auntlucy

My great grandmother made this quilt for my father who was born in 1916. The quilt was made in either the 30's or early 40's. It was loved and used a lot so is in poor condition. Some of the blocks have only the embroidery remaining. Your blocks must have been made about the same time.

QM

It sounds as though you have enough for 2 quilts, one each for your sister and yourself. I would put them on point, perhaps with a garden maze sashing. Probably, both backing for the muslin and fairly close quilting would stabilize the whole thing. Having a few go left or right would not hurt either. I look forward to seeing what you do with them.

twinkie

Those are so cute.
Great find.

ManiacQuilter2

Did you see this recent post??
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...n-t275455.html

Mdegenhart

Auntlucy, I love that quilt.

Thank you for all the great ideas. I believe that what some of you suggested about the crisp fabric being "plain"feedsack instead of muslin explains the feel, rather than having to worry it is fragile. That is a relief.

kaylfordsollimo

They just cry out to become a quilt for a lovely lady.

kwiltkrazy

wow, what a find. They are very beautiful.

IrishKaren

The blocks are beautiful and that's one of my favorite butterfly patterns. Have you had a chance to make something with them? If not, I'll pass along what I would do. I would use the setting that was used so often when those blocks were made.

http://class221.com/pho/butterflyquilt/IMG_2313.JPG

If I needed a couple of extras to bring them to the number I needed, say I had 54 and needed 56 so I could set them 7 blocks by 8, I'd make two extras.

http://www.jeanneraecrafts.com/butterfly.htm

I have some pieced blocks from that time period that use what may be the same kind of white fabric yours have. It's like a loose weave muslin and not something I would save if my blocks were appliqued. I would cut a seam allowance width around the butterfly and applique it to new fabric, using the seam's width of old white for needleturn. With white thread to match the backing and small stitches, the new applique stitches should be barely visible. That way I could keep the original embroidery outline.

I'd have to see the blocks to decide about the antenna. For me, if I had to sacrifice them to save the butterflies, I would do it. If I cut the seams allowance through the antenna, I would unpick the threads on the back side and tuck them under the seam to keep the thread from unraveling around the butterfly. Then I'd embroider new antenna onto each block.

I'd love to see what you do (or did) with these. They're a real treasure!

QM

I agree. Narrow muslin sashing. Maybe pastel cornerstones. We worked with an incomplete antique once, after consulting a professional quilt evaluator. After I finished the top, including resewing a few seams, a guild sister did a marvelous job on it with her long arm. I doubt I would fuse the blocks, but that's your call. Please share whatever you do.

Since you have 50, you can make a 7x7 layout, so you can take one and carefully hand wash it to evaluate the crispiness. I would sew it in columns, with a half square of, hopefully matching, muslin. Every other half square rectangle would be on the top, the next on the bottom. This will tend to distract from irregularities.

fred singer

very beautiful blocks