Cross Stitch Patterns by designer Pamela Kellogg of Kitty And Me Designs

The Blog Of Cross Stitch Designer Pamela Kellogg
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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

New Meaning To The Word "Crazy"!

Yeah, that would be me! Can one of you, my dear readers, explain to me what the BLEEP I was thinking when I bought this quilt and decided to restore it? Ha, ha, ha!

My intention yesterday afternoon, was to replace 2 damaged patches on my quilt and then move on to working on Maxine's quilt. It didn't quite work out that way:

My Antique Crazy Quilt Repair 1

I was going to replace the red stripe and then the patch with the little victorian boot on it. I did my usual thing of snapping a photo with the digi, tracing the outline of the 2 patches onto tracing paper and then I tore out those 2 bad areas. While looking at it, I realized that the navy blue patch with the work boot on it needed to be replaced as well. Yikes! It was a little scary to have 3 pieces off at the same time! Since they all ran together, I didn't have a choice.

My Antique Crazy Quilt Repair 2

The boot repairs were the same as the first one that I did over the weekend. I had to cut into the foundation. Unfortunately, I found (in this area) that the muslin foundation is deteriorating. I also found that this quilt suffered some serious water damage before the backing and binding were put on. After reading this article titled, "Crazy Quilts In America Then & Now" by Patricia Cummings, I may have the reason for the deteriorating muslin.

I'm sure you're now thinking "why"? Well, fabric in the old days was not measured by the yard like it is today. Instead, it was measured by weight. To make fabric "weigh more", merchants soaked it in salt of one type or another. We all know what salt does to things! And in cheating the customer of the day, these merchants also cheated many future generations from having these beautiful heirloom works of art in good condition.

Back to my rotting muslin issue, I suspect that since the quilt got wet at one time, any residue salt on the fancy fabrics, soaked into the cotton foundation and therefore has rotted that as well. So far, most of the foundation fabric is fine. But this area is an exception.

I spoke with my mom about this and she told me that it's a good thing there so much that needs to be replaced. Since I'm stitching through everything that's here, the front, the flannel layer and the back, it should hold everything together just fine. Whew!

Ok, so onto my repairs:

My Antique Crazy Quilt Repair 3

I was a little freaked out over having 3 patches off at one time and as you can see, I didn't quite get them back on right. I really need to not stress over this so much! In some areas, there are 5 and 6 pieces all in a section that will need to be replaced and I know that I just have to do the best I can.

I'm sure you noticed that my stitching is a bit different than what was there. The red herringbone stitch to the right of the ladies victorian boot was intentional. I wanted more stitching on that area to make sure it was all held together well.

My stitches under the work boot are a bit different because I couldn't quite see what was there in my photo on the tiny little screen on my camera and I was just too lazy to get up off my butt, come in here to the computer and transfer the image!

Anyway, this area does look much better now and I still feel good that I have the ability to save Evelyn's quilt even if I don't get it exactly the way she had it.

I'm wondering now too if the 3 boots on this quilt represent something. Perhaps 3 family members? Mom, Dad and child? I may never know for sure but it's a gut feeling that I have. Do take a moment and read the article by Patricia Cummings. It's facinating!

Ok, now I would like to ask your opinion on something. I'm going to stop at Michael's Craft Store tomorrow to pick up the gold toned handles for my Mozart purse so I can get that assembled and use it! I was wondering what ya'll think of this trim:

Mozart With Fringe

I like it but wonder if it's too heavy? Or does it work? Please let me know you're opinion. I have gobs and gobs of this but if you think It's too much, I'll go with something else.

7 comments:

Charlene ♥ NC said...

My VERY humble opinion is that it is too heavy - detracts from the beautiful work you've done...

Anonymous said...

I'm with Charlene ... When I think of Mozart, I think of those lacy sleeves ... a ruffle ...

June said...

I agree. The trim is a bit heavy and detracts from the rest of your work.
You bought the quilt because you though??? it would be a fun project. You are having fun, aren't you?
I did take one patch off of my quilt, but haven't gotten it sewen back on yet. I like the way you are doing this, piece by piece.

June said...

Oops, sorry. I meant to say thought.I need to preview before I send.

Anonymous said...

Pam,

I agree with the others-- the pompom fringe is too heavy. If you wanted to use a fringe, just a plain gold fringe wouldn't look so heavy.

I also like the idea of using a wide piece of white or ecru lace to make it look the ruffle on a sleeve like geri suggested.

Kim

allie aller said...

Or....just add some dainty beaded fringe in a light color over the tassles you have here....I like the heaviness as it helps weigh the purse down, but it could be fizzed up a bit with the beading lightly swaying over it.
Fun having so many designers, huh?

Jo in NZ said...

Pam I think the trim bit of the fringe makes it look heavy. Can you put it together so that just the tassles show out of the bottom of the bag?
If not, I feel it is to heavy, or it may be the colour. I know we don't get true colour on screen, but it looks too gold to me. Maybe go with Allies suggestion and add in some beading, in the salmon colour to break the solidness of the gold.
XX

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