I've
always been a collector of stuff. One of my favorite
acquisitions is, of course, fabric. Vintage fabric, like feed sacks
or 36” wide cotton, makes me happy.
Today's
quilt has me grinning from ear to ear. The block, Grandmother's Pride,
was published as a Laura Wheeler mail order pattern sometime in the
1930's, 40's, or 50's. It is also called Empress.
I
sent a request to Norma Grimmer at Blue Wren to make a die for this
block and I got it last month from Australia.
I chose feed sacks that coordinate with tomato red cotton and natural muslin to recreate this quilt that looks like those our grannies made. One of the sacks actually came from Granny Rose, the others I bought at estate sales. I added two reproduction fabrics.
The
blocks sewed together beautifully. I rotary cut the setting triangles
around the outside. A homespun navy and blue tiny floral makes great
backing and binding. With medium beige thread, I used a scallop stitch 1½” apart
diagonally across the quilt. It measures 50” x 55”.
Keepsakes
seemed the right name for this one. I like that my feed sacks are
useful again, and that I can enjoy the family tradition of quilting.
I'm pretty sure the grannies would be proud. Thanks Norma and Edward
for helping me reproduce vintage quilts! (I have the fan block in
progress.)
Blue Wren dies used:
6983
Grandmother's Pride 12” block
6720
Magic Strips 1” - 9½”
