Looking Back, Vintage Quilts Inspiring New Creations

I am an Ambassador for Island Batik .  The products featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik, Aurifil Thread and Hobbs Batting.

Looking Back, Vintage Quilts Inspiring New Creations is the challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors this month.  Isn't that a great challenge!  I knew right away what I wanted to make.  In fact I started my project back in Feb when the challenge was to make a mini quilt, but I changed my mind and felt it would work best with this months theme of Vintage Quilts Inspiring New Creations.

A couple years ago my sister Jody Warner showed me a  lovely old pink and white quilt that was at her church.  Her mother in law's name was on the quilt.  I drew up a quick diagram of the design as it was one I had never seen.  I thought at the time it would make a cute mini quilt in pink and white.

My sister's sister in law Becky Morris sent me the following photos of the quilt that is now kept at their church - Agape Church of the Brethren in Ft. Wayne IN.

The label on the quilt says:  "This quilt was made by the Pleasant Hill ladies Aid in 1937.  It was sent to Dr Howard and Edith Bosler, Missionaries in Nigeria, British West Africa.  Each person whose name is on the quilt, contributed 10 cents to help pay postage.  The quilt now belongs to the Bosler's daughter, Ester Gene Miller."

My sister's mother in law and Becky's mother Juanita McDuffee (her maiden name) has her name on the quilt. They don't know why her first name was mispelled.  It was a surprise to me to find the names Grace and Joe Krider on the quilt.  They are the in laws of my sister Margo!  The quilt is over 80 years old and in great condition.

Here are close ups of some of the signatures.

The box of fabric that Island Batik sent to each Ambassador came in Feb and had a lovely fat quarter of pink fabric that I knew would be perfect for a mini of this quilt.  I went back to my design on the computer and checked the yardage needed - and the size I had earlier drawn would require more fabric.  So I reduced the size to one of my favorite mini sizes- a 12" x 12" quilt.  The yardage was still a bit more than I had- it needed 3/8" yard and I only had a fat quarter of pink and less than a fourth yard of white un-died batik.  I debated awhile, but since I can be very thrifty in my usage of fabric when doing paper piecing, I decided to go ahead and see if I could eek out the fabric for the whole quilt.

Along with the Island Batik fabric, I also used a piece of Hobbs cotton batting and Aurifil 50wt white thread in the piecing and quilting.

Here is my mini.  I still don't know the name of the pattern.  If anyone knows the name, please let me know- this quilt needs a name!

I extended the pattern out into the pink border which I think sets it off nicely.

It was a challenge to make this quilt with the fabric I had- but I made it!  This is the fabric I had leftover.  I actually had to use a scrap of white for one piece in the quilt as I ran out of the white.  I was surprised I had this much leftover.

Making a quilt this small - there is a lot of bulk in the seams.  It would be easier in a larger size, but I do love minis!

This gives you a little idea of the size of each square - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

One of the reasons I love 12" x 12" quilts is that they fit so well on the Ackfeld Wire stands

Thanks to my sister Jody and Becky for showing me the quilt and sharing information and photos.