Thimble Thursday: Halloween!

 

Happy Halloween!

Have a safe and happy day!

1950s Cotton Fabric: Men's!

 

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Monday's post seemed to hit a chord with people.  Sue's email though was the funniest:  "I agree the fabrics are reminiscent of men's PJs, but they also remind me of my Dad's boxer shorts which I had to iron.  My ironing wasn't good enough for his shirts.  I was smart.  My younger sisters got the important ironing. Surely there's a lesson there."

I too had to iron my Dad's hankies around age 6 but I don't remember Nana making us do Pop's boxers.  I think she probably wanted us playing and not underfoot.  When and how did you start ironing?

But this conversation got me thinking.  There were times during the history of quilting that men's wear fabrics were a big part of quilting.  Most prominently, shirtings.

I have always thought this top was circa 1900 although it is difficult to say for sure.  The top is comprised of men's shirtings which gives it a nice airy look.

The top also features conversation fabric like below.  This kind of shirting was popular in the late 1800s for men's shirtings and often pieces of the fabric can be seen in quilts during that time.

Later, maybe in the 1990s (can't remember for sure) there was reproduction fabric made that featured conversation.  All I know was that I bought some and later made this quilt from the fabric.

Then I thought about quilts I had seen from the 1950s...and even earlier.  I can't remember many masculine prints being featured in any quilt.  Yet I know that lots of women sewed and there must have been more fabrics suitable for pajamas and boxers at fabric stores and factory outlets.

I think that women gravitated to more pretty prints (maybe?).  Or didn't want people to think that Dad's boxers had been recycled in the family quilt.  😁

Still some of the prints from men's pajamas back then were pretty neat.  Take a look at these:

Would you include any of these fabrics in a quilt you were making?

Have a safe and happy day!

Tuesday's This and That: October 29, 2024

 

Good morning and happy Tuesday!

It's the week of Halloween and I have to say that Lucky will be relieved when the festivities are over.  He doesn't like a lot of the neighborhood decor and in particular blow up figures that wave in the wind really startle him.

I don't have the heart to tell him that there might be some inflated Turkeys coming and then the real neighborhood decor lights up with Christmas decorations.  

***

I've been seeing this blurb pop-up on Pinterest and thought I would share it--especially for the new quilters and sewists.  Superior threads has an article on "Bad Habits Quilters Need to Quilt" and it's an article that all new seamstresses should read.  You can check it out here.

***

Louise T. is also dancing with her stash.  She sent me some photos of mini-notebook covers she has been making.  What a great way to use scraps!  She even has orders to make some holiday ones!  Way to go Louise!  These are wonderful!

Thanks Louise!

***

Have a safe and happy day!

Dancing with My Stash

 

Happy Monday!

Did you have a good weekend?

Today's tale all began with the house that Linda and her husband are renovating.  There is major work being done and they hope to move in within a year or two.  I'll be glad because she will be a 10 minute drive instead of a 30 minute one!

Linda gave me a tour of the progress and we got to one room with wallpaper.  The workers were about to strip it so I asked for a piece of the paper.  It reminded me of so much decor from our childhood.  

How many of you remember this kind of motif?

My mother had home dec. fabric in a similar motif.  In the early 1960s, she made a slip cover for our love seat.

The wallpaper reminded me of a quilt I made many years ago for one of my son's girlfriends.  The fabric reminded me of these same motifs and colors:

This fall I found a few orphan blocks from the quilt.  I thought I would use them to make a table runner but I couldn't find an arrangement I liked.  So I took the blocks apart and then happened to spy the vintage basket in the sewing room.  

The vintage basket has small blocks that I knew would get lost in the big vintage suitcase so I stored them in a small basket in the sewing room.  I think that a lot of the fabrics were samples; the fabric had motifs in different colorways and most were cut with a pinking shear.

 

To be honest, most of the fabrics reminded me men's pajamas of the late 1950s/early 1960s.  Before I knew what got into me, I was cutting the vintage fabric and making four patches.  

When I decided to frame the four patches with scrap fabric, I truly began to dance around the sewing room while I worked.

