Twist and Shout – vintage fragments c.1940 – created by Mary Kerr – quilted by Vicki Maloney
Hearts All Around – vintage fragments c. 1900 – created by Mary Kerr – quilted by Doris Bloomer
Apron Strings – vintage fragments c 1920-1940 – created by Mary Kerr – quilted by Marty Vint
Nine Little Ducks – vintage fragments c. 1940 – created by Mary Kerr – quilted by Ginny Rippe
Asian Elegance – vintage fragments c. 1890 & 1940 – created by Mary Kerr – quilted by Debbie Kauffman
Bali Fish – vintage fragments c. 1870 – created by Mary Kerr – quilted by Shannon Shirley
A Weird Little Beach Bird – vintage fragments c. 1900-1930 – created by Mary Kerr – quilted by Jane Hamilton
Are you inspired to search the closets, attic, Grandma’s sewing room to bring those old neglected pieces back to life?
I made the mistake of going on eBay to find some fabric pieces to fill in on my grandmother’s tops I inherited (she used EVERYTHING and the rayon is shredding! 50’s mostly flour sacks and done in Oklahoma) and now I have so many vintage blocks. Especially hand embroidery I’m going to make runners out of, top of the piano, top of the buffet, end of my bed! I have plans, now for the time!
Over the past couple of years I have restored 3 Hexagon quilts which the family dated as made by their great grandmother in early 1900’s. stunning work, with detailed placement pattern, and a lot of fussy cutting had gone on! Managed to save 2 of the quilts successfully…….the third looked like it had been used as a dog blanket, so sad! As these things do, it lead to another similar job with a more modern hexi quilt (probs 1940’s) made out of silks! Luckily, the derioration was all on a cream coloured plain silk, so easy to match and replace! Depending on the density of the original stitching, I either unpick and replace, or needleturn appliqué the new hexagon.
I also rescued a single bed sized hexagon quilt top from a junk shop. It was being used to cover an old box. I’m guessing most of the fabrics are from 50’s and 60’s. a few early rayons that had deteriorated badly. I matched those as best I could with scraps from my stash and appliqués new cotton hexagons on top. I have made the quilt bigger by adding borders, and am looking forward to quilting it soon!