Background: I collect vintage hand-embroidered linens...dresser scarves, doilies, pillowcases, etc. I don't just "collect" them, I actually USE THEM in my home on a daily basis!!!
However, sometimes items will get stained or develop holes in them, and I can't bring myself to just toss them out. So what's a girl to do??? For a couple of years now I've been thinking of how I can preserve the embroidery in a quilt. I came across this blog post this past summer and decided that I wanted to do something similar...
I like the way she cut out the usable parts of the embroidery and added 1930's reproduction fabrics (these kinds of embellished linens are usually from the 1920-1940 era). This past summer I started collecting 30's repros with this kind of quilt in mind.
However...I LOVE LOVE LOVE star blocks...especially when the stars look like they are floating rather than touching each other. I've been doing some research and finally found a free pattern here that has floating stars.
Yesterday I made a test block out of some scraps to see if I liked the way it looked and if it would go together fairly easily without too much aggravation, hair-pulling-out, etc. I am pleased to announce that it met all of my criteria! :)
My test block...I'm thinking I might turn it into a pillow for our sofa...
Well...I couldn't stop there. Nooooooooo...I had to go on and make a block out of one of my vintage pillowcase embroideries...
I know I'm going to have fun making this quilt because I just LOVE those 30's reproduction fabrics. By the way, because some of these linens are thin, I am applying a lightweight iron-on interfacing to them to strengthen them in the quilt.
Now I want to share a new quilting notion with you that I purchased at my LQS, Classic Quilt Shop. In the past I have hated HST's (half-square triangles) because of having to mark the backs of each little piece and then TRYING DESPERATELY to sew straight, etc. Just a pain in the you-know-what to me. They always came out wonky. :(
I found this notion at the quilt store and used it yesterday to make my blocks and IT WORKS!!!
It is a piece of plastic cling that you put on the bed of your machine and it gives you lines to match up your points to...then you just guide your fabric under the needle while keeping your corners lined up on the lines!!! Easy-peasy!!! It also has a 1/4" guide line so when you are sewing a scant 1/4" seam, you just line up your fabric to that one!!! Since it is a cling it is easily applied and removed as often as you need!
Here it is on my machine with a leader/ender under the needle. Ten dollars well spent!!!
Loretta
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