Well, it’s been a minute! Christmas has come and gone and it’s easy to get out of the habit of one’s normal routines. I haven’t even finished up a quilt for 2024 yet. Hmmm… is the first quilt I finish symbolic of the year? I should think about that, and choose to finish one that I REALLY love!
Anyways, there has not been large quantities of sewing, but there has definitely been some, so I want to catch up on what I’ve been doing since my last post.
I found this vintage quilt TOP for a really good deal and couldn’t leave it because the colors are just dreamy. Well the design is so lovely too. Of course this is a bit crazy because the last thing I need is another quilt top to finish… but I want to study the colors more, I find it rather intriguing. It seem to have been sewn by machine. I’d like to learn more about the history of fabric so that I could date quilts.
I had a real fiasco with my sewing machine in the beginning of December. It seized up. It was done. So I took it in to the repair man and he said he was so busy it would take a month before he’d even look at it. A little backstory on my machine, it’s a Bernina 153 and I’m very attached to it. I got it as a wedding gift from my parents and it was the machine that I used at the quilt store to sew samples. When I got engaged, my mom said she wanted to buy me a sewing machine and what kind would I like? Well, I just seem to have an aversion to buying new things, and so I was set on buying this machine from the shop I worked at. I used it and liked it, and so it became mine. And it’s sewed heavily for me for 20 years… with not enough services and cleanings because I’m never not needing it.
Anyways, my machine is in the shop for a month and so I used my Grandma’s Pfaff which doesn’t have a 1/4″ foot and just generally is different enough from my machine to cause some frustration. But I managed to whip out one quilt which I’ll show you now.
My family had a grab box with the theme of vintage or hand made. I had. the idea that I wished I could make a small throw from the shirts of my Grandpa, Uncle and cousin who have passed away. They all would have worn cotton and plaid shirts, and so I acquired them and at the last minute managed to whip this one out! I had purchased the Cabin Nights pattern, so I used that concept but sized up the blocks a lot because I didn’t have time to work with that many small pieces right then. I backed it with a fleecy plush throw. No batting, just the top and the throw, and lightly hand quilted with red Perle Cotton.
I used a Brussels Washer Linen Chambray for the background fabric. The quilt turned out quite squishy and drapey. I do believe in the pairing of just a top and a plush throw (not minky fabric). These plush throws are generally so cheap and I like them better than any of the plush fabric. (obviously just personal preference)
I’ve been working on two quilts a bit in January. One of them is a Cabin Nights quilt using mostly Dawn on the Prairie collection of fabric. A group of us quilters decided to choose a line of fabric and all make a quilt of our choice from it, just because it would be interesting to see how they’d all look! After much debating and voting, this fabric line was chosen. I had been admiring the Cabin Nights pattern so decided I’d pair the two of them.
Buying precuts of a whole line is not something I generally do, because choosing the fabrics is actually my favorite part of quilting. So this is a different sort of challenge for me, to make a one collection quilt that I really like, and I’m really happy with the direction it’s going! I bought one charm pack and then half yards of a couple of the prints I liked best. I added in some supporting colors from my stash that matched closely.
The other quilt I’m working on is my Bramble Blooms QAL. Visit Audrey at Quilty Folk for the details on this one. I’m enjoying the challenge of this quilt! The cornerstones and the appliqué on this round really challenged me. I spent days thinking on it, trying different corner styles (as you can see I”ve got a few different ones up here). This is not quite the final design. I AM happy with what I came up with for the appliqué though. Everything else I tried seemed to compete with the center design, and I didn’t feel like doing more hollyhocks….
So anyways, I think I’m caught up on what’s been happening in the sewing room!
Oh no, just wait! I forgot to finish up the story of my sewing machine saga. So a few days after Christmas I get a call from the repair man. And he says, “Your machine is not worth fixing. It needs a lot of work and parts and Bernina doesn’t support this machine any more. You need to look at buying a new machine.” I was shocked and a tiny bit emotional, but started questioning him more on what was actually wrong, was it truly unfixable? I think he realized I wasn’t giving this machine up just yet, so by the end of the conversation he had promised to do what he could with random parts from other machines laying around the shop, and I promised to look into upgrading to a newer machine. I was desperately hoping he could fix it, but I did start googling and reading reviews etc. And I just thought the newer Berninas looked a bit too complex and computerized for me. But my mouth did water just a bit at the waaaay larger harp space and huge bobbins which means you don’t have to change it so often.
