The Forgotten Quilt

July 15, 2015 by adaisygarden

Once upon a time,
long ago and far away
while on vacation,
I started this quilt…

I diligently sewed these little squares together by hand
(I didn’t have my sewing machine with me).
You can tell I was a beginner because some of the squares don’t line up!
For years these nine-patch blocks sat forgotten…

The nice lady who owned the cabin we stayed in gave me a bag of scraps
from her collection. She was an avid quilter and had lots & lots of fabric.
I was a beginner and just wanted something to do at night while on our
restful vacation. (There was no TV, radio, internet, or signal).
We liked it so much there that we went back several years later, Btw.

They were random scraps I probably never would’ve chosen,
but I was just happy to have some fabric to sew together.

(BACK TO QUILT STORY…)

Then one day
(yesterday)
I “found” them and said, “Oh! Alas! The forgotten blocks
from that vacation long ago and far away!”

I decided to bring those blocks together
and begin the process of finishing this neglected quilt.

I didn’t over-think it, I just sat and sewed the blocks together.

I had been thinking about putting a black border around the sides
to make it big enough for a lap quilt, but…

What do you think I should do?
What color border do you think would look better?
I thought maybe two borders of different widths & colors might be better?

Or maybe I should just make it a table cloth with a nice border around it??
I could take it on picnics…

Any suggestions?

And so… the Forgotten Quilt will soon be finished and
forgotten no longer.
The End
(for now)

I’ll post soon with the finished look.

I’m linking with Freshly Pieced and with Sew Fresh Quilts.
Go on over and see what pretty things they’re working on!

Daisy

Posted in Quilting | Tagged Country LIfe, Crafts, Fabric, quilt, Quilting, Sewing | 34 Comments

34 Responses

on July 15, 2015 at 5:12 pm | Reply apuginthekitchen

What a great find, It would make a lovely tablecloth, what about a duvet? Sew a sheet on the other side, you can fasten with buttons or ribbon to tie or button it closed. It would be beautiful.
- on July 15, 2015 at 5:34 pm | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Those are great ideas! Thanks!
on July 15, 2015 at 5:26 pm | Reply Linda

Lovely! I don’t think black would be a complimentary border…perhaps the blue or pink? And I agree with Suzanne that a duvet is a great idea…or perhaps just a bedspread…very lovely indeed 🙂
- on July 15, 2015 at 5:35 pm | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Thank you! I’m thinking of looking through my stash of solid colors and see which colors look best. I’ll try the blue and pink first. 🙂
  - on July 15, 2015 at 6:15 pm Linda
    
    Don’t forget to post the final product! Would love to see the end result…I still have a quilt that an aunt gave me for my wedding 30 years ago…it’s my only one and I treasure it 🙂
on July 15, 2015 at 6:34 pm | Reply quilt32

I love all of the varied and beautiful fabrics. I agree that some color(s) from the blocks rather than black would be pretty as a border. I also want to see the finished quilt.
- on July 16, 2015 at 12:58 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Thanks, Lillian! I agree with you – I think I’ll try different colors first.
on July 15, 2015 at 6:43 pm | Reply Fourth Generation Farmgirl

I love the colors and patterns. Your quilt reminds me of a 1940s era quilt–so pretty and colorful. 😊
- on July 16, 2015 at 1:00 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Thank you! I think the fabrics are really old and that’s probably why the quilt looks older.
  - on July 17, 2015 at 8:07 am Fourth Generation Farmgirl
    
    It’s lovely. 🙂
on July 15, 2015 at 8:55 pm | Reply Debbie

You blessed me again as you share about finding the quilt pieces and then wanting to finish it! Somehow it encourages me today at how He never gives up on us! Thank you, thank you!
- on July 16, 2015 at 1:01 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Thank you, Debbie. You’re a blessing, too!
on July 15, 2015 at 11:58 pm | Reply bkringel

How fun to finish this project! I like the idea of making it into a tablecloth. It is so summery and cheerful!
- on July 16, 2015 at 1:02 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Thanks! I can hardly wait to finish it and see what it looks like! 🙂
- on July 16, 2015 at 9:20 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  I haven’t made a tablecloth quilt yet but I think this one might be perfect for it.
on July 16, 2015 at 12:02 am | Reply Laura Conowitch

What a wonderful memory quilt this will be!

