Cranberry & Cream Summer Cotton Coverlet

 

I won this auction last week!  The price was just too good on this one to let it slip by.  Plus I am intrigued by the weave pattern.  It looks more like Huck Lace than overshot.  The seller did not mention the fiber content.  I suspect it's all cotton -- a summer coverlet. 

 

I washed it -- Just because I felt it deserved to be clean after all this time.  The water was gray enough to justify a good wash, although the stains didn't come out.  I air-dried it over the bannister, but it was "rough" when it was dry, so I put it in the clothes drier for a bit to soften it up.  It crinkled up nicely -- as you would expect for this type of 3-dimensional weave.  I know some would say I ruined it, but I love this new crinkle!

 

It has a "red" side (above) and a cream side (below): 

  

For some reason, this crinkle weave pattern makes me think of spiders -- but not is a creepy-crawly way. 

 

Someone gave the edges a scalloped treatment -- as in they took a stencil and cut the scallops (as you might do on a quilt), and then zigzagged the finished edges.  I don't think that happened in the 1800s since the first consumer zigzag machines were not available until the 1930s.   It's an interesting edge treatment, and one I have not seen in any other coverlets.

There's no center seam, so it was not pieced in panels as a coverlet woven at home would have been.  Maybe it was industrial/commercially made?  I found a remnant of what might be a tag that had been cut off -- indicating factory made.  And maybe they did have access to the earlier zigzag machines for the edge finish?  Whatever this coverlet's individual history, I am happy with my purchase. 

 

For the record, here are the photos from the eBay listing: 

From the Ebay Listing:

 $24 plus $10 shipping

Antique Mid 1800s COVERLET Woven Geometric Cranberry & Cream Reversible 82”x98”

 Item specifics:

Condition
Pre-owned: An item that has been used or worn previously. See the seller’s listing for full details ... 

Number of Items in Set: 1
Pattern: Geometric
Shape: Rectangular
Size: 82x98
Color: Cranberry And Cream

Material: Woven
Item Length: 93 in
Type: Coverlet
Style: Antique
Features: Reversible
Time Period Manufactured: 1850-1899
Production Technique: Hand Woven loom
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Item Width: 73 In
Handmade: Yes

Category:
Linens & Textiles
Bed & Bath Linens
Quilts, Bedspreads & Coverlets

Item description from the seller:

This Antique Mid 1800s Coverlet is a rare and unique piece of bedding, hand-woven on a loom in a geometric pattern of cranberry and cream colors.

This coverlet was packed in a trunk for many years at My Grandmothers cottage.

Measuring 82”x98”, this reversible coverlet showcases the craftsmanship and design of the mid-1800s, making it a valuable addition to any collection of antique linens. Its handmade quality and timeless style make it a standout piece for those seeking vintage charm and character in their home decor. There are some stains as noted in the photos. The Coverlet is as found and has not been washed or stains treated.  

Preparations for a New Project: Blue Log Cabin

 

This is the first "test" block for this new log cabin project.

Can you see the humpback whales on the outer dark blue strips of fabric?  ;-) 

 

 

What I'm Reading / Listening to:  How to Speak Whale by Tom Mustill. 

 

This is the Deep Blue Log Cabin precuts that I ordered from Jordan Fabrics.  More options here.  [I'm liking the Turkey Red Curvey Log Cabins ...]

Here is Donna Jordan's tutorial video for reference:

  

On Point Log Cabin Blocks by Donna Jordan.

I know it's an older video, but Log Cabin is a classic block, and they are still making the precut kits. 

I am including this video as a reference to help remind me of how to "work" the precuts into the prescribed log cabin blocks.   

 

Lay the pieces out in order, and build 1 block as a sample.  Then chain piece the rest.

 

I soon realized that I needed to bookmark the next fabric to be sewn on, so I started using a spool of thread to remind me where to pick up with the next log.  They are cut to size, so you can't really make a mistake without it being obvious, but still ...  the spool helped me keep my place. 

I thought this might be a good project for Quilt Camp in October!   Uh -- It might be so addicting that I finish these blocks at home BEFORE I get to Quilt Camp.  It seems to go pretty fast once you start the chain-piecing.

Nordic Star Runner in Blue

 

 Blue Star Table Runner

I made one of these table runners a few years ago, and gifted it to my quilting friend Laura, who loves red:

Nordic Star Table Runner  - Free Pattern from The Crafty Quilter 

I gave the red one away to my friend, Laura.  This time, I wanted to make one in blue.    

  

Yes, I still have a lot of blue in my stash.  And all the fabric is from my stash.   

I picked up that lighter blue flower print on the Free Table at the Quilt Guild a while back.  It's not officially cotton quilt fabric, but something lighter.  Someone made a blouse out of it, but then changed their mind.  It looks nice as part of this project!

Here are the fabrics cut to size, ready for assembly. 

 Here I made the half-square triangles.

It didn't seem to take as long to cut out and sew the half-square triangles as it did at Quilt Camp that year.  Maybe because I split up the work into multiple days.  

Then I laid all the pieces out in the 4 star blocks, so it would be easy to assemble them. 

 

Here is the finished top, not yet sandwiched or quilted.

 

 Here it is finished and "fulled" as we say in weaving.

I used some scraps of a Hobbs 80/20 cotton batting, in part because I wanted the crinkled antique look that batt gives to new quilts.

Quilting was simply a straight stitch ever half inch, except for the middle bars with got a stitch-in-the-ditch treatment. 

This is how it looks from the back.

Here's a detail shot of that blouse fabric.

Is it too early to give this to my husband as a Christmas present?