The Rescue Quilts – #8 – Itty Bitty Trip Around the World – Quilt Reveal
The Rescue Quilt series is about finishing up quilt tops that were never completed and then remaking the pattern. Sometimes I find easier / modern ways to make the quilt pattern, and sometimes I change up the pattern a bit to freshen things up.The goal is to honor the quilt maker who made the quilt top by completing their project, to not waste good craftsmanship (usually done by hand), to ogle long ago yummy fabrics, and to breathe in a little old inspiration and make it new again. You can view all parts of this series here.
Want to get started on finishing your own Rescue quilts? Here are a few articles to get you started:
- how to find them
- how to clean them before working on them
- Why you should label your quilt.
- Also, check out this pinterest board of “Inspiring Vintage Quilts” and be sure to follow me there!
You may remember this quilt from this post. Well, it’s done! Picture me jumping up and down, giddy all over. This quilt is every single one of my favorite colors and all put together for a true bohemian feel. I’m madly in love. Probably one of my most favorite rescues ever!
We are going to dig and talk about this until I get tired of tapping, so settle in!
I really want to know who created this quilt top. She would have the patience of, I don’t know, a snail? Because really! This quilt had to take ages. There are more than 3,100 squares in this quilt and they measure 3/4″ finished. I like to look at and explore old quilts and in all that exploring I’ve never seen anything quite like this. Such tiny piecing!
What I do know is that her 75-year-old grandson kept this quilt on a wall until recently when he gave it to my sister in law who then gave it to me. What year would that put this getting pieced at? I wish I was better at dating fabrics. My knowledge there is pretty non-existent. There are a few bits of clothing in this quilt at least that is what I think that denim-ish fabric is, but maybe it’s not denim at all. I really don’t know. If it’s actual denim then that would mean this quilt isn’t ‘that’ old, but again, I don’t know. There are mostly solids in this quilt though, solids with a thicker texture, but definitely quilting cotton type material.
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My finger in the above picture is pointing to the fabric I’ve been calling ‘denim-ish’. It’s not really as thick as denim, but the look is right. This is the only row in the quilt that had some seams that had come undone. Instead of sewing them closed, I chose to quilt over the whole quilt in a very tight and tiny meander. This way each square should be kept from tearing anymore. Each of the torn squares have several lines of quilting going through it to secure it more. This is usually my standard practice on rescued quilts.
You can see that the tight quilting created an abundance of extra texture. It really feels quite scrumptious.
One of the things I’ve gotten used to seeing on these completely hand pieced quilts is that they almost always have wobbly edges. I’m still not certain what is causing this issue, but you can really see this in the picture above. I’ve chosen to leave the edges wobbly, so not to have to cut deeper into the quilt and lose some of the precious piecing. I’m perfectly content with a little wobbliness, anyway, aren’t you?
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Can you imagine piecing this quilt? Sorry, but I’m not over it just yet. Still in awe.
If I was going to piece it myself, I’d probably sew 1.5″ strips together in typical Trip Around the World fashion and piece it that way, but something tells me that’s not how this quilter worked. I’m thinking from the piecing I was able to see on the back, that she cut up a bunch of 1.5″ squares and pieced that way. Oh, what I’d do for a picture of her working on it!
Quilt Details:
Pattern – Trip Around the World
Size – 72×91″ (smaller than I originally thought)
Blocks – 3,100+ squares
Top Fabrics – Rescued quilt
Backing Fabrics – Coco Bloom in midnight by Amy Butler and Tender Grid in Vintage Chic by AGF Studio
Binding – Peach solid #78 by Moda
Batting – Warm and Natural batting by the Warm Company
Thread – Quilt Plus by Coats
Techniques Used – meander quilting, wall basting, and machine binding
If you are looking for a modern version of this quilt from me, you’d find it here. If you’ve been following me for sometime, you would know that I gifted my version of the Trip quilt to my sister days before I received the rescued quilt. It just sort of worked out as if it was meant to be. I love the idea of a quilt finding its way to me. I know that sounds silly, but come on! I just finished a Trip quilt and then I receive a Trip quilt and then this whole series is about refreshing older patterns. You do see it right?
I’m sighing now. Lovingly. I just love quilts to death, truly.
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What a wonderful rescue. It is so beautiful , especially the “imperfect” parts – sometimes that’s what makes them extra special. The fabric that you think is denim could very well be because they have denim back in the 1890s. I love all of the colors and definitely appreciate all of the original quilter’s work and yours. I have a collection of old quilt tops, but I haven’t been brave enough to finish them (yet). Think I may have to add one to my project list. Thanks for the links about rescuing these treasures.
Thank you! I didn’t know that about denim. Thanks for that! ?
Truly a remarkable quilt and I’m not surprised you keep admiring it! I love the backing you chose for it too.
Aww! Thank you, Nicole!! ??
This quilt is absolutely breath-taking. As someone who loves to take on incredibly insane tasks of this sort, it’s phenomenal to see what this maker has done! Oh the hours!! Such tiny squares!! 🙂
I so wish I could talk to this quilt maker! The questions I would have!!! ?
So fantastic! I love how you finished it and photographed it and celebrate it. kudos!!!
Thanks, Rachel!!