Saturday, June 23, 2012

Fabulous Four-Patch Fabric Sampler


I got a little lost on my way home from McMinnville yesterday, and spotted a Goodwill, so I went in. It was somewhere near McMinnville, maybe even in McMinnville, but I'd never been to that particular Goodwill before. All the linens were hanging on racks in the back, to the right. There was just one handmade quilt in the midst of all the bedspreads, and it was this fabulous Four-Patch fabric sampler from the 1970s.


At first, I thought it was a One-Patch, but when I got it home, opened it up and took a better look, I realized it was really a Four-Patch. The quilt is tied, so I guess you could call it a comforter, and it is mostly cottons with some synthetics, and polyester batting. all machine pieced. The back is a wonderful floral print, and looks like it could've been a bed sheet. The plaid binding is applied, machine sewn on the front, brought to the back, and hand sewn.


Calico cheater cloth patch (above center)

There are stripes, florals, polka dots, and calicoes, including calico patchwork cheater cloth, and American Flag fabric. Some of the fabrics could be from before the 70s, but that calico cheater cloth is so 70s! There are also fabrics that looks like printed cross-stitch. It's really a wild combination of fabrics. Another fearless quiltmaker. :)


What we thought was a bicycle is actually a spinning wheel.
Cross-stitch Liberty Bell - very Bicentennial!
Dresden Plate cheater cloth
This print reminds me of the bathroom wallpaper at David Schmidt's house
in North Caldwell, New Jersey, before 1977. His mom always had a bottle
of Jean Nate' hanging around the shower/tub. Talk about a flashback!!
The best part about it was the price! Even though it was slim pickins, I should really visit Goodwill more often. I can just imagine the family who owned it, tossing it in a box, thinking, "We don't need to keep that ugly old thing around anymore" - and the Goodwill employee who priced it, thinking, "I'd better put a low price on this, otherwise nobody will ever buy it." So how much did I pay?


Just $6.99, what a bargain! It's a nice addition to my "generation X quilts" collection, and I'm happy to have another fun piece found right here in Oregon.
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18 comments:

  1. SandraJune 23, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    Look at the 2nd row middle block with the dresden plate cheater fabric (printed patchwork) and what looks to be a liberty bell -- that is pretty 1976.

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  2. AnonymousJune 23, 2012 at 11:01 AM

    In your 5th picture the patch in the middle on the right is from a sheet, the one with the grass and yellow butterflies. I'd like to see a closeup of the liberty bell and the one on the right edge with the bicycle.
    Nan in FL

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    Replies
    1. Bill VolckeningJune 23, 2012 at 11:13 AM

      You know something, I think my parents had those bed sheets. LOL! I'll grab some close-ups of the Liberty Bell and the Dresden Plate cheater cloth and add those.

      Delete
    2. Bill VolckeningJune 23, 2012 at 11:14 AM

      I'll add the bicycle, too. :)

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  3. AnonymousJune 23, 2012 at 11:12 AM

    very 70's! and very fun....when I was growing up in the 70's the only quilts I ever saw were on the waltons and little house on the prairie but I can sure remember those fabrics, my mom made all her clothes and clothes for my sisters and I am sure some of those fabrics were used

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    1. Bill VolckeningJune 23, 2012 at 11:15 AM

      Yes, these fabrics looked strangely familiar to me, too. It's kind of fun finding a quilt like this and seeing how it reconnects us with the past.

      Delete
  4. quiltersmuseJune 23, 2012 at 11:32 AM

    What a fun find! Yes, the calico print cheater cloth is definitely 1970s vintage! Cool!

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    1. Bill VolckeningJune 23, 2012 at 11:40 AM

      The thing that really gets me is how many memories the fabrics bring back. In the 70s, I wasn't really paying attention to fabrics like I would today. In 1976, I was 10. So it's been fun to reconnect with the past, carrying along a new appreciation for things I totally took for granted.

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  5. Bill VolckeningJune 23, 2012 at 11:32 AM

    More pics added of some of the specific fabrics. Nan- that's not a bicycle, it's a spinning wheel! Speaking of that, I just had another flashback to Blood, Sweat and Tears' "Spinning Wheel" - what a song that was!

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  6. LesleyJune 23, 2012 at 7:46 PM

    What a great find. I love going to the Salvation Army or Goodwill, or any thrift shops, to find great finds like this.

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  7. KristinJune 23, 2012 at 11:31 PM

    That's too funny about the spinning wheel/bicycle! My daughter goes to Linfield and we've been to that Goodwill many times. It's a good one. I need to hit my area thrift stores soon myself!

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  8. LoriJune 24, 2012 at 8:01 AM

    That is in really good shape too!!

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    1. Bill VolckeningJune 25, 2012 at 7:10 AM

      It's definitely been washed, and is very soft. One thing that really gets me is the binding. It appears to be...of all things...MADRAS! (omg)

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  9. NyimaJune 25, 2012 at 7:00 AM

    The cheater cloth is too good!

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  10. DianeJune 25, 2012 at 7:21 AM

    What a blast from the past! I still have some of those VIP calicoes in my stash.

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  11. Bill VolckeningJune 25, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    Which ones are the VIP calicoes? I'm assuming you're talking about Cranston Village VIP fabrics, correct? Did they make the cheater cloth? or the red? or something else? TYVM for any info you've got. I'm just learning about the 70s calicoes.

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