Twelve Quilts of Christmas – #4

The museum writes about this quilt:

“Susan McCord’s unique vine design meanders along the border on one side of this Turkey Tracks pattern quilt. This quilt was probably made with a specific bed in mind — a bed with one long side against a wall.”

They also wrote:

“Because the background fabric appears different in the applique border, and it was repaired before the quilt was assembled, it may indicate that this border was from another quilt or was left over from another quilt and added to this one.”   That white spot that you see on the appliqued border, by the fourth set of leaves down, is the repair … with a whiter fabric than the original backing. 

Did she recycle it from another quilt?  The colours of that appliqué border on this quilt are a good match for the quilt that you are going to see on Day 6, so you are likely going to want to toggle between the two then to compare (spoiler alert … it has all of it’s border). If it is recycled from another quilt, my big question is, what did that quilt look like and what are we missing seeing? What other wonderful creation did she make? I love that she did not stop herself from using it that border, just because the background colours don’t match.  It is not something I immediately noticed until I read their description.  I might have picked up on it sooner if I had seen it in person.

There are so many other fascinating details about this quilt.  One is that the 1” wide, pink “garden maze” sashing is not pieced or inset.  It is actually appliqued onto the top.  I love that she made that choice!

For the borders, she made some more interesting choices. The top and bottom of the body/blocks portion of the quilt, have a single border that runs the width of that section; pink on the top and green on the bottom.  The next set of borders on the top and bottom run across the full width of the quilt.  Notice how the widths and colours on top and bottom are switched around, and how the addition of the extra green border on the bottom adds visual weight to the bottom of the quilt (that green is not a binding).

McCord also used multiple binding techniques.  The top, bottom and the applique border side have the edges turned in; there is not separate binding.  The right side, opposite the applique border, the notes say that the front has been turned to the back, but I would take that to mean that it is essentially a binding, as that piece had to be added on.  

All these border choices and binding decisions mean that all four “borders” are different!

What do you think about all the choices she made while making this quilt?

Some other facts about this quilt:

Condition:  very good/almost new

Hand pieced and hand appliqued 

Borders: Top border measuring from inside to outside: 1 inch; 2.5 inches; 2.5 inches. Bottom border measuring from inside to outside: 2.25 inches; 2.5 inches; 1 inch. Proper right border is pieced and appliqued with a 4.75 inch.

Back: Cotton muslin, solid/plain, handsewn, 7 pieces (32.5; 32.5; 7.5)

Batting: Thin, cotton, will milling debris visible.

Quilting: hand quilted with hand quilted with white cotton thread at 19-12 stitches per inch, ½” between quilting lines; echo, single parallel lines, feathers and grid/crosshatch

Inscription: label with ink on back reads Mrs. C. M. Cannaday

My gentle PSA!

The curation of this collection of antique quilts each year is my gift to you all. Please feel free to share this gift and send this post to your quilting friends far and wide. The more people joining us, the merrier.  And please join in the conversation in the comments. I would love to hear from you!