This scrap quilt will be given to anyone in the family who wants it or become a donation quilt.  It even has a name: 

"Pajama Rama Ding Dong".  😁

Some words that I've seen some people use regarding their fabric stash include: hoarding, shame, busting, decluttering, hiding, and even hating.  

Not me.  Today I'm just celebrating what I found in my stash.  I hope you are dancing while you sew too!

Have a safe and happy day!

Thimble Thursday: Harvest Sun

 

Good morning!

How are you today?

It's Thimble Thursday and time to celebrate any craft that involves a sewing needle!

Today's feature is an Harvest Sun quilt--the title seemed perfect for this time of year.

The quilt is circa 1840.  The colors have remained fast and the quilting is exceptional.

Tomorrow is Flower Friday and if you have anything to share, please email me at allentownquilter@gmail.com.

Have a safe and happy day!

subscription boxes

 

Happy Wednesday friends!

Recently I received an email from a reader who asked what I thought about quilt subscription boxes.  The question surprised me although I had seen the advertisements for Mrs. Quilty boxes.

Some of you might not be familiar with the subscription boxes.  You can place a subscription for a surprise box of fabric, goodies, and patterns from a variety of companies.  The amount of subscriptions offered actually shocked me and so did the price:  the boxes range from $30 to even $100 per month.  

On Sunday, I looked at some Youtube videos about these products.  You should check them out if you are interested as there appears to be a wide range of quality in some of the boxes.

 Many of the videos and articles I read said this might be useful for a new quilter.  My advice would be to visit a local quilt store and enroll in classes.  In some cases, this isn't possible (depending on location) but some younger people enjoy learning from youtube.  

🠞🠞🠞If there's one thing I learned from working at the college is that there are many ways people learn.  Some folks need to hear things, others have to see examples, ask questions, etc.  That's why if it is at all possible, go to the local quilt store.

As for me--like many of you, I'm not interested.  

I suspect many of you are not either.

My reasons:

1. Many years ago, I think I mentioned that I don't do mystery quilts.  I want to know what the quilt is going to look like before I spend a lot of time or money on the project.

2.  I like picking out my own fabric.  There are colors and kinds of patterns or fabric that I am not interested in adding to my stash.

3. Most of us have a deep stash of fabrics that exemplifies decades of fabrics.  We are concentrating on using our stash as much as possible and finishing UFOs, etc.  

4.  I suspect that this is too expensive for the products one receives.  

I'm interested to know what you think and if you've read or watched any of the reviews of these products.

Have a safe and happy day!

Tuesday's This and That: October 22, 2024

 

Good morning and happy Tuesday!

Free patterns!  I visit Connecting Threads website often.  I really like their backing fabrics.  But I don't think I ever realized they have pages of free patterns.  You can find them here!

***

Lucky is doing well but going through a bit of a "terrible two" phase.  He has tantrums 😧.  Tantrums can be started when he doesn't want to leave a dog friend, or go home, or just for the heck of it sometimes.  Tantrums involve circling my legs while I hold him with the leash, growling, jumping at me, and nipping me (not actually biting but close enough).  I have a variety of ways that I deal with this but usually the immediate answer is to pick him up and hold him close (thank goodness he is only 25 lbs.).   It's almost a year since we adopted him and I think he is feeling pretty comfortable and safe with us now and hence the testing behavior.  I'll let you know how it goes.

***

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

More Grange Quilts

 

Hello and happy Monday!

Sue sent some wonderful photos of grange quilts from New Jersey.  She thinks that she saw them at the Belvidere Quilt show.

Thanks Sue, this was so interesting!  What a neat signature quilt!  Each block in both quilts lists the chapters of the grange.

The quilt below was "found" in Colorado and returned to NJ.  One of Sue's friends, Dottie--now deceased--had family members on both quilts.

In case you are wondering...the "P of H" stands for Patrons of Husbandry.  The full name of the Grange--as in the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.

Thank you so much Sue for sharing these photos!

Flower Friday: October 18, 2024

 

Happy Friday and wishing you a great weekend!

Today we have photos from so many of you!

Louise sent a photo of the last flowers on her geranium:

From Nann, photos of Firecracker vines!

Here's information about the vine that Nann also sent:

And from Sue, a photo of her lovely violets!

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful photos!

Have a safe and happy day!