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Bringing a cherished quilt back to life

5/20/2019

 
I got immersed in a project last week that I spent 3 days to get it finished before we left for our annual family vacation. I wanted to get this done because it's destined for my brother, Eddie and I can deliver it this week.

Before I get into the background of this project I just want to point out that this project would have never happened without bloggers. I've been watching Carole do some miraculous restorations on old quilts and I've always been inspired by Debra's free-piecing and use of vintage textiles in her quilts.
Picture
This series of posts are about a quilt made by my Great-Grandmother, Flora Texas Goad Rakes. She died at the age of 80 in 1968. I was almost 8 when she died and I do remember her a bit. I mostly remember her sitting in her rocker with a tin of supplies hand piecing quilt blocks. She also wasn't terribly tolerant of having urchins running around her. But she was a quilter and she made quilts for everyone. If you got married you got a double wedding ring. All of her Great-Grandchildren also got quilts.

Here's another fun blog find. Through my blogging friendships I learned that Karen Goad and I are related through this lady and Karen's husband. Apparently all Goads from Virginia are related.

vicki welsh
Here's the "precious" quilt. This project started with me rummaging in a closet and finding (again) my childhood quilt that Flora made. This is the quilt I slept under until I went to college. It has holes in it and is very worn but I just can't throw it out. I've been waiting for a idea that might inspire me to cut it up and make it into something else. 

My quilt is heave but my oldest brother, Eddie's, quilt was even heavier. About 10 years ago he asked me to repair it but every single fabric was worn out - front and back. During a previous repair we learned that his quilt was heavier because it actually had an old whole quilt as the batting. He had to give up using his several years ago and he's still bummed about it. After watching Carole repair quilts I wondered if I might actually be able to refurbish my quilt and give it to my brother. (I've reached a point in my life where a super warm quilt at night isn't comfortable anymore.) I didn't want to spend too much time because, clearly, all of the value in this quilt is totally sentimental.
Picture
Time to inspect! Yes, that's the carpet. This quilt is seriously worn.
vicki welsh
There are a few fabrics here and there that have held up but then there are fabrics that have completely shredded.
vicki welsh
Now I slept under this quilt for years and years and I never noticed how she did the binding. On the sides the top is folded to the back. Top and bottom have the back folded to the front. This is why I'm always harping on people who are overly self-critical on themselves. Once you accept that the gift recipients only care about 2 things, color and comfort, you can stop worrying about the piecing, quilting and binding precision.
vicki welsh
Aside from the holes, the back fabric is in great shape. It's a pretty heavy loose weave fabric and it's really soft. I'll have to keep the softness in mind when I patch those.
vicki welsh
I remembered that I had a supply of Flora's orphan blocks. I think these were her pattern blocks. She would make up a sample block and pin the paper patterns to the block. My Aunt gave these to me years ago along with some quilt tops and other blocks. I think I can use these to patch the roughest areas of the quilt.
vicki welsh
There were also a stack of scrappy 16-patch blocks. I took that night to think about whether I really wanted to do this and how I might go about it.
Tina in NJ
5/20/2019 01:04:21 pm

I was also 8 when my great grandmother died. She loved her Baltimore Orioles and always needed “help” finishing up some ice cream. She and her husband farmed in the Eastern Shore of Maryland. They had five sons and her hair turned white overnight when her youngest died in a gunpowder explosion in World War II. Her name was Grace Merideth Leverage. Sadly, she did not quilt, that I know of.

patty
5/20/2019 02:33:05 pm

That quilt is in rough shape but the orphan blocks look like they were made yesterday!

Mary Anne
5/20/2019 05:41:49 pm

It's great that you have some blocks that were originally made by her - perfect for use as patches in this project. Your brother will be pretty happy to get this I think!

Cheryl J Kotecki
5/20/2019 07:56:25 pm

You set this up so perfectly, I can't wait to see the next installment! I think you have learned a few tricks reading those mysteries you review every month.

Gene Black link
5/21/2019 08:08:28 am

I love old family memories. I have discovered that virtually all the "Blacks" in Alabama are related also. A friend and I were talking and discovered that her family came to Alabama from the same small town in Georgia that mine came from. Her mother's name was Black also.

I am pleased to see that you will get to fix the quilt for your brother.

Carole link
5/21/2019 08:38:53 am

Yes! You can do it!! These just take some time to do all the handwork. For the Eddie's quilt that has holes on the back, you might consider lightly longarm quilting it onto a new muslin backing, then repairing the remaining holes by applique. It will be wonderful to have your precious heirloom to use again.

Sylvia Anderson
5/21/2019 09:02:56 am

Vicki, I too have watched Carole perform miracles on quilts that look as though they definitely were bound for the trashcan, and marveled at how she brought them to life again. Never having had the luxury of having a hand made quilt myself, I would hope my family treasures the ones I've made for them throughout the years.

Kathleen McCormick
5/22/2019 02:20:22 am

I do some restoration, too, for the well loved family quilt or friend's family quilt. Those extra blocks will be so perfect and they re in her hand too - so amazing! It will be fun to watch your progress.

Carole link
5/28/2019 02:40:03 pm

Lucky you to have blocks/fabrics from your great grandmother. Enjoy the process!


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    About Vicki

    I'm Vicki Welsh and I've been making things as long as I can remember. I used to be a garment maker but transitioned to quilts about 20 years ago. Currently I'm into fabric dyeing, quilting, Zentangle, fabric postcards, fused glass and mosaic. I document my adventures here.

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        • Cathedral Window Quilt
        • Time In Place Quilt
        • Shaken Not Stirred Quilt
        • Pleiades Quilt
      • 2014 >
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        • Fractured Spiral Quilt
        • Autumn Leaves Quilt
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        • Crossing The South Anna Quilt
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        • The Patriot Quilt
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      • 2008 >
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        • Citrus Quilt
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        • Strength Quilt Pattern
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      • Hold the Retayne
      • Painted Shower Curtain Tutorial
      • Metallic Paint Effects on Fabric
      • Curing Metallic Fabric Paints
      • Zentange Pens
      • Leaf Printing Tutorial
      • Printing On Fabric
      • Life of MX Dye Concentrates
      • Testing Soda Ash in fabric dyeing
    • Color Theory
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      • Easy Longarm Piano Keys
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