Thimbleanna » Jumbo Applecore, Part 1 of 3

Jumbo Applecore, Part 1 of 3

September 16, 2009 on 10:10 pm | In Quilting | 60 Comments

As I promised on my last post, we finally have some quilting here in Thimbleannaland. A few years ago, MeMum, BigDaddy, TheManoftheHouse and I had a hot date every Wednesday night. The menfolk would watch t.v. while the womenfolk quilted. The first quilt we finished was this jumbo applecore, probably pieced during the 30′s or 40′s.

This quilt is all handpieced and MeMum thinks that my father’s mother did the piecing. We don’t know for sure, but as far as I know, we don’t have any other quilts by her. I don’t remember her ever quilting — I knew her as a knitter and crocheter. I love some of the prints in this quilt and would love to see them re-made. And look across the middle at that blue and white polka dot that’s back in style now. What’s going on there? Why are they all placed in the same row? Inquiring minds want to know!

This is a funny little quilt, but I love it. My favorite piece is the striped applecore that has been pieced. I like to think that my grandma loved that pretty pink, green and blue stripe and wanted to use every last scrap in this quilt.

MeMum and I decided to quilt this quilt with an all-over clamshell pattern and let me tell you…it was a bugger (booger? buggar??? how do you spell that anyway?) to quilt. The fabrics are sort of feedsack heavy and we used a very weird consistency batting that MeMum had in her stash. We had to quilt each stitch individually because it was so hard to get the needle through the fabric and batting. I think we both complained the whole way through this quilt, and our stitching definitely wasn’t at its best.

Needless to say, we were very happy when it was finally finished. It was fun to work together though — two people quilting are twice as fast as one! There is more to this little applecore story…stay tuned for part 2….

XOXO,
Anna

60 Comments

You know until looking at these older quilts I would never have thought about grabing a section and piecing in what I needed to make the last pattern piece. I still don’t have it occur to me all that much, but it’s fine and often look great! I noticed on of the blue dots is pieced too! I need to do that more often!

What a fabulous quilt, thanks for sharing!

Comment by JudyC — September 16, 2009 #
I love it! The quilt has family meaning too, even better. I have two friends doing the large applecore, love the pattern.

Comment by Janet — September 16, 2009 #
Oh, it’s darling! Love the fabrics. It looks so fresh.

Comment by MichelleB — September 16, 2009 #
That quilt is amazing!! Well done for finishing it!

Comment by Kate — September 16, 2009 #
Love it Anna! Especially since it’s a family heirloom. I’m sure grandma would be so happy that her unfinished project was completed by her granddaughter. Do you think our grandbabies will finish ours?? xoox Junie

Comment by Junie — September 16, 2009 #
What a beautiful quilt, and the memories tied to it are very special also!

Comment by Karen — September 16, 2009 #
Oh Lord! This reminds me that, somewhere, I have an apple core quilt, started years ago in a class, and neglected ever since. It isn’t even on my list of UFOs. How hurt it must feel, languishing, forgotten in the closet. It probably wishes it could go to live at your house, where it would be fussed and loved, finished and quilted!

That’s a lovely quilt. I just didn’t need the guilt!

Comment by molly — September 17, 2009 #
Oh, I love this quilt…and I love the story even more! I think this is my favorite part about quilting…hearing the stories behind the quilts!

Comment by Sherri — September 17, 2009 #
It must be so nice to look at the finished result even though it was hard to get there. Love the story and look forward to part 2 :)

Comment by Tessa — September 17, 2009 #
what a lovely thing to do with your mum (mom). the quilts are just beautiful and love all the history behind it.

Comment by Cathy — September 17, 2009 #
What a very cute quilt!

Comment by dottycookie — September 17, 2009 #
lovely.
i’m speechless.

Comment by brigita — September 17, 2009 #
I love the quilt! I have never seen an apple core quilt before and love it’s style. If I were to ever make a quilt I think it may have to be one just like that!!

Comment by Di — September 17, 2009 #
What a sweet tresure! You are lucky to own an antique like that.

Comment by Nancy — September 17, 2009 #
What a great family heirloom…lovely to have something that was worked on by several generations!