But a week later he called again and said he had it working so I could come pick it up! I was so overjoyed! I walked into that store intending to pick up my machine and run home and start sewing. Did I mention that this ‘repair shop’ is actually a quilt shop that also sells sewing machines? Ya, I guess you know where this is going. This repair man was friendly and seemed knowledgeable and also somewhat unbiased, so I asked his advice on what type of machine I should get if I did upgrade sometime. (he warned me if my machine had problems again he might not be able to get parts this time) Well he said he had a bit of time so he’d come to the front of the shop with me. I peppered him with all my questions on these newer machines and addressed concerns that I’d read about online. He told me his favorite one, swore they did not have finicky issues, etc. etc. and there right in front of me sits one of these machines, a used one but still fairly new. I guess the owner traded it in because they wanted one with more features (this totally blows my mind cuz this machine is packed with features). anyways, I came home with it!
It’s a Bernina 770 QE… and no, I’m far from giving a verdict on it yet. I’ve been using it, although sometimes I’m tempted to use my old one rather just because then I could sew while sleeping, whereas this one I have to think about what I’m doing. There are a lot of great features though that I THINK I’ll learn to love, so hopefully a year from now I can tell you what I think.
And that’s my January so far! Hopefully I have a few finished quilts to show you yet this month!
I love what I see happening with your Bramble Blooms, most especially the border colors and fabrics and the clusters of leaves. I’m looking forward to seeing how you decide to to finish the border.
What a great vintage quilt find. I was hoping others would have commented already with an idea of dates for the fabric. I’m no expert but my guess is that it was finished in the early 1950s, but I’ll check back to see what others think.
I hope you eventually fall in love with your new machine. (I’m still using my mom’s old black Singer and can’t imagine sewing with anything else.)
I love hearing your opinion on when this quilt was made! I was thinking too that it was definitely not super old… like the fabrics look slightly yellowed and not brand new, and yet they’re not super old either. Definitely not faded, but I guess it hasn’t been washed either because it’s not a complete quilt… I should have added a few more close up photos of the fabrics, maybe ill do that yet!
My oh my, I do love your posts!! I adore the Around the World top you found and it is maybe the inspiration I need to finally pull the trigger on making one! Thank you! I haven’t purchased new fabric in a couple of years but that Dawn on the Prairie has me salivating! Love how you are using it! I’ve been using my mother’s Singer from the 50’s that she made my clothes on as well as my Barbie’s clothes and my wedding dress. I am very careful with it because I would hate to lose it!! I know what you mean about sewing in your sleep! I have a Kenmore that is an indestructible work horse that I use for zig zag or heavy duty fabrics. Keep your posts coming! I always find something I love or thoughts I recognize.
I admire your Bramble Blooms progress!!!! and want one just like it!! 🙂
You will LOVE your 770 when you get use to it! But it is a learning curve.
I love that memory quilt! You have a gift for putting fabrics together in a delightfully unusual way. I’m also struck by the simple hand quilting. Thanks for the inspiration.
I know very little about dating fabric but your vintage top definitely reminds me of the quilt blocks my aunt Rosemary gave me last month. She said they were sewn by my great-grandmother (who died in 1965), and when Aunt Marilyn (born in 1937) saw them she said “those are my school dresses.”
Aunt Rosemary was clear: these are too fragile to machine-quilt. She also sent thin cotton interfacing –fusible, I understood– with which to back the thinnest squares.
I’d love to see more close ups of your quilt top. What size are the squares? Are they pieced in long rows, or did somebody sew the blocks together with a million jillion set-in corners?
So nice to read your New Year update!
I love your Cabin Nights blocks, and the Bramble Blooms is cute too.
I’ve been sewing on a Janome HD3000 for a long time. Basic and no fanciness to it, just good straight stitches, and it’s slow too, but I’m happy with it and hope it lasts awhile longer.
Thank you for all you share with us.
I love each one of these quilts !!!! But the family one that you made with the shirts 👕❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ and especially the block with the “pocket” ❤️❤️❤️❤️. You write such interesting columns ……..please don’t ever stop! And…….isn’t it interesting how we all love our machines !!!!!
