Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Charity Shop Quilt

I struck gold in the local charity shop when I found this 20-year-old quilt. It's a beautiful scrappy quilt in what look like upholstery fabrics. It has 25 blocks of folded patchwork in an eight-pointed star design, like a Lemoyne Star, framed in blue and separated by wine-red sashing. It's utility quilted with French knots at the corners of the blocks so the quilting doesn't show on the front. In fact there is a sleeve for hanging, so it was intended as a wall hanging but it's a perfect size for my king-sized bed.

The maker was obviously experienced as the folded patchwork is very accurate and has been carefully planned so that the motifs on the fabrics are aligned once folded, which is no mean feat. The placement of fabrics within the design is well thought-out and effective (something I'm not always good at in my own quilting). The patchwork blocks are hand sewn, this style of patchwork cannot be done any other way. The quilting is also hand-sewn and the sashing is applied by machine. The maker has embroidered her name in the border: Sandra Loder 1986.

3 comments:

welsh girls allotment said...

Its suprising that somebody would want to part with such a beautiful thing, but it truly is your gain, I tried patchworking but I just haven't the eye for it or the patience !!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by and for your link...i have linked to you also...what a beautiful quilt - i am so envious. I am never that lucky when i
go rummaging through charity shops -its one of my favourite pastimes,that and boot fairs!!

Anonymous said...

Mel, can you do a close up photo of the blocks so everyone can see the details. Tt took my breath away when you brought it home.
Thanks to our drinking my sloe gin way too early I was the first to sleep under that quilt during my 36 hour hang over. WARNING - don't drink sloe gin that's only 4 weeks old unless you can climb into a dark, quiet hole for the next 2 days.