Lessons from an Old PINWHEEL Quilt || Great Pattern!

[@pbar8439]

The plain blocks in between the pinwheels are called "setting squares." You don't hear that term used much any more.

[@SewtheDistance]

Yes! Thank you for the reminder! I did know that from when I started quilting 25+ years ago. I wonder why they don't call them that anymore, too. Thank you!

[@bethkoch11]

I have an old 2-color quilt (blue & white) that was given to me by my Grandma many years ago. It's still in pretty good shape. I don't know who made it, but I remember her telling me that the batting is actual raw wool from the sheep on the farm in Pennsylvania where she grew up. I suspect it was probably made by my Great-Grandmother. It's all hand-sewn. I don't really use it much as it's extremely warm and it's very thick, I guess because of that wool. For many years I had it put away, but since I became a quilter, I appreciate it and I'll treasure it always.

[@SewtheDistance]

What a beautiful memory! Thank you for sharing this! I have a few old quilts with the wool batting that you are referring to. They are wonderfully warm and bumpy in a cuddly way. Real treasures, that's for sure. Thank you for sharing this. I love hearing how these videos bring up memories for people and I am sure the viewers love hearing about old quilts from other viewers, too. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤️❤️❤️

[@barbarasinopoli7690]

I agree about the red! Super special !!

[@SewtheDistance]

YES! Thank you!

[@TheSewingChannel]

Orange looks great on you Kris🧡 The "round shape" quilting sets this quilt off!!! The red sparkles for sure on this one!! Another awesome Lesson from an old Quilt!!!🌸

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! Orange is my favorite color. Too bad there isn't much orange fabric out there. Isn't this a great one? I just love this quilt, but then again, I love them all. LOL! ❤️❤️❤️

[@joantomlin7281]

I just love going over the old quilts with you. I've learned so much. Thankyou

[@SewtheDistance]

I'm so glad! I love making these videos and sharing them. Thank you so much!

[@jenmckitrick]

The center pinwheels in the blocks are so light and low-contrast that it looked like a solid piece of light fabric.

[@SewtheDistance]

They are a bit darker in person than they appear in the video. White balance is a bit tricky with some of these quilts. That said, I think it gives a need look with the lighter middles. Such great ideas from these old quilts! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@sewbeitquilts]

Wow! Another amazing quilt! I really love the block you made to show the layout better! That sure is a ton of half square triangles!

[@SewtheDistance]

It really is! Can you imagine? I just had to make a block for this one because the fabrics are so faded. I love the way it came out, too! I may have to do a tutorial on this one.

[@vivianburrus8085]

You and your family find such great vintage quilts! I love the soft colors, "pops of red" and especially the quilting on this one. I am trying to work on my FMQ right now so am fascinated by seeing how quilters past and present have approached how they finished their quilts.

[@SewtheDistance]

We do! And we keep getting more. 😀 I also find these quilts so inspiring. It is like the makers are whispering in our ears. Thank you so much for watching and sharing!

[@johnsheridan8962]

Awesome, another amazing quilt, thanks for sharing 🎉

[@SewtheDistance]

You’re welcome 😊 It's a beauty, isn't it?

[@chrisdistelrath9386]

I enjoy lessons from an old Quilt. Always learning something. Like the idea of machine basting, the hand quilting. It might be the ticket for a baby quilt and first time hand work!

[@SewtheDistance]

Perfect! I hope you give it a try. I love learning stuff like this from these makers. Thank you for watching and sharing!

[@gerryfix1009]

I saw you interviewed by the Canadian stitcher, whose name I forget. Loved the interview. My mother in law, whose no longer with us unfortunately, loved antique quilts. She would have loved watching you. I will watch you too!🍒🍒🍒

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! Yes! It was Steve (the Idiot Quilter--that's his name not my opinion! LOL!). It was such a honor to be interviewed by him. Thank you for watching! I am sorry your mother-in-law didn't get a chance to watch. ❤️ Love these old quilts!

[@JoeinPA]

I agree - it’s the red

[@SewtheDistance]

Yes! It just makes it sing! ❤️

[@stitchinginthebarn8307]

I found a lot of HST scraps in my scrap bin and didn't know what to do with them. Now I do. Thanks!

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh perfect! i love it!

[@cjtheisen5124]

Beautiful quilt! It would have been even more gorgeous when new and unfaded. Your hoop framed blocks look great on your wall!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! 😊 I am a bit addicted to the hoop art. I keep adding more! I agree--I am sure this quilt was amazing when it was first made.