Comment by Jane Weston — September 17, 2009 #
That’s a great post about a beautiful quilt. I love the focus on the pink and green stripe! How cute!

Comment by katherine — September 17, 2009 #
I love a quilt with meaning! And this is lovely! Can’t wait to hear part two! :)

Comment by Jennifer Henson — September 17, 2009 #
Oh Anna, that quilt makes my heart sing… for several reasons! Now hurry and call a fabric company to get those fabrics reproduced. Wouldn’t you love to have your own line?! Find the phone fast!

Comment by Anne — September 17, 2009 #
Hi Anna,
What a wonderful story and your quilt it is so beautiful! One thing I love about hand quilting is enjoying the eye pleasing fabrics as you stitch. I’m getting the urge to do some hand quilting. My Mom and I loved to quilt, knit and cook together,(tear) enjoy every minute of that! Has your Mom tried any machine quilting?

Comment by Shawn ; ) — September 17, 2009 #
Love this quilt Anna. And how cool that you get together. What fun that would be for our long winter nights that will be here before we know it. Thanks for sharing.

Comment by Jodi — September 17, 2009 #
That quilt is awesome! I have a “thing” for apple core quilts. How neat that it is multi-generational.

Comment by Jana — September 17, 2009 #
Anna, I love it so much. The idea of Grandma making it and you and your Mother quilting it is so nice. What a nice memory. We should all get together and quilt the Grandmother’s Flower Garden (Oh wait it’s not pieced, as Kirby would say “Are you ever going to finish that?”)

Comment by Jewels — September 17, 2009 #
This quilt is absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful story too. I love the vintage fabrics, they give it that warm homey feeling. Applecore is one that I have always wanted to do, so I bought the Applecore die and cut up some kits and put them up for sale on my Etsy shop. It is in the 30s fabrics. So I am also on that mode as well. I can’t wait to cut one for myself and give it a go. Looking forward to more of your story!

Comment by Jackie — September 17, 2009 #
Oh Anna, what a treasure that quilt is! It’s beautiful!

Comment by Carolyn — September 17, 2009 #
This is a beautiful quilt, I love the vintage feedsacks!

Comment by Heather — September 17, 2009 #
So pretty, Anna! I can’t wait to see the whole thing.

***I would go with the booger spelling. :)

Comment by randi — September 17, 2009 #
Beauty! Can’t wait to hear (and see) more!

Comment by Jen — September 17, 2009 #
Anna .. that is a wonderful quilt.. and I just LOVE the little pieced block… think you are right.. she absolutely wanted that piece right there.. no matter what!!!! :o) What a treasure!!! :o)

Comment by Stina — September 17, 2009 #
What a fabulous quilt, love love the applecore design, and I know I have a template tucked away somewhere to make this quilt. Thanks for the inspiration, what a lovely story!

Comment by Rita — September 17, 2009 #
What a fun quilt! I’m swooning over that *blue & white stripe with the roses* fabric!

Comment by Jan — September 17, 2009 #
What a treasure, Anna. Love it.

Cassie

Comment by Cassie — September 17, 2009 #
what a beautiful quilt!!! i love how some of the cores were patched together to make the fabric stretch. so neat.

Comment by amandajean — September 17, 2009 #
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an apple core quilt before, but love how it looks.

Comment by Junie Moon — September 17, 2009 #
Oh, Anna, that is a beautiful quilt! I’ve never seen an applecore quilt before. I think I have fallen in love! And I love that it was your grandmothers. What a great heirloom :)

Comment by Lisa — September 17, 2009 #
I love that pattern and have been chicken to try it. It looks wonderful and the binding turned out perfect. Yes, all those stripes in a row must have a story. Can’t wait to see more!

Comment by Jean — September 17, 2009 #
The apple core quilt looks just lovely and cozy. I have never heard of that design. The little striped scrap is precious.

Comment by Stacy — September 17, 2009 #
What an awesome thing to have as heritage of your family. The colors are so inviting. They remind me of a nice southern summer day with the neighborhood kids while mom brings out some lemonade and watermelon to cool us down. The clamshell pattern for the quilting is a great idea and really turned out nice.

