continue with the T Block quilt along, improving my flying geese skills, possibly finishing Wishing You Good Will and starting the tulip quilt top along with continuing with a few other started projects but…

On January 1st I was determined to find my parents wedding album for that one certain picture I wanted to frame.

Instead of finding the wedding picture, at the bottom of the huge steamer trunk I found three cross stitch samplers I didn’t remember seeing before, but I must have. Only one had the makers initials and date.

Eighty three years old, done by C.L., 1935 ~ who was C.L. ? I had an idea. I have quite a few things in our home that belonged to my husbands first wife who passed quite young (may her memory be a blessing) Questioning him on her parents names, I learned her mother was Kathleen Loen. I had the L and a little digging with Ancestry I discovered Kathleen’s mother was Clara Loen born 1904 in Washington. This had to be hers. She was thirty one when she did this and I can imagine how proud she must have felt to have this hanging in her home.

Mystery easily solved and I have started the new year with a priceless memory from the past. She is no longer at the bottom of the trunk!

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.

 

©, 2019, copyright, Sharon Haimowitz-Civitano. All rights reserved.