[@annettegraff8323]

I agree about the machine stitching I to think that is 60's . I learned on a treadle machine at my great aunts . From there to second hand straight stitch electric. They were just beginning to come out with attachment kits for brand machines like Singer and Sears . I too remember seeing the poly batting by Mountain Mist in the 50's . My aunt split the batting for a summer type quilt to be stitched at a "bee " for an engagement / wedding quilt . I was allowed to serve ice tea and wash dishes for the event ! They called me in to go under the frame and poke an errand needle back up . One of the ladies did toenail catchers ! They signed in pencil where they stitched and afterwards another lady embroidered them . I remember grandma fussing about those stitches . I said well everybody knows that so just leave em ! It's the thought that counts . She did . You see grandma could quilt but didn't like to . But she sure enjoyed entertaining and her pound cake was delish ! I have a fifties quilt with hand embroidery in the same place es so I wonder if that idea was spread at county fairs . With the new attachments why not ? I'm not into embroidery either . Such a time saver !

[@SewtheDistance]

What a wonderful story and memory! I just love this! Your description is so wonderful I can almost taste the pound cake! LOVE this. Thank you so much for sharing! Interesting thought about the embroidery. Could be! ❤️❤️❤️

[@rhondahallet8413]

Great lesson. I am going to try the decorative stitch to baste my next quilt.

[@SewtheDistance]

Wonderful! So glad you liked this! Thank you for watching and sharing!

[@robertawalsh2995]

You have great parents!

[@SewtheDistance]

I hit the Parent Lottery, that's for sure!

[@joydicksonquilts]

That is a gorgeous quilt

[@SewtheDistance]

I just love it, too! Thank you for watching!

[@maryannesgriccia1477]

The white background is “bright” to me, and the pops of red make it sparkle. This quilt gives me an optimistic “vibe” and perhaps it is a reflection of the times…like you said, maybe the 60s. I wonder if there will be an overriding theme for this pandemic time that will surface for someone many decades in the future.

[@SewtheDistance]

THAT will be interesting to observe, won't it? I know I am loving the bright colors myself. Maybe it is from coming out of the pandemic (we are coming out of it, right? 😬). I agree--it "feels" like the 1960s to me, but who knows? Thank you so much for sharing!

[@lindanonnenmann1112]

I love this quilt. The red fabric making it sparkle seems to be strategically placed at the points making a vertical line. So smart! I have wanted to make a pinwheel quilt for quite some time and I came across nine vintage pinwheel blocks in a bag at the thrift store. They are in a unique setting with 2 inch borders and contrasting corner squares. It's been fun making new blocks using modern fabric for my bars and corner squares to contrast with the colorful 70s mod fabric. I've used a Kaffe Fasset collection, Hawaiian, and some low volume black on white background. After watching your video I want to incorporate the quilting ideas from your lovely pinwheel quilt. Thanks for sharing this wonderful quilt and the lessons we can learn from it.

[@SewtheDistance]

Wow! What a find! I am sure it is amazing with all those vintage fabrics. So happy this video helps to inspire you. Kaffe is one of my favorites, too! Thank you for sharing this and thank you for watching this video. ❤️❤️❤️

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Found you through your interview on The Idiot Quilter - subscribed and binging your videos - love the chats about three old quilts! So interesting!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you so much! As soon as I get home, I’m going to check out your channel, too. Happy you are enjoying the old quilt videos. They are so much fun to do. ❤️❤️❤️

[@ScrapFabricLove]

@@SewtheDistance your interview was fab too!

[@melodychenoweth5907]

What a great pattern. I love pinwheel quilts, I want to replicate this quilt. Thanks for sharing.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you for watching! I love this pattern, too. Pinwheels are fun!

[@chrislittebrant5235]

Hi Kris, I haven’t seen anyone make this block before, it’s really pretty cool. And that quilter had patience to make all those pinwheels, I wonder how long it took to make with all the hand stitches. Really Pretty. And I the colors. What a good find. Have a wonderful weekend. 🥰 Chris

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! 😊 YES! A ton of half-square triangles! So crazy! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!

[@suestutzle2779]

I would have to say this one is my favourite from "lessons from an old quilt" so far. I really like this one with the pinwheels, the hand quilting and the over all coherence of colour, etc. I would enjoy a quilt like that on my sofa etc. The stretch zig zag stitch is a great idea. I have so many beautiful stitches on my "dream machine" (Pfaff Quilt Ambition 630) that any way I can use them, I will. I enjoyed learning about this one Kris.

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Break out those machine stitches! LOL! It is a great quilt, that's for sure!

[@mambakind]

That must have been a spectacular quilt when the colors were fresh. Good find, Mom and Dad. Did I see some pencil markings under the hand quilting. There is a lesson we should all learn. I've done it myself in the beginning, but even light pencil marks stay.

