Thimbleanna

The Ugly Duckling

I hope you’ve all had a good weekend. Ours has been lots of fun — we’ve been busy cleaning and catching up on a lot of little tasks that have been left undone for too long. There has been a little sewing, but unfortunately, I got sidetracked and didn’t get the bliss quilt top finished yet. ;-(. So, as a consolation prize, I thought I’d show you an older quilt that I don’t think I’ve had here on the blog yet.  (And if I have, just pretend, ok?)

A few years ago, MeMum gave me this antique store quilt top for Christmas. At the time, I thought it was the ugliest quilt I’ve ever seen, but I tried to be really excited when I opened it. (This isn’t a great shot, but I decided it was time for that retaining wall to earn it’s keep.)

Pink and Green Quilt

The original quiltmaker had given up on this quilt. Four of the big pink blocks running down one edge of the quilt were really wonky. In the close-up shot below (sorry for the blur), you can see that the pink part was pieced in long strips. She had somehow mis-calculated and the pink strips were too long, causing the pink part of the block to balloon out.  The quilt wouldn’t lie flat, so it couldn’t be quilted.

Pink and Green Quilt

I took those four blocks apart, cut them down and re-pieced them.  Then, I added the green border to make the quilt big enough for a  double bed.  (The greens don’t look as poorly matched in real life as they do in the picture.)  After the repairs, I sent the quilt off to a hand quilter.  And, boy oh boy, was I surprised when the quilt came back!  The quilting made all the difference and brought this quilt to life.  I LOVE the way she quilted it — very simple, but very effective.

Pink and Green Quilt

Just look at all those tiny little blocks.  Can you believe — they’re all hand-pieced!  Each little block is about 1 1/4″ x 1 1/4″.  So scrappy and SO pretty — I could sit for hours and look at all the different fabrics.  Sometimes I wonder if the quilter planned where each block would be, but I’m guessing she just grabbed them as she pieced them.

Pink and Green Quilt

I had the quilt on the floor trying to fold it up nicely, and that obnoxious Scruff had to butt in.  He’s a cat in serious need of some manners.   I tried and tried to get a pretty fold for one of those famous folded quilt shots.  I should have a bloopers post — some of them are awful.  Sadly, this is as good as it gets.

Pink and Green Quilt

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the story of the Ugly Duckling quilt. I think the quilting turned this quilt into a beautiful swan and I’m so thankful that MeMum could see the potential in this quilt when she found it.
XOXO,
Anna

41 thoughts on “The Ugly Duckling”

  1. A perfect transformation! Any idea who the maker of the quilt was and when it was made? Love the cat photo as well as the one of the folded quilt.

  2. What a great story and a great rescue of a quilt. I bet the lady that made it would be thrilled to know it got a second lease on life and that it is in the hands of a quilter.

    Love the pictures…especially the one with Scuff poking one eye out from under the quilt!

  3. Love what you did with the quilt. The folded picture is always tough and requires great patience, so I make my husband fold it if I can.

  4. So beautiful! …both the story and the quilt. I’m sure the quiltmaker would be so pleased that someone appreciated all those hours she put into it.

  5. What a great job you did re-piecing and I think the green border is an excellent match. You have rescued an important piece of art. How in the world did you find a Hand-quilter willing to make such small stitches that are not on their quilt. I NEED THEIR INFO!!!!! It’s just beautiful. And the wall is amazing too.
    Happy Thanksgiving.

  6. Hi Anna, Have I told you that I love your blog header? I do! Thanksgiving is upon us and I hope you have a wonderful time with your family! Blessings to you all.

  7. The quilt is lovely, the quilting really does make this quilt pop. Thank you for sharing the quilt & the story!

  8. several lovely pictures. not quite an ugly duckling. You must have seen something in the flimsy to have it hand quilted. But the Scruff in the blanket picture was adorable.

  9. i am SO PROUD of you for taking those blocks apart, fixing them and finishing this anna.
    what quilting did she do on the printed blocks? i can’t tell. inquiring minds want to know.
    it’s just lovely and again, just so proud of you for finishing.
    nitey nite anna.
    b.

  10. It’s beautiful! The retaining wall is beautiful, too! Both required lots of time, labor, $$, and perseverance. ;0

  11. I LOVE IT! That is a great quilt and you know what hunka says. Quilting makes all the difference in the world to a quilt. And he is an expert on that you know.lolol
    Happy Thanksgiving Anna!!
    Hugs

  12. I think the ugly duckling has turned into a beautiful swan. Lovely, Anna. Love that hand quilting, too. After my experience with a little machine quilting, I think I need to give hand-quilting a try. Machine quilting was an exercise in frustration for me. Plus, I love how hand-quilting looks. Happy Thanksgiving!

  13. Amazing what acceptance trust and patience will eventually produce. We all need a bit of love, even an old quilt!

  14. Anna, what a treasure! It’s beautiful. The hand quilting is amazing and perfect for that quilt. I love how you give your cats such beautiful things to play with. ;)

  15. Yes, a beautiful swan…thanks for sharing the story!

    I got my order yesterday…thank you! I might be addicted to this Divine Twine!

  16. I love this quilt. What a special story to go with it. I know you’ll treasure this forever since your mom gave it to you. Amazing what you can do with scraps!

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