-Katie
Quiltblocktour

Comment by Katie Pearson — September 17, 2009 #
What a wonderful treasure to have. It certainly has that vintage appeal. ;) You and your mom did a lovely job.

Comment by Karin — September 17, 2009 #
What an absolute treasure!

Comment by Carol — September 17, 2009 #
I really love this quilt and the fabrics are wonderful. I look forward to the other 2 parts of this post.

Comment by Kim Walus — September 17, 2009 #
What a beautiful quilt and beautiful fabrics, too! I’ve never seen an applecore quilt before, but it sure looks like fun. Why is it I keep seeing more things I want to make?? Does it never end…….

Comment by Elaine/MuddlingThrough — September 17, 2009 #
What a cutie…and how special you and your mum did it together. Somethings are always cherished.

Comment by Dandelion Quilts — September 17, 2009 #
The colors and patterns on the quilt are amazing. I guess we all reveal a little bit about ourselves in our quilts. It’s fun to think that, somewhere down the line, someone may try to interpret our thoughts by the fabric and patterns that we’ve used. What a wonderful experience for you! I have a quilt that I pieced by hand and have only hand quilted a few stitches. I need to get back to it. Thanks for sharing.

Comment by Shirley — September 18, 2009 #
OMG I love it!! And to have this in your FAMILY?? Wow you are one lucky girl. That blue stripe with the pink flowers is so much like my new favorite fabric…American Retro makes me realize it truly is a reproduction, thanks for that :) What a lovely family you have Anna…you are truly blessed :)

Comment by Tammy — September 18, 2009 #
What a delightful quilt this is!! I too, love those fabrics. It is wonderful that you still have it, & can tell the wonderful story.

Comment by meggie — September 18, 2009 #
I ditto what someone else said, what a treasure and what a treat for you and your mom to work on.

Hugs – Mrs. Farmhouse

Comment by Karen — September 18, 2009 #
Just beautiful. We did a paper applecore quilt, which is about as close to quilting as I will get ;-P Clarice

Comment by clarice — September 18, 2009 #
Dear Anna, this looks so nice.
And I love the name “Applecore”. It really looks like that.
It must be good fun to a work like this together.
Have a great weekend
Janine

Comment by Janine — September 18, 2009 #
What a gorgeous quilt! And how lovely you and your mum could quilt an heirloom together! Lucyx

Comment by Lucy Locket-Pocket — September 19, 2009 #
What a humdinger of a quilt – I love it!

Comment by Teresa — September 19, 2009 #
I love the quilt and all the fabric. Some of the patterns are so lovely.

Comment by Judy — September 19, 2009 #
my birthday is in january.
do i have to wait until january for the sequel?

Comment by brigette — September 19, 2009 #
I will add my oohs and aaahs to all the comments. What a HAPPY quilt. I absolutely love the fabric patterns in it. Gorgeous. It has a total boho chic look ( my favorite look) to it and I wish so much it was on my bed :)

Comment by raina — September 19, 2009 #
Oh, I love this quilt! The fabrics are wonderful! And I agree with you … love that she pieced the striped fabric! :-)

Comment by MJ Smith — September 19, 2009 #
great quilt.. & great story!

Comment by jaybird — September 20, 2009 #
I love the story and the quilt is adorable! Can’t wait to read episode 2 and 3!

Comment by nicolette — September 20, 2009 #
Are you kidding me? From what I can see of your quilting in the pictures, it looks fantastic. Show me a closeup of your best work and I’ll probably fall of the chair. You are amazing!

Comment by Kim — September 20, 2009 #
It’s beautiful! I love the story with it . . .I need to go find part 2!

Comment by Amy - parkcitygirl — September 22, 2009 #
Gosh, I love that Grandma pieced the stripes for the one apple core. It just makes me happy.

Comment by Lisa — September 23, 2009 #
Yay, finally I’ve run across a hand-quilter…….I was beginning to believe I was the last remaining dinosaur participating in this festival !
I love your apple core !

Comment by ...dotty... — October 12, 2009 #