♻️ RAGS TO RICHES ♻️ - My Story of 1930s ragged quilt block rescue. (Bonus footage at

☀️ WELCOME! ☀️ When I found a basket of RAGGED old quilt blocks, hand stitched, I had to take the basket home with me. There's a 6-minute intro, but you can skip it if you choose. The main video ends at 18:00. The finished quilt measures approximately 72" x 90".
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Music by subscription license:
Big Leaf ~ Roy Edwin Williams
www.epidemicsound.com/track/r...
#quiltrescue #sewing #quilting #1930squilt #1930sfabric #handstitched #oldquilt #antiquequilt #ragstoriches #savingoldquilt #newlifeoldquilt
00:00 Intro
06:00 Skip the Intro
06:45 Look at Individual Blocks
10:25 Sewing Blocks Together
12:15 Sewing Rows
12:30 Odd-shaped Remnant Pieces
14:40 Straighten Edges and Join Rows
17:25 Quilt Reveal
18:30 BONUS - Unpacking the basket (no voiceover)

[@cathymonroe8191]

My mother kept a quilt my grandmother did from old clothes many years ago. She never displayed it, but kept it stashed in a closet. After she died, my sister didn't want it, so I took it. It needed a lot of repair that I did, cried every stitch. In so many of the blocks, she didn't have enough of a fabric, so just cut up another piece of clothing. It is one of my most cherished keepsakes, proudly displayed on my guest room bed. As a side note, my cousin (same grandmother, our mothers were sisters) had an old rickety rocking chair he was going to take to the dump. I took it and took it in for repair and reupholstering. The repair guy said the chair was at least 130 years old. He fixed it, then the research started as to the history of the chair. Found out my grandmother rocked all her children in that chair, and that it was handed down to her from her mother. It also is proudly displayed. I wonder how many cherished keepsakes are just thrown out because people don't know the value.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

I love your quilt and chair story Cathy! ☀️☀️☀️. Thanks so much for sharing this! ❤️🌸

[@viviannefraser5974]

Unfortunately a lot of heirlooms arrive in the landfill somewhere because the ones who have to take care of the estates do not see the value of them!

[@marcellarodriguez7955]

It’s so sad but true

[@marcellajohnston743]

❤

[@beckipugh8124]

First off, Thank you for saving that Old Gal, this video was so heartwarming to watch. Just think of the time it took to hand piece many if not all of those blocks, I'm sure you will probably enjoy looking at that quilt for many years to come. Happy Quilting!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

The time it took was in my mind the entire time! I am so glad you tuned in for this story! 🎬☀️❤️

[@janecheesehead3178]

WOW! the quilt top is stunning. For me, it reinforces the idea that seams don't have to match, imperfections are fine, and fabrics don't have to be expensive to be a work of art.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks Jane! ☀️❤️ Agree 100 Percent! ❤️☀️

[@juliekoone3569]

WOW! That was a big task to take on and turned out so beautiful! Please do a video when you quilt it would love to see that process!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks so much! I love it too! ☀️❤️🌸 I will likely just do straight line quilting. It's much bigger than my usual charity quilts and it is SO heavy, it will be a hard one to do. I've got a video coming out soon where I free motion quilted a charity quilt, so stay tuned for that. 🎬⭐️🧵✂️

[@leeannelange6551]

What a treasure you have made from a basket of blocks that might have otherwise been tossed out! It's absolutely stunning! ❤

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

That’s one of the most beautiful quilt tops I’ve ever seen. THANK YOU for saving those pieces! I do that too, buy old unwanted blocks, and even old fabric to use to patch old damaged blocks.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks so much! I'm over the moon about it! 35☀️❤️

[@oliviafox3605]

The writing and misspelling of words just makes it more unique. Thank you for sharing.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

You’re welcome! ☀️👍

[@sandrafennell6927]

You are so lucky to find a treasure like that and did a great job putting the quilt together. It makes you think about the person who sewed the blocks and her (?) Life. I found a quilt at a trash and treasure sale. It needed some repairs which I did, keeping the quilt as near to the original as possible. It is a special treasure to me and is displayed in my lounge room. Thank you sharing your treasure😊

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you for watching my story! ❤️☀️🌸. I am thrilled with the quilt!

