IOWA, Quilted!
One of my most recent favorites! This began as a 100 year old pillow cover. Lovingly embroidered, most likely by a woman from Iowa. Because, only a lover of her state, would spend the time embroidering kernels of corn! OH MY GOSH, I love this piece! It was stunning in it’s original state, but of course, I took it to a whole new level.
These early patterns were color tinted, so the embroiderer could decide what parts they would like to stitch and could choose more or less embroidery. I’ve seen some that are very heavily stitched and some that have only been outline stitched. This is the way I found it, a little wrinkled and a few aging stains. I chose not to soak this one as I really didn’t know what might happen to the floss. I recently had soaked a piece in Retro Clean, which I consider very safe. I had also put Shout, Color Catchers, in the water. I still had bleeding from the brown floss. I sure couldn’t take a chance on this beauty!
When working these old patterns, I also remove this tiny edge with the pattern name and number, then attach it to the back when I’m finished.
Mostly, when I quilt a piece like this, I know what I’m going to do and the designs are free flowing. This one was different and seemed to need a plan. I have a few different methods for auditioning designs. I used Handi Quilter’s Preview Paper. It comes in a roll with a dark black line, so you don’t accidently take your design over the edge and onto your fabric. I use a black sharpie so it’s fast drying, then rubbing alcohol to wipe the slate clean.
I always start a piece like this by outlining the entire design. It stabilizes and sets the boundaries for me to start the background work. I used two layers of batting on this piece, 80/20 Hobbs on the bottom and 100% Hobbs wool on the top. This makes for an easy trapunto look without all the work. I also stitched inside the original embroidery and chose to go around each and every kernel of corn for some fabulous dimension!
And there you have it! Finished piece is 20″ square. All free motion quilted. I always hope the original maker would be thrilled with what I have done with her work. I think she would!
Freda Butler
June 2, 2016
I really like the way you used the diamond pattern around the top and sides then switched to the flowers, etc. on the bottom. Beautiful job. I picked up a lovely old piece at an auction one time that had been painted and because of a couple of stains I soaked it. The color ran and it was awful. Be careful of the colored ones.
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Freda! Yes, nothing is really safe from color bleed!
Florine
June 2, 2016
I think the original embroiderer would be absolutely astonished if she saw this piece today. The quilting is not what would have been anywhere as elaborate as you did it. It’s beautifully done. Thanks for sharing your work.
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Florine!
TerriSue
June 2, 2016
Oh My Goodness! This is absolutely gorgeous! My MIL was from Iowa. She died last year at the age of 97. She would have loved seeing what you did with this. The pillow top was the kind of thing that her mother would have done. I have some of her embroideries. You inspire me to do some thing with them to get them out of the drawers where they are just sitting. This piece is an absolute work of art. I looked at all of the pictures before reading the text. I was thinking that the corn looked more vibrant in the finished piece but it didn’t occur to me that you would have quilted each kernel. The amount of love you put into these old pieces is surely seen in the finished product!
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June 2, 2016
Thanks TerriSue! I always hope these pieces will inspire others to do the same. Yes, get them out of the drawer! I do love every piece I work on, even more so once they are hanging again!
Dayle Gruder
June 2, 2016
Beautiful! Love the way you added more flowers in the quilting.
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Dayle!
Lesley Morris
June 2, 2016
Incredible. Thank you for sharing the process. I really picked up some great tips and inspiration 🙂
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Lesley, great!
Warm Quilts
June 2, 2016
I love how you share your step-by-step method with accompanying photos. The back of the piece is a work of art, too. The detail in the corn is amazing. And, the flowers at the bottom add balance and spotlight the work of the embroiderer as well. What a beautiful tribute.
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June 2, 2016
Thank you so much! I like to know how things are done, so I always think my readers might like it too!
cathey solheim
June 2, 2016
You enhanced this piece a hundredfold with your quilting!
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Cathey!!
Nancy
June 2, 2016
Aww…Kelly…you’ve done it again! Kansas has a new best friend! Love the flowers that you repeated…and the cross hatching…and, and, and…don’t you wish you could show this piece to the maker and to her family? They’d probably want it back!
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Nancy! Kansas DOES have a new best friend! I always think about the maker when I’m quilting. They probably would!
Arty V
June 2, 2016
Simply Fab!
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Arty!
Patty Hecke
June 2, 2016
Totally in love with this piece!
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June 2, 2016
Thanks Patty!
Jeannie
June 6, 2016
Thank you for sharing. It is beautiful.
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June 6, 2016
Thanks Jeannie!
Suzy Webster
October 29, 2016
Absolutely stunning Kelly!