Quilts

Ever since I got my first quilt in the early 80's from a neighbor across the street, I have been amazed at the time it takes to create a beautiful quilt.  I have attempted quilting barely enough to realize that I don't currently posess the patience to complete one... so it's a confession that these are not my own works.  Over the years, I have collected a number of quilts and thought this would be a good place to document them with the goal of learning more about my collection, preserving their history and sharing them with others.  If you have any information on the age or pattern or history of any of these quilts, please email me! Thanks!

Merrily We Go Around 33" x 48", 1973 - 1995, Amelia Susie Kunnecke, Coldwater, Mississippi Cotton whole cloth quilt with embroidery - given to me as a 21st birthday gift by my mother.  She started it while she was pregnant with me, and finished it after it had been stored iin a trunk ncomplete for over 20 years.  The metal ring that sat attached to the fabric for years has rusted and discolored the cloth.  This became one of my mother's first quilts - she learned that the cotton batting will "ball up" if it's not quilted properly (she hadn't quilted in the merry - go - round section) and had to perform "surgery" on this pice to fix it - on the back, there's a "scar" where she cut the backing open, removed the balled up batting and replaced it.  The piece is now fully quilted and a fun reminder that it's never too late to finish finish something you start!

Larry 66" x 78", @1950, Unknown, Purchased from Estate Sale north of Nashville, TN Hand pieced, hand quilted, with a pink/rose colored backing.  Do a little hunting... you'll find the name "Larry" embroidered into one of the blocks.  I think it's interesting considering the feminine color of the backing... I am unsure of the pattern or of the actual age of this quilt.  Any information you have on either would be appreciated!

Flying Geese (?) 70" x 83", @1982, Gail Shoemaker (1895-1985), New Middletown, IN This was the first quilt I was ever given.  Made by Mrs. Gail; the wonderful lady who lived across the street from me in the town I think of as my "hometown."  She made each of my sisters a double wedding ring quilt, and this one for me.  Each square (there are 42 squares in this quilt, each of which containing 64 pieces!) - pieced entirely by hand and hand quilted, it is also probably the most valuable in my collection. I am not sure if the pattern is called flying geese or flying dove, or how old the patter is.  Any info you have, please share! Thanks!

Poppies 75-1/2" x 90", age unknown (estimated 1930-1990), Uknown Artist Purchased at an estate Auction, Northern Tennessee This beautiful whole cloth quilt features appliqued and embroidered poppies.  "BEATTIE" or "BEATTLE" is written in permanent marker on the back possibly indicating that this quilt may have been part of an older person's posessions while living at some sort of nursing home.

Grandma's Quilt 76" x 80", age unknown, Unknown Artist One of the last posessions of my grandmother, Venice Kunnecke (July 21, 1913 - August 20, 2008), This quilt was left in Venice Kunnecke's room at the nursing home after she passed away.  It was retrieved by a family member and gifted to me as something of hers for me to keep.  It has many holes in it where the fabrics have separated.  I do not know if this was machine pieced or not, but it does appear to have been hand quilted.  I would venture to guess that this was purchased as opposed to handmade.  I think that the batting (filling) is polyester... Because of its history this quilt is another of my favorites. Also written on the back of this quilt is my grandmother's name, "Venice Kunnecke" along with her room number "E-14".

Whole Cloth Quilt 86-1/2" x 98", @2006, Amelia Susie Kunnecke Evansville, IN Mom made this quilt for me after years of my begging for one.  It's a "whole cloth" quilt - a solid front and back - the only decoration is the gorgeous stitching.  All hand quilted (and all by her) it's a testiment to her talent!  I always wanted this type of quilt... after years of begging, I finally got one!

Vintage Crazy Quilt 80" X 70", age unknown, Purchased from Colorado Unknown Artist Hundreds of pieces of very old fabrics grace this beautiful piece of handiwork. Some of the cuts of fabric in this quilt are truly beautiful!!! Some of this fabric is from the old flour sacks and the backing on this one appears to be cotton as well but overall this quilt has that really heavy feel... so I'm not sure what the batting is... this is a pretty heavy quilt; hand tied with blue yarn.

Victorian Crazy Quilt 67" x 79", @1940, Purchased from Amity, OR Unknown Artist Purchased online, this quilt features all kinds of beautiful dark heavy fabrics.  It has been loved for decades and has patches on its back.

Fan Pattern Feed Sack Quilt   59" x 79", @1930 (estimated), Purchased from Mississippi Cotton lined, hand pieced and hand quilted, there are a couple patches on the back.  This quilt has some yellowing from age, some of the stitching is loose in a couple places... I have loved feedsack quilts forever - and remember my mom hunting for feed sack material to add to her quilts when I was younger.  Of course, the days of feed sacks had been long gone but she still searched.  There's something to be said for wanting to use authentic materials in such a time honored craft.

Patchwork Quilt Top 42" x 62", unknown age, from an estate in Concord, North Carolina - Unknown Artist a beautiful Early Hand Sewn Patchwork Quilt Top in a beautiful pattern - Beautiful strong colors and the piece is very well made - I plan to use this quilt top as a backing for a knitted pillow I will be making probably sometime in 2009.  If there's enough of the quilt left for additional pillows, I'll probably make a few additional pieces.