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

My Grandfather's family came from Scotland in the 1800's and settled in NorthWest Missour/SuthWest Iowa.They were coal miners in Scotland turned farmers in the USA. I was born near Hatfield, further North of Weston, and I remember my Grandma sewing quilts and clothing on her treadle sewing machine. I "inherited" one of her quilt tops that I finished and have since passed on to my adult granddaughter. Back then the quilt patterns were mostly from the Kansas City Star newspaper. Grandma had lots of clippings saved that I wish I had now. Thanks for sharing and rescuting this piece of quilting history.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Hi Cynthia! ☀️. Thanks for sharing this about your family! I did ID many blocks in the encylopedia for KC STAR blocks, and then there were other blocks from a different source, so I wonder if the lady was making two different samplers and just never got either finished up. Very cool! My DNA says I'm 28% scot, but ours ended up in Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. I wish you still had those clippings too! ❤️🌸🧵✂️

[@knittynancy]

This is marvelous! I love to see how you looked up the names of the blocks to add to the historical perspective.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks so much! ☀️☀️☀️

[@marcellajohnston743]

What a labour of love. What you've done with the unknown Quilter's quilt is commendable. Thank you for sharing.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

You are so welcome! ☀️❤️

[@user-id4gh7dh2i]

What a treasure! Thank you for saving one woman's legacy and a piece of history!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks so much! ☀️☀️☀️

[@oliviafox3605]

Annette...that finished quilt is GORGEOUS!!! AND definitely, one of a kind. Good on You, girl!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you so much, Olivia! ☀️💕

[@judycannatella9788]

My grandmother had a quilt that she made and it was one of those crazy quilts, but it was not finished. She sewed on a treadle machine; was born in 1906. She did alterations and I watched her take a wool coat apart, use the pieces of the lining and buckram to cut new fabric to replace both and put the coat back together. I thought at the time, I would rather make something from scratch. When she died, we sold the quilt to an antique dealer and now wish I had kept that piece of my history. I didn't quilt at that time so had no idea of what I was giving away. Loved watching your video and the finished quilt.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. ❤️. I had an old crazy quilt inherited from someplace, and sometime between age 15 and 16 it disappeared in a move. I missed it SO much! The very first quilt I ever made was a crazy quilt. ☀️🌸

[@BeaKennedy]

Really appreciated the care you took with this project and with your introduction.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks, sis! ☀️🌸

[@treyshields7848]

What a treasure, you did a wonderful job! You truly honored the original maker!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks so much! ☀️❤️

[@lindastrous5243]

How wonderful.thank you for saving this piece of history. It is truly a work of art.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Hi Linda! Thank you so much! ☀️☀️☀️

[@jeandryja6992]

Glad you rescued this piece of history.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you! ☀️🌸✂️

[@peggystutz8522]

You brought her work to life.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks, Peggy! ☀️☀️

[@elainelear4982]

Thank you for saving this beautiful quilt.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

It was my pleasure! ☀️🌸

[@susann7]

Thank you for sharing the process. It is helpful to see how you worked with the irregularities to piece together the rows and top. The quilt top turned out stunning.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

You are so welcome! ☀️💕. I love it!! 😻

[@diannemount6524]

Bless your heart for saving a moment in time.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks! A precious moment for sure! ☀️❤️

[@jojomontgomery7119]

I love your respect for the original maker. There is a sweet poem called Instruction by Hazel Hall that has a line that goes "...Other hands are teaching my needle: when I sew I feel the cool, thin fingers of hands I do not know.." Great job ❤

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you! What a great quote! ☀️🌸❤️

[@patriciadavidson3328]

You made a treasure! How neat that you could finish it for the original quilter!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks, Patricia! I feel very strongly about this one! ☀️❤️

[@DH-qz2so]

