There are items that I buy at the thrift stores that I am not sure what I am going to do with, but just can't pass up. I don't recommend regularly buying items that you don't plan to use, sell, or aren't sure how you will use them as doing so only creates clutter and stuff you have to store. BUT, every now and then, if you recognize the beauty and history in an item and you feel the need to save it, then go for it! Such was the case when I bought this vintage, feedsack (some pieces are feedsack), tattered quilt at the thrift store.
There are some holes and torn spots and the fabric on this crazy quilt is quite fragile. But, the prints and the colors and the little bits and pieces are beautiful. The problem is, I bought the quilt 18 months ago, washed it, and then folded it and let it sit in my laundry room since purchasing it. Just because something has value, again, we don't need to buy it if all it is going to do is sit around not being enjoyed. SO, I finally decided it was time to cut into this lovely bit of history and make some stuffed hearts for Valentine's Day.
I know, cutting it, eek! Hear me out...It has a lot of holes and tears in it and the fabric is fragile. The quilt has no meaning or history to me. My great grandma didn't make it, I bought it from a thrift store. I do not display or decorate with quilts. It wasn't being enjoyed by anyone sitting in my laundry room. I took me some courage (18 months apparently), but these stuffed hearts are such a sweet way to reuse and repurpose someone's handiwork.
I cut three random shaped hearts, not using a paper pattern, trying to make them somewhat symmetrical, but not worrying if they were perfect.
I left a small, three inch spot open on the straight part of the heart and stuffed it and then sewed it closed. The first heart I left the original quilt fabric on the back.
While I love this rose fabric, it rips easily so I doubled up (so you couldn't see through it) some muslin for the other two hearts and used that on the back instead.
I also sewed along the lines of the quilt squares for the the two muslin backed hearts to reinforce the fabric. I love this horse end square. It is the only square of that particular fabric that I see on the whole quilt.
Check out the linens at your local thrift store. You don't have to find a feedsack, vintage quilt, but can use a thrifted quilt that matches your decor--maybe a flannel one or an all white quilt or a satin one. These stuffed quilt hearts are a lovely Valentine's Day decoration. Display them in a wood bowl on an entryway bench.
They also would be cute in a basket, or sitting on a small chair, or propped on a windowsill or bookshelf.
I love these hearts and I appreciate the hard work that went into cutting each small square of salvaged fabric for the original quilt. But, if you follow my blog at all, you probably recognize that the hearts don't fit my home decor or style so I will be selling them, and that is okay too. We can appreciate items and other styles even if we don't decorate with them. I am happy that I gave this old quilt another life and know others will appreciate their history too. Oh, and I have a lot of quilt left to keep creating with. I think a table runner is up next. What would you make?
Those are darling! I have hand-restored a quilt of my grandma’s. But couldn’t agree more; if it’s not being used find a way to give it new life!! Good job!!
ReplyDeleteThank you and yes, use it or pass it along.
DeleteLove these!!
ReplyDelete