05 February, 2015

Salvaged Stars and Stripes

This patriotic quilt belongs to my mother; she rescued these pieced blocks from a yard sale years ago; she paid $5 for the lot (12 blocks). Last year she decided to put them to better use, she removed them from a box and set them together with sashing and a wide outer border. I brought it home with me last fall to quilt it up for her. I wish I knew more about the original piecer; the blocks are machine pieced and very attractive, perhaps they are from my hometown of Boxford, MA (where they were purchased) and maybe this quilt was begun as a Bicentennial quilt in 1976, but that is purely speculation... there's no way of knowing, the mystery is part of the charm. Mom had a piece of yardage with the Pledge of Allegiance printed on it, perfect for the backing fabric on this one; it was a bit shy, size-wise. Not to worry, I bordered it up with some dark red fabric from my stash.  I believe it will provide an interesting, framed, reverse side.

Backing fabric, framed with red and ready to be loaded.
Layered in place and ready for thread... let the quilting begin!
 
Simple Stars and Loops: pantograph by Clothwerx.
I can't help but think that whoever made these blocks would be pleased with the end result; 
a bargain box of quilt blocks with a new lease on life, becoming the quilt they were meant to be!

Life is Good!

11 comments:

quiltkeemosabe said...

Good job! I love seeing something like those lost blocks get finished!

Sherrill said...

I LOVE it!! I'm sure, like you say, the piecer would as well. Always a sucker for a red, white and blue quilt!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Love the spirit and soul of this quilt and the women involved in its creation and completion!

I hope to make my first r-w-b quilt later this year ....

Needled Mom said...

No doubt that the creator would be pleased to see it finished so nicely!

Wendy Luane Barber said...

How wonderful. That is so cool. Love the pantograph chosen too.

cityquilter grace said...

perhaps somewhere there is a quilter smiling....happy to see her project finished....it's the circle of quilty life indeed....

Paula, the quilter said...

I love the hearts and stars in the red fabric. Your mom is like me and rescues quilts, quilt blocks and quilt pieces. LOL! At least we don't have to feed them.

Mama Spark said...

This looks great!! I have some old blocks that I bought off ebay and they are pretty cool too. They are Uncle Sam but he is black!! Unique twist right? This reminds me that I should dig them out and stitch them together!!

Laura Chaney said...

Looks lovely! How perfect to find that piece of backing fabric, too!

AnnieO said...

Glad these blocks became a quilt! I'm sure you're right, the maker would love to see them come to life this way.

45th Parallel Quilter said...

Beautiful quilt ... beautiful country. Thanks for rescuing those blocks and turning them into a work of art ;-) Linda