...that feeling that you get, when you need to rescue quilts/blocks/fabrics... from a thrift shop - yes! It actually happens... like yesterday, when I was at a local non prof. 2nd hand shop and found a Christmas Village "Quilt Shop " house, to add to my collection... then across the aisle, a box of quilt shop quality fabrics... (that were in the wrong place, as that shop has an area in the back for craft/hobby supplies... ! I had a good feeling about both! Lol! and took them home with me!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

ALL THE FEELINGS! ☀️❤️🌸🤣

[@lucilaflores4912]

You did great saving such a treasure. I’m amazed at your dedication and talent. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks so much, Lucila! ☀️❤️. I'm in the midst of pinning a bunch of smaller charity quilts today, and thinking about this one..... I think I'll put finishing this one off until after Christmas! It's SO heavy. :-) But I'll probably do some easy straight line stitching on it to make it a bit more doable. Have a wonderful day! 🌸

[@veraweeks8534]

Beautiful story and so glad you took on the challenge to complete it.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks Vera, it was such a pleasure! ☀️❤️☀️

[@kathyvazquez3601]

I love this!!!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Me too, Kathy! ☀️❤️. Thanks!

[@marcellarodriguez7955]

It came out beautiful! I have my mom’s unfinished quilt tops and pieces that she gave me a few years back. I wish I could have remembered before she passed and we could have worked on it together since she lost a lot of her eye sight. I hope in 2025 to have that as my main project for the year because it’s several unfinished projects. She used to do crochet and embroidery and I’m hoping to incorporate all of it in to different quilts for my children to keep. I’ll add a label with both of our names 😊

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you! I loved hearing about your mom! ☀️❤️

[@upriver7047]

I have one antique quilt that needs many repairs. I have the info of the family who originally owned it. Found it at a garage sale of all places! I also have many sets of blocks I have picked up over the years and have procrastinated over what to do with them. One set are hand pieced hexi's pieced into big diamonds. I think I'll just applique them onto a solid piece of white fabric. Thanks for filming this great adventure of how you put all of these disparate pieces of blocks together regardless of their size. I feel much less intimidated about how to move forward. Bless you!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

I'm so glad you found this video helpful! Good luck with the project! ☀️❤️

[@FoD2001]

Wow! Such a beautiful quilt! Reminds me of pictures I’ve seen of the 1718 silk coverlet. Bless her heart, whoever she was, and bless you for doing this. Wouldn’t you just love to meet her to talk about the fabrics and everything?! Deb x 🤗

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks for tuning in Deb! ❤️🌸☀️. And yes, would definitely like to know more about the lady or have a chat! 🧵✂️

[@lesleygilbert1945]

After all your hard work you finished up with a beautiful quilt - well done - I'm sure you'll enjoy looking at it and thinking about the lady who made the blocks and what her history might have been 😍

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks Lesley! Yes! ☀️❤️

[@cindywagner4623]

I “I inherited “ a sewing machine and three black garbage bags of fabric. Unfinished quilt blocks, cut up fabric I had no clue I sewed clothing, not quilts. I spread it all out, one was trip around the world, a corduroy lemone star and and a lavender star. Each quilt I finished I would say “I hope that’s what you were thinking.”

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Aww that is neat to hear! I'm so glad you took it up! ☀️🌸✂️

[@georgianelson5038]

WOW! That was a hot mess to start with but you did an excellent job and now have a nice quilt.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you! 😊 Hot Mess is absolutely correct! 🤣🤣🤣

[@suzannesuzaus3923]

That was very interesting! Thank you for sharing! I would have wanted to rescue those blocks, but would have had no idea where to start! You did a great job, and I'm sure made the original maker proud.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

You're very welcome! ☀️❤️ And thanks to you!🌸

[@abigaildolinger2754]

What an amazing project! It could be that these blocks are samples made by the lady to try out a pattern, particularly a pattern a friend was patchworking together. Before there was Barbara Brackman’s encyclopedia of pieced quilt blocks, quilters would copy a design a friend made or try out a block printed in the newspaper. It’s a mystery!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

That is great to hear! Thanks so much for watching! 🎬 ☀️ I just love this quilt! ❤️

