finishing up a quilt

[Drygoods]

Well, I have finished up a quilt with a 4-patch design that has the pattern changing horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. I started the quilt from a CW pattern found in one of Barbara Brackman's books, but changed it at the last minute to have a more challenging pattern. You could say that it was a mix of a 4-patch-Jacob's Ladder/Courthouse steps pattern. The colors are done with cinnamon pinks, chocolate browns, and drab (greyish-brown) centers. The sides of the bed have rows of mixed squares of pinks and browns, and since it was made for a poster bed, the bottom has the skirt done with alternating long rows of two squares, again pink and browns. All told, there are over 2,784 squares. There isn't any sashing in any of the quilt. I intend to use alternating strips of pink and brown bands on the back, with a solid brown binding.

I now have the dilemma of how to finish the top stitching. My other two CW quilts that I made for my sons were done with verse, but this time I thought to make something that would have laurel wreaths in the four corners of the center top, and perhaps a flag with stars. The side and bottom pieces I was thinking of doing just waves unless anyone has a better idea. However, this still leaves me the trouble of what to fill in around or into the flag area. I had thought of adding the names of famous battles around the wreaths, basically listing the larger battles that our relatives fought. I really could use some input because after putting this thing together, and especially the recent 4 days of 14 hours each, I'm just beat and cannot think of what to do next. This quilt will likely be used in a guest room and may not be used at events. My reason for that is because if I list the names of battles, I really cannot use it for events, except late war year events. Would anyone like to suggest a way to get the rest of it done? I have a very fine old quilting frame that seats 10 people with ease, and so after I get the body of it put together, it will likely sit there while I get the rest of it embroidered. Please, would someone offer some suggestions?

[Becky Morgan]

Re: finishing up a quilt

If you're not going to use it at early war events, sure, do the battles and wreaths. You might carry the laurels on around in curves. (It might also save you some stitching, because they hold better than waves.) Laurel branches and stars, maybe?

[Drygoods]

Re: finishing up a quilt

Miss Morgan,

Yes, I will likely do some sort of vines running down the side and bottom flap, but instead of roses I will do stars alternating each side of the vine. I'm still thinking of the four wreaths in the corners, but now am toying with the idea of an eagle holding flags in the center. Another alternative would be to use the names of Generals instead of battles on the quilt, but I'd like to find an original like that first, before I go ahead with the idea. Names of battles just seem to me as though they would have been more common, plus I could toss in the name of an aide society or Sanitary Fair. I'd like it to look good and accurate, despite being just a copy.

Hand quilting will be a lot of work, but will look good once it is done. The real trick is tracing the thing out onto the quilt. What I have done in the past is to trace the whole thing onto paper, and then use tracing paper a bit at a time under the quilt doing only small sections and tearing away the paper top. It's fairly easy if you hold a lap desk underneath while tracing, but slow work nonetheless. If there were a better way to transfer a large pattern, that will be sitting and waiting for long periods of time, I'd sure appreciate it.

Can anyone suggest some good CW quilt books so that I may copy some original motif designs? I'm rather surprised that more of the quilters in this forum haven't made suggestions. What about you few soldiers that use quilts, any ideas you could share?

After 6 or 7 years of work to get the top done, I hope it won't take me as long to get the embroidery done.:(

[Deb Kessler]

Re: finishing up a quilt

I am curious- are you planning to applique the laurel wreaths and then embroider the names of the battles and or generals? My hat is off to you- applique is soooo time consuming, I always have decided to invest the time in the actual quilting and have not done alot of applique as a result.

Since I am presently at work, I do not have access to my quilting books- but your description and what you are looking for has me intrigued and before I start piecing the quilt top I am working on this evening, I plan to pore through my books looking for anything that might work for you.

Have you given any thought to the actual quilting pattern?

Deb Kessler

[ElizabethClark]

Re: finishing up a quilt

What about pouncing the pattern on?

[Drygoods]

Re: finishing up a quilt

The quilt top itself is done, now I have only the handwork, in other words, doing all the fine needlework through the entire quilt. I'm not going to applique the wreaths, but will do those with the needle, and on the inside embroider the names of battles, either with the same thread, or some sort of contrast silk so that it will show up. When I first started this project many years ago, I purchased several would spools of Elsa Williams silk thread, and today have only a small handful left to finish up, consequently, those card spools will be used for the decorative bits.

Since it has taken me 7-8 years just to get all the quilt top pieces done, I rather expect that it will take me a while with the decorative bit. My trouble is that before I start doing anything, I MUST have the whole picture drawn on the paper so that I can get started as it's next to impossible to start and then change the pattern. I suppose that I could do the vines and stars around the skirting parts, but I move the project along much faster if I start from the center and work my way out.

I showed it to a 'big name' quilter this past weekend, and she loved it, saying that it was indeed quite a period looking piece. My plan is to keep it looking that way, even if it never goes out on the field. Worst yet, while visiting with her, I showed her several other things that I sketched out, and now I've got three more quilts waiting in the wings.:tounge_sm Oh no.

