A find
I have long maintained that thrifting in B.C. -- and particularly in small-town B.C. -- can't be beat. When I was in Vancouver last week I spotted a vintage quilt in the window of a shop on Commercial Drive; they wanted about $100, and it wasn't something I couldn't live without, so I left it there. Then, last Sunday, I went to a flea market just off Highway 97 in Summerland, and lo and behold, there was the quilt I couldn't live without. For $20. Yes, please.
I brought it back to my mom and dad's, washed it, and hung it out on their clothesline. I'm no quilt expert, but I'm thinking it is probably from the 1930s or 1940s. (Any confirmation or other guesses are more than welcome.) A scrap quilt, with bits of solids and prints, and even eyelet lace strips. Hand-quilted, of course. I didn't measure it, but I think it would fit a single bed. Can anyone tell me the name of this fan-style quilt block pattern? 
It needs a little TLC; you can see the frayed edges, and there are already a couple of patches on it. My favourite part is that pink fabric around the edge. I'll have to figure out if I should patch it or just try to sew up the holes.
I was happy to find a quilt shop in Penticton earlier this week, where I bought four nice fat quarters for ... something. 
And now I'm off to do some more thrifting this afternoon! Oh, and I may have already cast on for a February Lady Sweater, like the rest of the knitting universe. More on that in the next post, where I'll show you my west-coast yarn purchases.
Speaking of the west coast, how about those severed feet?
22 comments:
Total score! I need to go small town thrifting to start a quilt collection and build my pyrex collection.
The pattern of the quilt is one quarter of a Dresden Plate design. Some folks would call yours a Fan.
As a former quilt person, here are my thoughts. If you care to mend it, use a similar fabric and hand sew into place. Do not cut away any quilt fabric in the process.
If there is no mark of the maker, discreetly write what info you have on the reverse using a permanent marker. Where it was bought and when, pattern name, what you changed, etc.
That will inform your heirs and they will appreciate it.
Duh. I thought at first that somehow it was the same exact quilt, and spent more moments than I want to admit trying to figure out how the quilt got from the shop to the flea market so soon and so heavily devalued. Being finished with school has made me stooopid!
Those fans are striking! And the pink flowery binding is lovely.
I also like the green fabric you got-- it looks very retro!
that quilt is stunning - what a find!
The quilt she is lovely, yadda, yadda...but the foot thing is just gross! I heard about it for the first time last night on the news (I live in Washington).
Lucky you..I never find bargains!!
Flintknits sure has whipped up a frenzy amongst us impulsive knitters!!
What a great find! This quilt was obviously made and used with love. You will appreciate it as it so deserves!
As for those severed feet - that is what I call mondo bizarro!
dude, severed feet thing is just WEIRD and so creepy. i'm really intrigued as to where they came from.
the quilt is an awesome find! lucky you!
can't wait to hear about the february lady sweater :)
Lovely find!
The latest not so lovely find out here was a hoax (animal paw, sock and seaweed stuffed into a shoe). Not a terribly funny one, but it might have been even odder if it were real, as it was quite far away from where the other feet were found.
Is that the same Penticton famous for the July 1991, Hammer Riots?
Those fabrics definitely look like 1930s to me . . . we have a quilt in the family that was made in 1935 that has very similar (if not the same) fabrics in it!
whenever we go back to oliver/penticton i feel like we're stepping into a vintage sears calendar. the thrift shops/yarn shops/craft shops/delis/bakerys are just amazing! excellent find! xo
i was wondering what that "intact feet" comment was all about!
it's "Grandmother's Fan", I have several of those done for my Sampler quilt. love that pattern. easier than the Dresden Plate (and different proportions, particularly the center "circle" which in the Fan is not a full circle).
I'd say patch it. :)
great find, girl.
when are you coming to Chicago?
I see a paper comparing your research area with reporting on the feet. It's totally bizarre--feels like an episode of Dexter.
What a find the quilt was, it was meant to be at $20. Good job you hadn't bought the other one.
It is a Fan pattern, like others have said. I'm just not sure if it's very old, because of the machine-looking eyelet piece. It might be a reproduction. Doesn't matter, because it's beautiful.
I used to live just off Commercial Drive, I loved the second hand shops there.
Great find. Thanks for February Lady Sweater link.
Never knew what the name of the pattern was, but it must have been popular w/the old(er) ladies, because I got one just like it for a wedding present in 1963!! It was made by my great-aunt who was probably at least 65 years old in 1963, just the age I am now. I still have it and it needs some repair, which I was always afraid to try. Now I will follow the advice above and just patch over the top.
That's a gorgeous quilt, and what an amazing price! Also, I thought the same thing Jodi did for some reason, even though going back it's perfectly clear what you meant.
That green fabric you bought is almost exactly like some my grandma used in a couple quilts she made for my family in the 50's and 60's.
I've heard that pattern called "Grandmother's Fan".
Well done you for getting it. Isn't it amazing/totally dispiriting how hand made things, particularly antiques like this quilt, are so undervalued by some? $20!
Probably took some woman in the 30s a couple of months to piece & another few weeks to hand quilt.
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