An Unexpected Present in the Mail

These are vintage 1940's quilt blocks made by a family member. They are my very own Touch Quilts to "Hold them, cherish them, savor the memories, frame them and hang them on the wall...whatever your heart desires."

 

Applique Birds sit on twigs of red, blue, green, brown or pink with 

contrasting bird fabrics and embroidery thread. 

 The thing that made the cathedral windows so interesting was the lone unfinished block with a needle in the block with thread still in it. There are 3 squares of blue pinned to it as if awaiting finding one more coordinating blue. The fabric in the middle of the second row is dotted swiss. You know how I love texture. The stitches are exquisite.

 There is a stack of these, all alike. I wondered if these 24" squares were meant for a quilt or for a table runner of some kind, maybe for Thanksgiving.

Auditions Today

I am auditioning quilt blocks, ribbons, scraps and pieces of brocade material for touch quilts today.

 

One of the late Rachel Johnson's hand appliqued butterflies.

 Earlier this morning it was shocking to read that Fidget Quilts should not be pretty --I'd noticed that they often are not-- because it makes them tempting to theft from facilities where they're donated.

To make my quilts less attractive for larceny, I started machine embroidering the initials of the facility in 2" letters along the front edge through all layers. One would have to be really adept with a seam ripper to take out 3 layers of close zigzag without destroying the quilt. So sad it's necessary.

 

I think of my Touch Quilts as art. Maybe it isn't fine art, but I want them to look pleasing to the eye, so I have try-outs for fabric combos, complimentary colors, and ribbon trims.

 

Cabbage roses from this strip of upholstery

fabric can be turned in trapunto-style roses

with great touchable texture.

 

The orange color in the upper wing of this 

butterfly compliments some other pieces I may use.

 

A closer look. Note the fine hand stitching.  

I may zigzag over the stitching with monofilament 

thread to insure the vintage stitches stay in place.

While I'm auditioning colors and textures, I am also reviewing which trinkets and trims were successful in previous quilts. From left: 1) couched heavy knitting yarn, 2) crochet thread wound on a bobbin and machine stitched using a fancy stitch from the reverse side, and 3)lighter weight yarn, couched.  At the top are reverse applique 'fish' in different textures with ribbon trims.

The machine bobbin work is pleasing to the eye, but the touch factor is not nearly as good as the softness of couched yarn. 

Pony Paradise Project Completed

Starting with a yard of Pony Paradise fleece and various scrap fabric and found goods, two Touch Quilts emerged.

Each features a sunrise or sunset, a pocket or two, ribbon touch tags and prairie points to explore. The one above has a felt hat with ribbon band and a padded silk square for rubbing or patting.

 This quilt has two pockets to explore and a vintage bear claw quilt block, stoutly reinforced.

Both quilts are backed with blue flannel. Quilting is random.

Some cowboy lost his hat.