[@normatulloch376]

Very interesting.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thanks Norma! ☀️☀️

[@connieking9873]

This was a great find. A little intimidating but looking at the finished top am so glad you rescued those blocks. It kind of amazes me that you don’t notice there are no matching seams you didn’t have to worry about points or nesting just put together and trimmed up as you went. It is beautiful and made more special by all the information you learned. Thanks for taking the time to film. I am wondering how you dealt with the handstitching coming apart when you cut up or trimmed some of the blocks

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Hi Connie! ☀️🌸. I don't even really notice that halves of different blocks are put together! ☀️😻. I stitched BIG seams, 1/2" most of the time! This captured all the fraying edges and loosening seams. Probably should have mentioned that in the video! ❤️

[@viviannefraser5974]

This is probably my favourite of all your videos! Hard to judge though cause there are many if not all of your videos that I like!😂🥰

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Aww thanks so much, Vivianne! ☀️❤️

[@manuelashannon1369]

I definitely loved this video. Thank you for sharing your wonderful find with us and your dedication to finish it. It has definitely inspired me to get back to my foundation paper piecing of the 1930s farmers wife. at use my foundation piecing for a break from Sewing regular piecing types. I have pieces similar that I found in a scrap giveaway, but they are all the same color and background. Only one was stained, I think I will finish it just like you did.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

I'm glad you watched the video! 🎬 ☀️ The stains and worn spots make it meaningful. Obviously, you wouldn't want that on a brand new quilt, but this is at least 90 years old!! We can LOVE the faults and flaws! ☀️☀️☀️. And I hope you do finish your scrap giveaway!

[@FoD2001]

I haven't watched the video yet, but 15K subscribers!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳 Deb x 🤗

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Hi Deb! RIGHT???? I was so excited to wake up to that today! ☀️☀️☀️

[@audreynanapreps2543]

Beautiful!

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you! ☀️

[@carolynwilliams7546]

Beautiful ❤

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Thank you! 😊

[@maryseaman312]

Great save! For as old as these blocks are, it is amazing how well they have held up. From time to time, people give me old blocks, and I have never been sure what to do with them or how to preserve them. I have a much better idea of how they can be put together. Question: How many blocks did you actually ending up being able to use (as in numbers) ... it is just an amazing bunch of blocks. I am thinking: Kansas City Star blocks ... are you familiar with that publication from the 1930s? And, then there was a quilt block designer - - the only part of her name is Ruby .... depending on how much time you want to invest in that type of research. The curved pieces strongly suggest to me the time period and publication. I am far from being an expert, but just remember some things I learn along the way that might be of help. You were able to save so much! What a pleasure to see.

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

I buy old blocks, too. I’ve learned that there are always going to be damaged blocks so now I’m by old fabric and clothes from that era to use to patch those pieces.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Hi Mary! ☀️ I did not count the blocks. I think some of the blocks were identified as KC STAR blocks, and there was another common source from the 1930s, so I think the maker was using a couple of different ideas. With all the different sized blocks I wonder about 2 works in progress. I guess we will never know, but we can imagine! And I just LOVE this quilt! ❤️❤️❤️

[@maryseaman312]

@@sunbeamfabricart What an opportunity to honor the sewist, even though you may never know her name. I am glad you shared the save with us.

[@maryseaman312]

@@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen Good idea!

[@lisadunn1448]

I wonder if the block patterns were from the Kansas City Star.

[@sunbeamfabricart]

I think some of them were for sure.

[@patriciaguevara8793]

I found a lot of my “old” orphan blocks. I did trim most of the to size - I was wondering what to do with the others that didn’t get used. This is great for it. What will you do with the 14” one? I have one that’s 14” and it’s basically odd man out right now. Suggestions?

[@sunbeamfabricart]

Hi there! I divided it to match the 8 inch and the 6 inch! Hope that helps. ☀️💕

[@patriciaguevara8793]

@@sunbeamfabricart it does - thank you 😊

[@karenwerts2331]

[@sunbeamfabricart]

☀️☀️☀️