About a year ago, my step-daughter JoAnn, called to say that they had found a box of old quilting stuff in her grandma's things as they sorted through them to move her to new living arrangements. The box simply said.... "Ada's quilts". Ada was her grandpa's mother.... I think I have that right... I have JoAnn doing some research for me. JoAnn, said I could have the box, which had some old fabrics, some misc. quilt blocks, etc.... she only asked that I might make something for her mom.
The box arrived in June.... and I spent several days looking at all the goodies inside....some patchwork blocks, some tiny cotton scraps and bits.... some old upholstery bits, some vintage fabrics, a couple of old dresses that were cut out, started, but not finished (lots of yardage there, you know?)..... and then there were these....
They look pretty awesome, all laid out next to each other, and there would be enough for a large lap quilt, but I've looked at them several times now, and I've decided that they have family history to them. They are antique, yet look contemporary and cool at the same time. I'm going to make some table runners, enough so that JoAnn's mom can have one... JoAnn will get one, and there will still be enough blocks left to make each of our three grand kids one that will be gifted to them when they are ready to set up their own homes. Since they are 17, 18, and 21.... I don't have decades to do this... so figured I should get working on them.
I will need to finish the embroidery on several of the blocks... so have gone hunting for wool blend thread and have found similar colors and weight to what Ada used originally. Since these blocks will not all be together in the same project, I think what I found will pass.
Ada was not a great patchwork sewer, (most of the finished blocks in the box are not of great quality or consistency). She was, however, very precise and consistent in her herringbone stitch! I will most likely have to use some Tiger tape to be halfway close to being able to match her handiwork.
I love to look at how folks used what they had on hand.... look at the back of this block.... there is a pocket in the middle of it, with the bulky part cut off, must have been a shirt or blouse.
