Gosh , the tops we are expected to quilt! The first ‘Grandma Mary’ top I quilted, before Christmas, for my grandson Dalton was double knit and bad enough.
Dalton’s dad Lee, also receive one of ‘grandma Mary’s’ tops and Dalton volunteered me to also quilt his ( Lee is my ex- son-in-law)This is the top. First look at what I had to work with. No blocks were squared or squared to same size either. Some ballooned up and some lay flat but wonky. Some seams matched, some were off as much as an inch on one edge. A nightmare is understatement , more like twilight zone. I tried to stipple the poofy blocks without pinching or distorting too much, but they still were poofy or blousy. I wasn’t happy with that.
Hubby told me just get it done. No amount of time and trying, was gonna make it work like I wanted and they just wanted a quilt with ‘Grandma’s top’.
I let my ex son-in-law know yesterday that it’s finished. I remind him that he probably knew Grandma‘s blocks were off, to say the least and a challenge, for me. I told him it was together, but it has more nips and tucks than Dolly Parton or Priscilla Presley. I also told him the edge has more waves that the beaches have. His response to me, ‘Sounds like this quilt has Grandma’s sense of humor sewn in!’
Have a good day Cuties. To all those birthdays I missed, I hope it was a good one! ❤️Toogie
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This quilt brought back fond memories of my grandma. She was a beautifl seamstress. She made clothing for my sister and I and whatever else she decided on. After she passed, we found hundreds of bowtie quilt blocks that she had made from remnents of things she had made out of knit or double knit fabrics. She survived the depression, losing her husband at a very young age, raising 3 children and running a farm. Nothing went to waste! My dad made a double size quilt from some of the blocks that was raffled off at a church fund raiser. I made a quilt for my parents. Just recently, we found even more blocks. Loved that woman! ( We had convinced my dad to take up quilting so that my sister and I could be 4th or 5th generation quilters.)
2 comments
by toogie
21 Feb 2023
I’m glad you have recalled fond memories. My maternal grandmother quilted by hand, but pieced her tops, on a treadle machine. I remember playing under the top, when she quilted, because the frame took up the whole room. My mother was a good seamstress, but rarely pieced a top. I only remember her making one baby top. I just found my passion for piecing/quilting in 2019 when I joined Quilts of Valor through a local quilting group. Recently, because one personal quilt has discouraged me, I don’t want to work on anything. I told myself I would not start another quilt of any kind until I finish this monster. So far, I have not had the courage to tackle it again, so I’m on Pause-lol
14637Wow! after all that hard work it's turned out well Toogie. Great effort on your behalf and I'm sure Lee will love it now it's finished. Hope hubby is doing better. Love Chris
1 comment
by toogie
12 Feb 2023
Hubby seems to be doing better, sleeping better. Some time during the night he came got in the bed with me last night. He hasn’t been able to rest anywhere but his recliner. He couldn’t lay down, just set up, even sleeping sitting up.
Lee hasn’t came to pick up his quilt but I hope he overlooks the faults as you all have done. Thanks
234496I know you're not particularly pleased with the outcome, but I have to say despite the puckers, it looks a lot better after your quilting than it did before. Good job!
Hope Hubby is feeling better soon.
1 comment
by toogie
11 Feb 2023
Thank you I hope so too. It’s hard to see anyone in pain and you are helpless.
About the quilt, I just hope Lee is happy with it. I told him I did the best I could and I wanted him to understand, some parts I couldn’t do as well as I would have liked. I’ll let you know, once he picks it up, what he thought.
11506Suzanna, my Bow Tie is in this link, you may have seen it before. They are red and navy. I used a different layout, to set my blocks.
www.cuteembroidery.com
2 comments
by sebsews
11 Feb 2023
Beautiful! Oh, goofy me, mine is not Bow Tie it's Dapper Dan. Will post when I get the blocks sewn correctly. They are so uneven. A work in progress for sure.
109780You did a great job on Grandma Mary's quilt! Love the sense of humor too. I hope your hubby feels better soon. I got my back epidural on Wednesday and today if I could do a cartwheel, I would do a cartwheel! I have been doing bits of sewing but not much. Still busy with sister. Oh, and I have cut some fabric for my bow tie quilt. I did sew a few pieces, but I sure do need lots of practice.
1 comment
by toogie
10 Feb 2023
I would love to see your quilt. I do like the colorful bow ties here. I only made one Bow Tie red, white and blue because it was a kit that Sharon, one of our leaders, had cut out. I just had to sew the pieces together so it went fast. It’s posted here in one of my Sewing post, I’m sure.
I am glad your back feels better but you need to take it slow. My hubby had those injections 20 years ago. The new scan shows another disc messed up. He had 2 ruptured then and another next to those two now is bulging.
18140The quilt top may not be to your standards, but I'd say it is now stitched with double the love, thanks to you. It is a very interesting looking quilt, but I'm sure to Dalton's dad, it is a treasure.
1 comment
by toogie
10 Feb 2023
The block pattern is called Bow Tie. I see G-ma Mary placed most of her bow ties going in the same direction, however, she has a few pointing opposite. I don’t know if it was intentional or accidental. Yes, I think they just wanted it finished because G-ma made it.
169064Congratulations and hope it’s the last to be done so you can get back to your own quilts
1 comment
by toogie
10 Feb 2023
I HAVE got to finish Marsha’s King. I say I’m not doing any others until her top is done. I can’t cut anything right now as my helper is down with his back. Waiting on appointment for neurosurgeon next month. Poor hubby has been suffering…
115749Your new business: Problem Quilts. Honestly, you have the patience of a saint. It looks great, but would have been simpler to make a new one from scratch that you'd get the credit for, right?
1 comment
by toogie
10 Feb 2023
I told my hubs, I could have taken the squares all apart, squared up or re-cut, then sewed back together… but then it wouldn’t have been Grandma Mary’s quilt. They will appreciate it if for no other reason.
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