Wednesday, March 11, 2015

a pair of 1970s quilts

Crazy Block, c. 1970 from Kansas, 75" x 95"
A pair of lively 1970s quilts arrived this week. Both are quite vibrant, with bold, clashing colors and a mixture of solids and prints, typical of the period. The first is a crazy block quilt from an eBay seller in Mission, Kansas. It is 75" x 95" with 63 blocks, each roughly ten inches square.


Each block is cloth foundation pieced by machine with a few large pieces of fabric pieced in irregular strips. The blocks are placed with the strips going in many directions, giving the quilt a wonderful sense of movement. Fabrics include polyester double knit, cotton corduroy, cotton jersey knit, possibly a few wools, and acrylic tweeds. The quilt is hand tied with a plan yellow cotton back, no batting and a knife edge finish.
Stacked Bricks, c. 1970, Texas, 79" x 91"
The second quilt is a Stacked Bricks from Texas, made of polyester double knit fabrics with a cotton flannel print back, brought from back to front for binding, and bound by machine. There is a wonderful mix of solids, plaids and prints, most notably a white polyester knit with figures riding bicycles. It is strikingly similar to a quilt by Gina Pina at QuiltCon, but her quilt had inscriptions on each brick. Click here to see her quilt.


The quilt has no batting, and is a nice weight with the warm, cozy flannel on the back. People think polyester quilts must have been uncomfortable for sleeping, but with the right mic of fabrics and a soft backing, they are actually very comfortable. Stay tuned for a few more cool quilts arriving this week. 
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11 comments:

  1. LoriMarch 11, 2015 at 7:41 AM

    This looks like one my mom would have made!

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  2. marlynnMarch 11, 2015 at 7:51 AM

    So colorful! I like the crazy block diagonals pattern in the first one :)

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  3. LoriMarch 11, 2015 at 8:04 AM

    Love that crazy block! Small wonder, it's from Kansas. ;)

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  4. Ladies in NavyMarch 11, 2015 at 10:10 AM

    awesome! love the visual element of your blog posts - they're SO bright and cheery! :D

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  5. Rachel @ Love, RachelMarch 11, 2015 at 10:15 AM

    I loved these! is it odd that the OCD in me is like, these patterns aren't uniform!!! haha I will admit, I like those designs better!

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  6. OrangeMewMarch 11, 2015 at 10:47 AM

    The people riding bicycles is such a fun detail, as well as all the fun argyle!

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  7. AnonymousMarch 11, 2015 at 12:05 PM

    The stacked bricks make me kind of dizzy, but I love the free spirit in the first one.

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  8. westmetromommyMarch 11, 2015 at 4:25 PM

    Those are cool...I especially like the bicycles!

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  9. Laura in IAMarch 13, 2015 at 1:44 AM

    I am wondering if any of the acrylic wovens are the bonded fabrics from that time period. The colors are great. I would tend to call the "crazy" one a string quilt.

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  10. Susie QMarch 13, 2015 at 10:59 AM

    Nothing to do with this post but a different blogger has one of your quilts front and center....
    http://wooliemammoth.blogspot.com/2015/03/gees-bend.html

    Later

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    Replies
    1. Bill VolckeningMarch 13, 2015 at 11:38 AM

      Yes, Kristin is a friend and I love her. She lets me use her pictures, too. There was a good one of me during the tour, and she sent it to me just yesterday.

      Delete

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