I don’t think black is a good choice for a border. How about green, or blue? If you want to borders, then how about a narrow pop of red between the center and the outer border?
- on July 16, 2015 at 1:04 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  I like that idea. The blue & green also sound good. I’m on a mission to finish this quilt asap! 🙂 Thanks for your input!!
on July 16, 2015 at 5:24 am | Reply meandmyjanome

Love the post, nothing like finishing off those old projects. I have made a deal with myself to do the same, I think I am up to project 4 completed now, and these were started in the 1990’s :o) One does wonder why we love to start these things and never get the point of finishing them, but when we do, we feel like we so accomplished somethingngreat…ahh the human race.

I like the ideal of a double boarder, my suggestion would be a blue for a small boarder and then creamy>yellow for the bigger boarder
- on July 16, 2015 at 9:18 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Love the idea of yellow! I’ll have to try that one.
on July 16, 2015 at 7:38 am | Reply KerryCan

Awww . . . the poor forgotten quilt! But the story is going to have such a happy ending! I love this sort of scrappy quilt–it makes me think of our foremothers, using what was available to them!
- on July 16, 2015 at 9:17 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  I confess I didn’t like the fabrics too much, but afterwards I thought exactly the same thing you did– it looks like a “real” quilt from those times when they had scraps cut from worn out shirts and dresses. They didn’t have the luxury I do of going to the fabric store with a color scheme in mind and choosing fabrics with cute motifs on them. 🙂
  - on July 19, 2015 at 1:31 pm Apple Hill Cottage
    
    That’s exactly why I think a black border would look great — although I see i’m in the minority here… 🙂 I think black and white always tie every color together — though I’m not suggesting black and white here. Maybe black and red? Now you have too many suggestions…
    It’s lovely.
  - on July 19, 2015 at 4:16 pm adaisygarden
    
    Haha! That’s what I thought, too, until I read everyone’s suggestions… I’ll try all the colors before I decide what to do… I certainly appreciate your input!
on July 16, 2015 at 8:33 am | Reply Jewels

Looks like a perfect picnic tablecloth. 🙂
- on July 16, 2015 at 9:13 am | Reply adaisygarden
  
  I’m leaning that way… 🙂
on July 16, 2015 at 11:27 am | Reply Rhonda Sittig

What a great story Daisy!! I vote yes on the double border– and it would be a perfect picnic tablecloth– to take along on other vacations ahead… It’s so cozy and homey!! Fun post!!
- on July 16, 2015 at 1:54 pm | Reply adaisygarden
  
  That’s a great idea, Rhonda! I’m feeling a little torn between making it a lap quilt that we can use when watching TV or reading… or making it a tablecloth to take on picnics. I have to decide today so I can finish it tonight…
  - on July 16, 2015 at 3:44 pm Rhonda Sittig
    
    Well, it will be loved however you use it…
on July 16, 2015 at 11:31 am | Reply lilypup

I am a beginning quilter and this gives me hope. I can’t believe you sewed all that by hand.
- on July 16, 2015 at 2:10 pm | Reply adaisygarden
  
  The blocks that I completed during that long-agp vacation were done by hand, but the last ones I finished at home on my sewing machine. I’m also a beginner quilter and I find that it is so therapeutic…I’m so focused on the pretty fabrics and squares that I don’t think about anything else. It’s fun for me, choosing the colors and fabrics, and then sewing them together.
on July 16, 2015 at 11:49 am | Reply Sharon - creativityandfamily

That is gorgeous, I would probably suggest picking out one of the colours for the border and I love the tablecloth idea 🙂
- on July 16, 2015 at 1:56 pm | Reply adaisygarden
  
  Yes, I agree about the border…maybe blue or green…or yellow…
  - on July 17, 2015 at 10:39 am Sharon - creativityandfamily
    
    Sounds great 🙂
on July 17, 2015 at 10:46 am | Reply alphabetstory

You can add Quilt Rescuer to your accomplishments. Your work reminds me of a flower garden. I love the randomness of the black and white checkered pieces. It wouldn’t work if it was any other color. This is just a thought, but maybe a small black and white stripe, (an inch or two wide, followed by a solid border might look nice. It could be black, but a soft yellow would also create a nice border.