Daily Blog

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Keiko made this quilt, Bouquet, to celebrate her 30th anniversary with her husband. He must be a really good husband. This quilt is exquisite and handmade. It won a Mastery Award at Houston 2011. Do you remember this amazing quilt?

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Vintage 1974 Pinwheel Quilt. Source eBay
 

Double Knit Quilt Enters Collection
By Marian Ann J. Montgomery, Ph.D. Curator of Clothing and Textiles,
The Museum of Texas Tech University

I knew that one day we would accept our first double knit quilt into the Museum’s collection and I hoped that it would be a pretty one. Double knit quilts were made in the 1970s as part of the quilt revival around America’s bicentennial celebration. Early American quilters  made quilts using scraps left over from sewing for their families. In the 1970s this meant using double knit fabrics. Unfortunately, the quilters found that these quilts were very difficult to hand quilt. The quilts also ended up being very heavy, and in many cases very unattractive to some viewers.

Triangle Quilt, circa 1970 made of woven and double knit fabrics.
TTU-H2018-069-001, Gift of Judy Pesetski.

When Judy Pesetski brought this one in I knew we had found our beautiful double-knit example! The quilt was made around 1970 by Rosella (Rose) Engeleiter Derge (Mrs. Melvin) in Hartford, Wisconsin and donated to the Museum by her daughter. The beautiful fabrics are an encyclopedia of fabrics from the time. Double knit fabrics are mixed in with woven fabrics. Judy admitted that it wasn’t used much because it was heavy.

Triangle Quilt, circa 1970 made of woven and double knit fabrics.
TTU-H2018-069-001, Gift of Judy Pesetski.

The quilt was constructed by cutting a square, laying a piece of batting on the wrong side and folding it on the diagonal wrong sides together to get a triangle shape. The triangles are then whip stitched together on all sides to other adjoining triangles. This method allows the maker to create the top and back at the same time. The quilt was hand quilted a little more than a quarter inch inside each triangle edges. With so many different fabrics in this beautiful quilt, I see a "new" one one each time I look.

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As we bump down the road, I look for inspiration wherever I can. Whether it be quilt shops, stitching groups, or quilt shows. Although I missed the Tucson Quilt Show, I was forwarded photos of some of the highlights! I can already tell you that next year I am putting this show on my "must see" list!! A wide variety of quilts from the Modern...

...to the embellished! I am in awe of the talent of quilters!

And someone was able to finish their Fresh Cuts Quilt by Sue Spargo!!

Being that I have appliqué envy, I was especially WOW'd by some of the appliqué quilts. I am encouraged to drag out one of my "elderly" projects, which is a Kim McClean appliqué quilt. Did you notice that I did not call it a UFO...sounds so disrespectful...we must respect our elders!!!

Stay tuned and travel along with us on Quilt Roadies.

Click here for Anna's YouTube Channel.

Click here for Anna's blog.

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We've said this to our kids many times. Now it's our turn. TQS did articles in the past on organization and you have books and articles you have read over the years. So it is NOT a lack of information that is cluttering your life. It is lack of motivation. So today we are becoming your personal trainer.

Let's start with your office. This week (today) get your office organized. Here is how. First attack the paper mess.

Get 4 folders and a trash can. Label the folders:

1. Bills  - This will include anything banking plus all bills.
2. Reading - This is for items you need to read but haven't gotten to yet.
3. Activities - This is for quilting, art, family activities, and church.
4. Filing - Items that just need to be filed. Be sure they need to be kept. Many things are now retrievable on your computer.
5. Trash Can - Be vicious. Throw everything away that doesn't make you cry to part with.

KEY:  Don't work on any of the papers. Put them in the folders and get the mess organized. This should not take more than 15 minutes - 2 hours. Once you finish you will have a good idea of what needs to be worked on right now.

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This was one of Capt'n John's favorite Red Quilts at Houston 2018. "I loved this quilt for several reasons. The simple but striking design really features the fabrics. When you walk up to it, you actually look at each fabric and the value changes, not just the design. Then using a circular quilting on a pattern of sharp edges was a fun approach. Everything worked for me and I enjoyed just standing there for awhile."