Patchwork from the 1970's-part 2
I still have a few of the quilts from the late 1970's-early 1980's when we had our first quilt shops in my little town. Many of us had never owned a hand made quilt so we didn't really have the background which included hand quilting. We came into this new, as seamstresses who made our own clothes and household items and we used a sewing machine.
Most of the calico fabrics were 100% cotton but we used polyester batting on everything. The newer versions of cotton batting were not available yet. Most of the cotton battings from this time period had to be quilted as close as 1" or they would start deteriorating in the washing machine.
This quilt features the Card Trick pattern shortly after it was designed and published by the Gutcheons, husband and wife team. I made the blocks with all of the same fabrics in the red part, and 2 different fabrics for backgrounds. Then I alternated the backgrounds and also turned the blocks of the opposite background a half turn so the reds wouldn't all be in the same position so it would have a little interest. It is 47" square and would make a great floor quilt for a baby. I would only use cotton batting for a baby quilt (fire safety).
Most of the calico fabrics were 100% cotton but we used polyester batting on everything. The newer versions of cotton batting were not available yet. Most of the cotton battings from this time period had to be quilted as close as 1" or they would start deteriorating in the washing machine.
This quilt features the Card Trick pattern shortly after it was designed and published by the Gutcheons, husband and wife team. I made the blocks with all of the same fabrics in the red part, and 2 different fabrics for backgrounds. Then I alternated the backgrounds and also turned the blocks of the opposite background a half turn so the reds wouldn't all be in the same position so it would have a little interest. It is 47" square and would make a great floor quilt for a baby. I would only use cotton batting for a baby quilt (fire safety).
15 comments:
I didn't realize that card trick was a recent block. This is a really lovely look -- amazing what you can do with two colors!
Very three dimensional! They look like chain links. Did you make the little blocks first and then build up into the nine patches, or did you work from the middle out adding triangles as you went? Anyhow, it is beautiful and subtle.
I love the Card Trick! I made one or two of them also when I first started quilting and I certainly remember polyester batting. Thanks for the trip down memory lane! :)
Red id my favorite, I love it.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My favorite batt then was Quilt Lite, polyester with little bearding and a soft feel. I guess it's still around but I prefer the blends that are available now. I still have quite a bit of those little calicos in my old stash, mostly blues and browns. Those were the IN colors for country decor.
I recognize some of those fabrics from the old days.
The card trick quilt is a favorite of mine. I had made one for my mom, which she uses all the time. Mine came from Quilt in a Day. I love the colors that you used. A great quilt for Valentine's day. I have to say I am so glad that now we can get some great quality cotton batting. It really makes the quilt so much nicer.
And who said red and pink do not go together?!
Nice.
I like this pattern AND the colors...who doesn't like red and
white!!!
I love this quilt, to me it is timeless. The design, the fabrics you chose are just perfect. I know I am stuck in a 'time warp' because the Carpenters Wheel and today's Card Trick have inspired me to know end. Just love the precision of both.
J~MT
Oooh, I really like this -- the red/pink combo is wonderful!! I think I may have to put a Card Trick quilt on my list of quilts to make. You know -- that endless list!
I honestly can not believe how long this pattern has been on my to do list...
When I opened your blog and caught sight of the pretty red Card Trick quilt and then your "current favorite" batik quilt on the side bar, it reminded me of the "First Quilts, Last Quilts" feature they used to do periodically in Quilters Newsletter Magazine.
It's always interesting to look at our first projects (if we still have them!) in relation to our current projects and see the journey we have taken with our quilting and our evolution as quilters. Well done!
--- Vivian
I love your card trick quilt and hope to make one someday I think it's a neat pattern!
I love the card trick pattern and have always wanted to make a quilt with it- I did one block in my sampler but that was it- Your red and white quilt is just lovely - I do remember polyester batt- The first quilt I ever made ( it is posted on this week's blog was a queen sized log cabin that I put not one but two layers of batt in it _ I wanted it to be puffy you know LOL- It was quite the thing to wrestle it through the small space in my sewing machine... I think there probably was some poly cottons in my quilt too because it is not in very good shape these days..
What a nice quilt and post..
Be well,
Anna
Post a Comment