I love that both you and the repairman ended up happy!!! 🥰 Can’t wait to see what you think of quilting with that huge throat space. 🤩
The 770 is a good choice if “needle down” and various other stitches will be used. But if all you need is a good straight stitch the way older Singer 301’s, 401’s are sweet. I have a Bernina 1130 that I am partial to, two 930″s, and a 440 that is nice. My sister does a lot of paper piecing and does not mind oiling her Juki 2010 all the time. I hope you enjoy the 770 very much.
Fun post. I had grammas and aunts who sewed (a lot)…I’m guessing those fabrics were produced in the late ’40’s.
I made your autumn quilt…tried to closely match your colors because I love it so much! I loved making it and love it now that it is done. I wish I would have made it bigger, tho’.
Love all the quilts you’ve show us today Jolene. Especially I think the one made from the grab box is a treasure! You live in a beautiful spot with the rolling field ahead and a clear view of the sunset, Lucky girl!! Thanks for sharing the machine story – I have a Bernina QE440, had it quite a number of years but love it, oly problem is I really would like a larger harp area for quilting, I’ll be interested to know what you think when you begin to quilt with it.
Jolene, I forgot to mention your beautiful set up of the borders for BB1, it’s magical and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I have the 770 and it’s a joy to sew on. I LOVE it 🥰
Gosh I love that vintage top! The fabrics are so amazing. It reminds me of a similar quilt I saw on Instagram that the maker called Streets of Philadelphia. I was amazed by her work and of course added it to my “Make Before You Die” list.
I sew on a Pfaff Quilt Ambition 630. It’s only 2 years old but it’s my work horse that has never failed me. I am amazed at how powerful it is. I keep it meticulously clean but it’s time to take it in for a professional cleaning/servicing. I hear the wait time is also about a month here in NW Ohio. I have my grandma’s Singer Treadle machine but I haven’t made anything on it yet. I really should do that!
Love your quilts. I have an old Bernina and a 770 QE. Love them both
I love how your Bramble Blooms is progressing. I’ve had in mind to create my border with appliqued half circles, though it hasn’t progressed beyond the thinking stage yet. I still piece my quilts on a 1951 Singer 201 machine, also have a 301 and Featherweight and love working with all three. Machine quilting on a Janome 8200QPC which has the bigger harp space and a great dual feed foot that keeps the layers together really well for SID quilting and also for bindings. Hope you enjoy your “new” Bernina, I’ve heard good things about them.
I love what you did for the vintage/handmade item for your family. I wonder if any fights were breaking out over that one…
I’m excited to see your Dawn on the Prairie quilt. I am a fan of this designer’s collections. I can see you’d like it with the moody and dark colors.
I can understand your desire to stick with your tried and true Bernina. I have two identical Jukis and would NEVER give them up…so much that I have a third in a box I bought from someone who thought she’d sew during Covid but never ended up using it. I got it for about 1/3 the price so it was a good deal and it’s just waiting for the day I need it! You hardly ever see them for sale on Craigslist or Facebook and it’s because they are so reliable and people don’t get rid of them.
I sewed on a Bernina years ago at a quilt shop when I forgot my power cord to my machine and they were nice enough to loan me a shop machine. I don’t really get the fuss over them. The most basic model at the shop was $999. That said, I just bought a Bernette on Goodwill’s online site. It was about 1/4 the cost of a new one and I thought it might be fun to give it a try. I teach people how to sew (for free) all the time. Sometimes I will give them a machine to borrow to see if they really want to be a quilter before they spend several hundred dollars on a machine so I’ve got a couple loaners and thought this might be a good one to loan out. I never recommend a cheap machine because it makes sewing so frustrating, even for me! Give me a machine that doesn’t unthread every time you start it. That alone is worth the money.
I love your shirt quilt. I made one for a friend whose father passed away and it won an award in an art show she let me enter it in. It’s hanging in a Smithsonian owned museum in Maryland right now which is probably the peak of my quilting career (lol) and I’ll get it back at the end of the month. I used fabric from the same designer as Dawn on the Prairie for parts of it.
I wish I could spend all day quilting but it’s not meant to be. My youngest (5) is now homeschooled and I’ve got 4 other kids so I get it that God’s plan for me is not quilting 8 hours a day. Oh how I wish it was though!
Your Bramble Blooms looks so good! The applique in the border is so sweet looking.:)