The pattern is from Making History, Quilts and Fabric from 1890-1970 by Barbara Brackman, and is called Georgia Tulip. It's in the last chapter which covers the 1950's to 1970's. This is a time period I can relate to since this is when I grew up and now, apparently my age is heading into the vintage category. When I was shopping the other day a clerk asked me sheepishly if I was a senior. Ahem. The cut off was 60 years old. Since I'm 3 years away from said senior discount, and the girl was all of about 18, I forgave her. She was trying to give me a deal, but please, don't rush me. I will gladly give up the discount to retain every bit of those three years. Needless to say I went out and bought some new moisturizer and eye cream after that.
Anyway, the original was 35 x 31 inches. I added a half square triangle border, then a floral border, which brought mine up to 43.5 x 43.5. There is both hand and machine quilting, and the tulips were paper pieced then appliqued down onto the blue blocks. The backing is voile.
When I went to the fabric store to buy the floral border, I told the clerk (different one this time. older than me. not that it matters or anything) that I was also going to add a border of hst's that were leftover from a different quilt. The conversation went something like this:
Clerk: Well you can't just add those on. How do you know they will fit? You have to do the math!
Me: (Channeling my inner Gwen Marston) No I'm just going to sew them together and then trim them to fit.
Clerk (looking at me aghast. I don't usually use that word, but really. Her face) The border won't fit. The hst's will get cut unevenly. You have to do the MATH!
Me: Um, no really, it will be fine. I'm doing it on purpose. It's very liberating, blah, blah, blah.
I had lost her. It was unthinkable that I would purposefully NOT measure and just whack a row of blocks in mid block. Oh silly lady. Sometimes you gotta just bend a little bit. Besides, I've been sewing since I was eight (Here. I'll do the math. That's almost 50 years), this isn't my first rodeo, and if I want to chop up blocks, then it's all on me. I love my Tulip quilt as is.
No matter what your age, just go make something today. And whack the hell out of it.
It's gorgeous ! and from another almost-senior - very well done! I love the soft colours and the hand quilting. Thanks for a smile over my breakfast :)
ReplyDeleteIt's really tough to explain liberated quilting/buying/thinking to most clerks in a way that doesn't scream lazy or ignorant quiltmaker. But maybe that's just because they're in the business of 'helping'?:) Love your sweet tulip quilt so much. I have such a fondness for tulips in quilting--you're making me want to make another one myself!
ReplyDeleteI love this pattern of flowers and what you have added to it with the HST borders! Yes, just go our there and make something!
ReplyDeleteLOVE you! LOVE your sense of humor! LOVE your quilts!...(No matter WHAT your age!)
ReplyDeleteYou should take it back and show her! It's fab! Xxx
ReplyDeleteFirst of all....I love, love, love that quilt! Second.....I am cracking up at the conversation with the clerk at quilt store!!!
ReplyDeleteSO funny.
xo Kris
I love this quilt!! I love the vintage look/ pattern, it just screams spring and happy!! My hair is white and had been for years although I'm just a couple of years older than you. I have had every type of comment thrown at me. Mostly rather negative but that's their problem! Don't care! You just whack it up or do what you want!!! You're the boss !!
ReplyDeleteoh Lynne. This post made me smile to myself and for some odd reason (considering I turn 60 in less than a month) very happy. Thanks for sharing - I loved hearing about the dialogue. And your bravery. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe triangles look like you did the math anyway! Wonder what you will be cutting up next! That tulip quilt is a beauty, and by the way, I like vintage quilts a lot!
ReplyDeleteKATIRN W.
I love your quilt and remember when you shared it with us before. I can just imagine that this clerk might not be that into a Gee's Bend quilt. The beauty is in their imperfection. I'm drawn to these kinds of quilts. My grandmother made us all quilts and made my children quilts. They were put together by her own personal methods. And each of them were used till they were threadbare and much loved. As I'm sure this quilt will be also. Thanks again for sharing, Lydia
ReplyDeleteI love your tulip quilt, too, as is. We obviously all have different approaches to quilting (not that there's any of that going on here these days). As to that senior discount: I take full advantage of it, unlike my MIL who would not admit to her age under any circumstances.
ReplyDeleteWow beautiful x
ReplyDeleteYOU GO GIRL!
ReplyDeleteThat's the most beautiful "Whacking" I have ever seen.
I mean it... I am smitten with this quilt... WOW!
I love it! It might be one of my very favorites that you made, do I say that with each quilt? You just jump in and do what you want, it turns out beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Amen, sister. To paraphrase the great Elizabeth Zimmermann, it's your sewing, and you're the boss of it. Anybody who looks at me aghast when I tell them what I'm going to do to my own project is going to get a nice, long lecture. Rock on, do it your own way, and as always, your results speak for themselves, because this one is a beauty. Hand applique? You're a quilting star. xoxo
ReplyDelete"Whack the hell out of it"--I just may adopt that as my motto! And might I say, that is some awesome whacking there. Your quilt is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful! And sometimes, or perhaps even often, the making is more important than the outcome anyway.
ReplyDelete