SHOCKING News! Vintage Quilt Tops are Meant to be FINISHED!

[@anitabarlow1948]

Susan, this video information blessed me today! I just inherited several vintage quilt tops & partial quilt tops my grandmother made. She died 29 years ago. Most are hand sewn entirely. Some are a combination of machine sewn, on her vintage Singer pedestal sewing machine, and also hand sewn pieces. She taught me to sew her quilt pieces on that pedestal machine when I was 7 years old, and that sparked my love of quilting! My Mom remarked that maybe I sewed some of these machine sewn pieces. Who knows? Makes me joyous at the possibility some are a combination of me and Mommaw together ❤. Now I'm struggling to find info on how to quilt these, and also how to repair weak seams, holes, frayed seams, poor quality fabric pieces that obviously have to be replaced due to so deteriorated and loosely woven, etc. Some are triangle quilt tops with numerous bulky seams and biased edges. I feel incredibly blessed & thrilled these have been discovered, and I now have them. I'm overwhelmed at how to go about getting these made into finished, hopefully usable quilts.... You've given me valuable info in this video on how to address some of the challenges facing me, so thank you!

[@StitchedBySusan]

I'm so glad! And honestly - I'm not a great expert on the repairing, most of the vintage tops I've worked with have been in pretty good shape, so I rely on the quilting to hold 'em all together. A couple of years ago I did a trunk show episode (on this channel) showing my "Treasure Quilts" and detailing a few that I worked with for a guild challenge that were rescued blocks and pieces. Just a thought...at least it's a way to use the memorable bits even if an entire quilt top isn't salvageable.

[@AuntGrace]

I have some vintage quilts 😎 I have collected and vintage squares/blocks. They are in the "Q" but keep getting bumped because I don't know what to do with them. I think the answers is "Finished is better than perfect" and just do it!🥰

[@StitchedBySusan]

That is a great answer!

[@rheaanncrowe6748]

Thank you for this wonderful information ❤

[@nancymathisen9707]

Thank you!

[@mariettedemarest5173]

Nice choices. I esp. like the wedding ring quilt. The one with big green squares is striking, I like the way you finished it.

[@StitchedBySusan]

Thanks so much!

[@angelerobichaud2586]

My friend had a quilt from her mom that was “stored” accidentally in a shed. It ended with lots of mildew and rot in spots. I had to remove the back and middle which was a flannel sheet and am currently trying to save as many blocks as I can. It was a grandmother flower garden. So I decided to mount some flowers that I’m hand quilting on canvas and the rest will be a bed runner. I almost cried to see all the love and work done by her mom ruined like that. I don’t know what else to make. These blocks were washed in every way I could read about so I could save as many as I could.

[@constanceklagge]

I love the quilt behind you on the wall and would love to find out what pattern it is or is it a personal creation? You are great to watch and learn from ❤

[@StitchedBySusan]

Both! It's a pattern of my own that I published as a Block of the Month a couple of years back. The whole thing is now available in my Etsy shop - it's called Starstruck. It's basically a star sampler, constructed in rows, and focusing on a variety of piecing techniques. Find it here: www.etsy.com/listing/1440717371/starstruck-pattern?click_key=971eccf965e95434cd2c0919f827819cb395690a%3A1440717371&click_sum=66cfb803&ref=shop_home_active_1&crt=1

[@ShellyPfiester-q8p]

Hi from Pahrump. This is Shelly.

[@cindysmithhisler8487]

Hi from nebraska

[@madgebuus-frank4344]

This beautiful quilt gave me CHILLS when I watched it go under the needle. All of the beautiful fabrics, stitched with love and diligence, and now with your beautiful feathers. Quilting is indeed love - stitching the world back together one stitch at time. Thank you for sharing this quilt Susan. A REAL privilege and pleasure. Your loyal friend from the "Quilting COLLABoratory" - Madge in New Hampshire

[@sprklhair]

I obtained a vintage quilt (40's or 50's), from a friend, as with yours, I don't have any history, sadly. Not sure of the name of the blocks but they are 9 patches surrounded by ellipses. And as with yours the seams and joints are very uneven. I have been stitching in the ditch (ledge) to strengthen the seams. then continuous curves in the nine patch and ribbon candy in the ellipses. It was difficult to find a ruler to do the curves so some to the stitching is somewhat wonky. sigh. I would love to send you a picture when Its finished as you gave me the courage to try this. how would I do that?

[@StitchedBySusan]

Sounds beautiful! But yes, the hand stitched curves always have “personality”. You could post a photo on social media and tag @stitchedbysusan👍🏻

[@annettegraff8323]

Improved 9 patch! My grandma's favorite for the grandkids ! My oldest has one she handquilted and I did the curved binding. I have the pieced centers she was working on when she passed but no ellipse! Its for my youngest So, I'll have to use some freezer paper and draft one . Some of the fabric isn't the best ir normal for grandma but she was 92! Ive got some old aprons and feedsack fabric So I'll just get on it. In meantime, I've got five flower garden tops to quilt and some butterfly and Sunbonnet Sue's to quilt. My retirement is not boring! 😂🎉

[@quiltsylinda2939]

I have one of 5 vintage tops my late MIL made. Going to ship #1 to a nephew getting married next month Such treasures to share!!

[@nellsummerlin160]

Hello from North Carolina

[@lorrainefalanga]

Hello From Mexico, NY

[@donnarouse9314]

sorry I missed your live stream today. Missed hearing you yesterday, but glad you had a good day. Thank you for bringing these multi topics over the month of April. I have enjoyed each and every episode.

[@anndaily9872]

I’m so thankful for this advice. I have an ugly hexie top in my closet , no back story .🤷🏻‍♀️ who cares right, just glitter done. 👍

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

Sundays are a day for rest!

[@anndaily9872]

Well, duhhh if I don’t subscribe I miss the start. I thought I did. 😝😝

[@DorothyDawson-p3g]

I am here