DECEMBER 23, 2018
Pieced crib quilt, late 19th c., 36 1/2″ x 40″, maker unknown. Found at Pook and Pook Auction. (Late addition: From the collection of Joes Meester.)
I had first seen this quilt in Woodward and Greenstein’s “Crib Quilts and Other Small Wonders.” It fascinated me. It was once part of the impressive Richard and Rosemarie Machner Collection. Then it went up for auction just weeks before I saw it. It definitely falls into the category of “one of the ones that got away”! Here’s the other part about this quilt though. Unlike the auction of the quilt from day 3, where the full-size quilt and the crib quilt were put up for auction together, this sweet quilt had a full-size version that virtually matched (a bit of difference in borders and background colours), but it was put up for auction in a separate listing (insert big frown face). My heart sure hopes that someone saw both and knew they were a set and bought both so they could end up together again.
There is so much to look at in this one. Each of the borders is just a bit different, or very different as in the case of the right hand border. The upper right hand block with the bright blue and red backgrounds in the square in a square blocks actually gives a lot of life to the quilt … the red draws your eye to the other red elements in the quilt and the blue adds some definite spark. Cover that part up with your hand and there is definitely something missing. Take your hand away and all is good again. It is a visually busy quilt, that is for sure, but it works … it definitely works.
This is another quilt where I wonder where it is now.
DECEMBER 22, 2018
Bow Tie Crib Quilt, c. last quarter 19 century, 46″ x 69″, maker unknown. Found on Antique Associates at West Townsend
It feels like this quilt has been on my favourites list for a very, very long time. This quilt borders on the larger size of crib quilts but it is not sitting on the fence at all when it comes to dazzling appeal. And I know … its another one with lots of small pieces!
The wide variety of fabrics used, the controlled palette and the tiny broken dish and four patch blocks … some at postage stamp scale … well I could stare at it for hours. The centre is so uniform and calm compared to the rest of the quilt, giving a place for the eyes to pause amid the busy layout of the remainder of the quilt. I have have been studying it, looking and following their construction process as they worked their way out, from the middle. What an interesting bit of insight that was to do. Take a look yourself … start with the centre composition and then start working your way out. What do you see?
This is one of those quilts where I say to myself , “I wonder where it is now?”
DECEMBER 21, 2018
Star of Hope Crib Quilt, late 19th century, 36 1/4″ x 36 1/4″, maker unknown. Found on Liveauctioneers.
I did mention, didn’t I, that one of the things that was very appealing, as I was choosing examples for this year, was that there were plenty of opportunities to highlight quilts with lots of small pieces! And does this quilt ever fit the bill! I think that is what partly stopped me in my tracks on this one and caused me to experience a sharp intake of air (aka: audible gasp).
The auction listing stated that there are 35 blocks each one measuring 5 1/2″, and then I realize that the description is identifying a block as four of the star blocks set with the cross sashing, so rightly so that is how it should be described. But the math! The sashing bars between the four star blocks are around 3/8″ – 1/2″ (some are bigger and some are smaller). The broken dish blocks in the star units finish around 7/8″! Remember it is likely hand pieced!
I’ll leave you a moment to catch your breath! It is far from perfect.
The quilt police would have had to sharpen their pencils in making notes about it, but oh what a phenomenal work of love for a sweet babe! I wouldn’t change a thing.
DECEMBER 20, 2018
Log Cabin Crib Quilt, c.late 19th century, 25 1/2″ x 34″, maker unknown. Found on Skinner Inc.
When it has a cheddar binding, well you know right there that this little quilt quickly won my heart over. And then there are those wee logs … yes wee. Be still my heart! One of the challenges of looking at photos of quilts is that it can be hard to understand the scale of the pieces. Let me do some math for you. The quilt measures 34″ long and there are 12 blocks, so each block is around 2 7/8″. There are nine pieces across each block so that puts those little logs … those adorable little logs … at around 1/3″ each. Between the cheddar binding and little logs … pass the smelling salts.
So technically this pattern is Courthouse Steps and not Log Cabin, but none of that changes the skill in making this quilt and the deft use of colour. Cheddar strips have been liberally sprinkled throughout the quilt creating a common anchor of colour, when combined with the cheddar binding, And the cheddar nicely balances off the red which has also liberally been sprinkled throughout. The colour palette is happy and cheery without being overwhelming or overstimulating … the perfect combination for a crib quilt!
DECEMBER 19, 2018
This quilt has been so carefully planned out and beautifully executed. The moment I saw it , it went on my favourites list (this is the one I had to dig deep into my hard drive to find!). I know about this quilt because a dear friend, and non-quilter, saw it on a website she was looking at (for another reason) and then sent me the link, thinking I might be interested. Thank you LK. It’s great to have friends who get your love of quilts!
Where to start? I love how the the four patches on point reflect the movement of the Irish Chain elements. I love that it is a rectangle and has those four patch “bands” at the top and bottom. I love how the four stars in the corner match and the centre is just a little bit different. I love how the dashes of red in the four patches encourage your eye to dance away from the star centres and then back again. In many of the four patches, the use of lights almost blend into the background fabric really let the darker colours in the other portion of the four patch float. I love how the single fold narrow binding is a print and adds a delicate frame around the whole composition. I love that the quilting is simple: single and double rows on the diagonal or forming chevrons.
Yup, it still makes my heart sing and is on my favourites list!