I am not a quilter. I just don't know how I got started into this sorta thing, it must be for the love of history. BTW, pouncing,what is that?

[Deb Kessler]

Re: finishing up a quilt

I think I understand better what you are looking to do- you will be incorporating the wreaths and names into the quilting? I did take some time to go through some of my quilt books last night and found a lovely wreath that is open on the top- I thought that that might work for you, but of course I assumed you were appliquing the wreaths.

To quilt the wreaths will be lovely and adding the embroidered names will also be nice. Have you given any thought to writing in the names using period handwriting rather than embroidering them? Many mid century quilts, particularly the album quilts, have the names written on them.

My own personal preference is to not bring a quilted quilt to an event- I have tied quilts that we use for taking out-they are a bit more utilitarian in nature and I would hate to see something happen to a quilt that you have invested so much time into both the piecing aspect and the quilting.

If you can post a picture of the top I would love to see it,

Deb Kessler

[ElizabethClark]

Re: finishing up a quilt

Pounce is a nifty thing. The modern version is a different formulation, and of course has a modern-looking tool, but the technique is old.

You draw out your pattern on paper, and prick it with an awl, tracing the pattern. A pounce-bag is filled with a chalk-like powder. You lay the pattern over the cloth, and "pounce"/pat/rub the powder over the pattern, where it dusts through the holes and marks your cloth. You can then stitch, and the powder brushes away.

(Downside is, the powder brushes away... you'd want to pounce in workable sections!)

Modern quilting supply companies carry pouncing powder and a little refillable pad, too.

[Drygoods]

Re: finishing up a quilt

thank you both for writing. I hadn't heard the term pouncing, so was curious what it meant. What I generally do is work a section at a time by using a wheel and chalk paper, or wax paper, by only drawing a square at a time. This prevents my pattern from vanishing, and gives me just enough work til my hands get tired.

Still, I am rather amazed, I had thought that perhaps some of the CW groups that visit here might have copied quilts that were patriotic, and used for raffles &c. One of the clubs that I belong to does this all the time, thus raising money for their education programs. Doesn't anyone have photographs of Sanitary Fair quilts?:confused_

And Miss Kessler, I cannot say just what will happen with this quilt, it may attend events after all. The only quilts that I use that never go out of the house are the antique ones that I use on the beds here at home. However, since this is new, and from my own hands, I'm not too worried. I sleep in a bed, no longer on the ground, so the quilt would be in good shape no matter what.

[Deb Kessler]

Re: finishing up a quilt

I also like to work in small sections while quilting- it keeps me focused not on the entire quilt and just how much further I need to go, but smaller sections that seem not quite so daunting!

My civilian group has made several quilts for raffling- they have never been "fancy" quilts - simple quilts that are intended for use in the field. We have raffled off three - they were all tied. Unfortunately, they are not on my current computer and I would only have printed photos of them.

Have you decided whether to use battle names or names of generals?

Deb Kessler

[Drygoods]

Re: finishing up a quilt

Have you decided whether to use battle names or names of generals?
Deb Kessler

At the moment, I'm thinking of having the wreaths in the four (flat top) corners with the names of early battles. Along the sides and bottom, I think that I will do vines, but instead of roses, have large stars with the names or the generals who were at the battles listed on the wreaths. In the center I think I'll do an eagle with a flag, and perhaps some sort of motto on the folds of the flag. Another suggestion is doing something other than the wreaths in the corners, perhaps a drum, cannon, tent, or perhaps silhouettes, and maybe rifles down the sides....but that all sounded a bit tooooo corny. One thing I do not want to do is ruin it with a bunch of farbarama, so I'll likely just do the wreaths.

Another grouping of fabric that I have is a large collection of purples. I thought maybe to turn that into a third stage mourning quilt. A Jackson quilt might be interesting, listing their battles, and then doing a heart-cross-anchor in the center with his name. Yep, I betcha some folks reading this are thinking I'm waaaaay too far over the edge.:sarcastic

I do not like quilting, it's too time consuming, but the handwork keeps me busy and helps to gather wool when you want a good think. I think that it is odd that there are so few quilters here in the forum. I wish that someone would suggest a CW museum that has original quilts.

[Deb Kessler]

Re: finishing up a quilt

There are quite a number of museums with 19th century quilts- specifically CW museums though, I dont think so.

I would have to give it some thought as to a listing of them- off the top of my head-

The Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, VA. The museum in Lowell, MA- cannot recall the name. I tend to seek out museums with period quilts- my husband and I recently saw a very nice display in Waterbury, CT but that was a special exhibit and is no longer on view.

I think your quilts sound lovely. I would love to see this one when you have completed one of your wreaths- that is the sort of quilting that really sets a quilt apart from the rest.

Deb Kessler