Thursday, August 21, 2008

Curved Piecing Madness

I chose yesterday's Dresden Plate because of its excellent workmanship. I chose this quilt top because of the variety of its prints. Most of these fabrics look to be from the '50s, but I see some that may be from the '40s and even a few that look like feedsacks. This top was inexpertly pieced by hand. The stitches are large and in some spots even crooked. There's such a variation in stitch quality that I almost wonder if more than one person worked on it. At any rate, the maker didn't really know how to piece this pattern so that all of the points would meet smoothly. A lot of the intersections are lumpy and even though I haven't tried to iron it yet, I can see that it bulges here and there like a hilly landscape. The edges of the top are scalloped. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with this top. The idea of taking it apart and piecing it properly is a bit daunting.

But I love the fabrics in it, so maybe I'll just keep it to look at. I love the safety pin print in the first photo. The second photo has a print with little grey wolves which is quite charming.

Update: The name of this pattern is Tea Leaf.

4 comments:

Amanda said...

I think it sounds charming just as it is, faults and all. It sounds as if it was made by someone in my league - keen but not too expert yet.

Catholic Bibliophagist said...

Yes, it is charming. It has a lot of personality despite its flaws.

Dionne said...

This is a Wonderful quilt, you lucky girl! I so love quilts for the fabric and personality first and foremost. Far more than for the quality of workmanship! A fabulous find!

Catholic Bibliophagist said...

Thanks, Dionne.