Vintage Patch Quilt?

[KevinM]

I recently purchased this patch quilt from the TS which looks like it was made from some really nice old clothing but I'm not sure. The patch quilt measures about 4 feet wide by 6 feet in length.

The stitch work looks very nicely done and the colors and material used looks like it may have some quality to it.

Does anyone know how old this quilt might be and perhaps a ball bark value? I'm not very good with textiles... 

Thanks!
Kevin

[mart]

Its called a "crazy quilt" because there is no set pattern !!I see some fabrics from the 30`s and 40`s and others that look later but its really hard to tell without seeing it in person !!  It looks like it may have been done by a group such as many churches had !!  That may be the reason for the different decorative stitching around the patches !!  I am guessing it may have been done in 40`s or 50`s but need to see in person to tell !!  It is probably for a twin bed !!

[KevinM]

Wow, Thanks Mart!! Those ladies sure could sew back then, doubt you see that at the church groups much now a days... It all makes sense though, it is a "Crazy Quilt" with some really nicely done details in it!

[Rauville]

Crazy quilts have an interesting history: http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/crazy.htm

I once had a example with the following embroidered declaration: "I hereby commence to go crazy - Jan. 1, 1880".

[KevinM]

Interesting Link Rauville, Thanks! This quilt has a lot of the same fabrics as described with the first image of the link, velvet, silk and brocade fabric and similar stitch styles. I didn't show the whole quilt, just about half of it or a little more...

[mart]

Many country churches had quilting bee`s usually one day a week !!  Today many senior centers still do !!  Or at least they do here !! Yours may have been made for a coverlet from the size !!

[KC]

Love those Crazy Quilts!!!! 

[mart]

I am curious about the embroidered conjoined number 8 that I see in the first pic !! Perhaps 8 ladies that made the quilt ??  Or at least that's what it looks like in the pic !!

[Rauville]

I am curious about the embroidered conjoined number 8 that I see in the first pic !! Perhaps 8 ladies that made the quilt ??  Or at least that's what it looks like in the pic !!

I actually see 3 "O's" (the upper one is in lighter blue thread), forming "OOO". I'm wondering if this wasn't somehow connected with the Order of Owls organization?
http://www.stichtingargus.nl/vrijmetselarij/owls_en.html

[mart]

Had to look really hard to see that, Rauville !!  Mmmm,, !!

[mart]

In the second pic over on the left there is a fabric with a linked chain pattern,, but different from the top !! Down in one of the bottom pics there is another group of three O`s but linked like the Olympic symbol !! It doesn`t seem to belong on that fabric but can`t see if it was hand done !! These pics don`t enlarge !!

[KC]

Mart, I would have guessed 3 people making the quilt.  I know that the quilts that I have seen made by family/friends/quilters over the years have their special "markings" on them...not always sure of what they mean. But, they do generally have something to signify how many quilters worked on it!

Doggonit Rauville...you come up some of the most interesting links.  The group is a "male owls nest"...so  "who who who" do you think made them?  The Male owls or the females?  They were a generous group that looked after the widows and orphans!   

[sapphire]

I keep coming back to this and looking at the last picture, right hand side.

If that is the back/underside of the quilt........what strikes me is that usually (at least to my knowledge) hand work such as embroidery would be done on the upper layer, then the batting and backing added. This appears to have much of the detailed stitching done clean through.  Would that not have been not only difficult but impractical to do by hand through the thickness of a quilt?  I know that quilting is done through all layers, but that would be single line stitches......not the intricate work as shown on the top.  Really wish there was picture that could be enlarged.......woul d make it much easier to see the exact detail.

[KevinM]

Sorry about the poor images, I'm going to take a few higher res large pictures and post them after resizing them. It's just so hard to get all the detail because it's a large piece to photograph all the detail.

The first line of circles has 7 circles, then there is another with 3 circles and another with 2 circles. There are 3 panels to the quilt about 2 feet by 2 feet I think, then a 6 foot length of green felt on both sides. I'll get more info. The circles, child with lamb, and most all work inside the panels are all hand stitched I think.

Thanks!
Keivn

[mart]

Those look like the older ones by the dress !!