[@SewtheDistance]

I didn't! I see it on the video, but I don't see them in person. So weird! I know exactly what you are talking about though. I had to adjust my lighting and white balance quite a bit for this video, so I wonder if that "showed up" because of the lighting and post processing? That is so cool! Thank you for pointing this out to me! I would have never noticed otherwise!

[@mambakind]

@@SewtheDistance It shows the hand of the maker, which not a bad thing in my book. Optics ARE curious, are they not?

[@giselaa6111]

Soooo informative 👍🏻very interesting thank you so much 😊 what a great teacher you are ♥️greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! 😃 I really appreciate it! I am a teacher by profession, so I think that helps. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@karenbauman171]

I hope I remember the red 'trick' too.

[@SewtheDistance]

Right? Isn't it a great idea? I need to file that away somewhere in my mind. 😀

[@donnaabotsway3552]

Thank you for sharing this awesome quilt I think I will try to do a smaller version as I love this pattern

[@SewtheDistance]

You’re welcome 😊 Please do! It is a great pattern!

[@berthaemerson9060]

👍👍👍😊

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

[@leticia-rl7yj]

hi, I have my friend sew it on her longarm as you suggested prior to hand sewing my quilt to stabilize it . Cost in the mall. Thank you for your knowledge 😊

[@SewtheDistance]

Love it! Thanks for sharing! So happy you enjoyed this video. ❤️

[@gisellejones1139]

Very interesting.. will you try to get the stains out? If so maybe you could do a video about that

[@SewtheDistance]

I did try without much luck. Good idea for a video! Thank you!

[@shannonbrown7488]

Another indicator of the quilt's age is the green machine zig-zag stitching. Most home machines did not have this ability until (my guess) around the 1950's to 60's. That's a guess but I would research further to know for certain. Early home machines only did strait stitch and early machines that had more than strait stitch might not have had more elaborate zig-zag stitch. This combined with polyester batting would make me guess this was assembled though not necessarily pieced between the 50's, and 60's.

[@SewtheDistance]

Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting. The first zig zag machine (or machine capable of doing a zig zag) was available much earlier, but I understand your point. Thanks again for watching! Great info!

[@deloresrast8543]

I love this quilt!!!! I love pinwheels!!! Will you tell me how to reproduce the block? Or do a tutorial on it? Thank you for sharing. I’ve never seen a block like this one.

[@SewtheDistance]

I am do a tutorial on it! Sure! If you want to try the pattern before then, it is all about the setting of the half-square triangles. I hope this helps! Give it a try! It is fun! I will put this block on my schedule, however. ❤️

[@deloresrast8543]

@@SewtheDistance I can wait for the tutorial!!! Thank you!!!

[@lindajimmerson8542]

Oh my gosh, I love this quilt! I have about a gazillion half square triangles from an exchange with my guild. Thanks to you, I think I’ve just found a use for them🙃. What size are the pinwheels/plain blocks? Thanks for the great video and the beautiful quilt

[@SewtheDistance]

Perfect! I love it when that happens! This block is about 10.5' square, but you could easily adjust this to other sizes. I am hoping to make a video on this block, too! Thank. you so much for watching and commenting! ❤️

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

Mom told me to use my quilts as mattress pads in the summer months to save space. It will save space; however, using quilts as mattress pads will damage and break down the fabrics in those quilts much faster. It is better to store the quilts folded inside a pillow cases (or cushion covers) made for each quilt (to store them in plain sight). It is not that hard to make a pillow case, or cushion cover, from the left over scraps to fit over your folded quilt as part of the whole quilt project. Never store quilts between the mattress and box springs; because, the metal springs in the box springs will damage the quilts as the mattress is used. The damage to your beautiful pin wheel quilt looks like storage damage. A lot of strain was put on the fabrics from a body (or bodies) laying on top of it (or sitting on it ) after heat and dampness has gotten into the fabrics. I read this somewhere, "It is bad luck to lay on, or sit on, a quilt." Because it can damage the quilt and shorten it's years of beauty and service. I buy and use mattress covers to protect my mattresses. I have to replace those covers every few years because the batting in them fattens out and will not recover when washed and dried. Sometimes the fabrics and stitching gives out and comes apart in the washer (and can't be put in the drier). The elastic gives out and will not help hold the pad onto the mattress. Mattress covers/pads were designed to be used on mattresses.They can't hold up to the heat, movement, dampness, and strain put on them by human bodies. A quilt should never be used as a mattress pad.

[@SewtheDistance]

Great information, although I also believe quilts are meant to be used and loved. I store many of my vintage quilts on my spare bedroom bed, but I also use many of them, too. Love them to pieces, right? ❤️ Thank you so much for sharing!