When I was a kid, my mom always made our beds with the same blankets on them, in the same order, no matter what season it was. Granted, this was in the Bay Area of California, so there was not a huge difference in summer weather and winter weather.
We always had white sheets. Mom said that was Dad's preference, but I wonder if she secretly didn't agree with him. I think it made it easy, since all the sheets always matched! So to add a bit of color to them, my mom would embroider on the edges of the pillowcases. I LOVE those old pillowcases now!! Plus, she would starch them, so I remember laying on the the stiff pillowcase on Saturday nights. I'd like to make Emma a little sundress out of one of the old pillowcases.
After sheets, it was always a "sheet blanket" -- a very thin, usually cotton blanket that Mom would use "just as an extra layer". I never understood layering as a child... it took being a mom to really get it! Then, there was a quilt. A homemade quilt, usually one made by one of my grandmothers. Bedspread on top of that.
I remember 2 of those quilts. One was thin and quite old, wearing through in places. I don't remember what pattern it was. The other quilt had more loft, and the most unique "fan" pattern I'd ever seen. It had a solid turquoise background, and blocks of pieced "fan" shapes. I'd never seen a pattern like it.
Fast forward to a few nights ago, when I was surfing the 'net. I was looking at some beginning quilt patterns after listening to a Sunday lesson that made some comparisons with a Log Cabin quilt. Most of what I saw were patterns that consisted of squares, rectangles and triangles. This is what I've seen for YEARS when I've looked at quilts. And then.... I saw it.
We always had white sheets. Mom said that was Dad's preference, but I wonder if she secretly didn't agree with him. I think it made it easy, since all the sheets always matched! So to add a bit of color to them, my mom would embroider on the edges of the pillowcases. I LOVE those old pillowcases now!! Plus, she would starch them, so I remember laying on the the stiff pillowcase on Saturday nights. I'd like to make Emma a little sundress out of one of the old pillowcases.
After sheets, it was always a "sheet blanket" -- a very thin, usually cotton blanket that Mom would use "just as an extra layer". I never understood layering as a child... it took being a mom to really get it! Then, there was a quilt. A homemade quilt, usually one made by one of my grandmothers. Bedspread on top of that.
I remember 2 of those quilts. One was thin and quite old, wearing through in places. I don't remember what pattern it was. The other quilt had more loft, and the most unique "fan" pattern I'd ever seen. It had a solid turquoise background, and blocks of pieced "fan" shapes. I'd never seen a pattern like it.
Fast forward to a few nights ago, when I was surfing the 'net. I was looking at some beginning quilt patterns after listening to a Sunday lesson that made some comparisons with a Log Cabin quilt. Most of what I saw were patterns that consisted of squares, rectangles and triangles. This is what I've seen for YEARS when I've looked at quilts. And then.... I saw it.
Oh. My. Gosh. THAT is IT!! It's Grandma's old quilt! Well, the pictures I saw online were all complete circles. Grandma's quilt had utilized one-fourth of a circle, in the corner of a square block to create the fan pattern, but THIS was definitely the same pattern.And the name? (Because all quilt patterns have names!) It's a Dresden Plate. There is even a wonderful YouTube video (search Dresden Plate quilt if you're interested) on how to make one. All you need (and I just may have to pick up one of these) is a template that has the wedge shape, and a circle template for the center.
This almost makes me want to take up quilting (Todd is cringing right now as he reads this, rolling his eyes, and shaking his head.). Ok. ALMOST. A lot of other stuff will have to happen first before I could even begin to think about quilting anything. Starting with the craft room makeover. (Future post on this one!!) But it would be SO cool to re-create Grandma's quilt -- but in better colors.
Some day.
That is one of my favorite patterns- but I've always been to much of a chicken to try it. I'm more a straight line type of quilter.
ReplyDeleteI love, love old quilts that are warn, faded, and have the lived in cozy feel. mmmm.... if it weren't 90 degrees out right now I'd want to snuggle up in my bed with a cozy quilt right this minute. ;)
When you only use 1/4 of a Dresden plate pattern on your quilt square, it's called Grandmother's Fan. It also doesn't have to have points as you have illustrated. The sections could be curved in a scalloped pattern or just a simple curve. Often the simple curve was embellished with either rickrack or lace on the edge. Am I being too helpful? I remember that quilt when it was new. I'm trying to remember the other quilt she had on the bed. Maybe Karen has it.
ReplyDeleteWell, "Grandmother's Fan" is an appropriate name for that blue quilt. I don't remember where that one went either. The other quilt was kind of a pink-and-green one, and it must have had a tiny calico pattern to it, because I really can't remember it at all. But it was thin, and worn.
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