My Oldest Flimsies: What Would You Do?

Hi, I came across my oldest quilt tops( that are long past needing quilting) while digging in my fabric storage bins this week. I thought I would do a write up on them and share while I am trying to work out the puzzle my current work in progress has become.

I created my version of the Let’s Play Dress Up quilt that was featured in the Traditional Quiltworks Holiday Quilts Plus magazine issue from December 1998/January 1999. Apparently it was originally a Block of the Month quilt pattern. At the time I made this quilt top, I was working for an online craft pattern store and sewing dolls, pillows and stitcheries from the patterns she sold and then my completed items were sold wholesale to the craft stores or quilt shops that want to carry them. I made this quilt for my daughter but she has long since outgrown dolls. She is my baby and will be turning 25 this weekend. A 14 year old work in progress, oh my? Actually I used to have an even older one, a quilt I made for my husband in 1991. I think I finally donated that top to charity last year.

There are twelve different dolls. You can choose hair styles, hair color of course, dress style, with or without aprons. I used all sorts of different homespun plaids as the pattern showed. I handcut out all the pieces and fused them to my blocks and machine embroidered around all the pieces with coordinating thread colors. This was one of my first major quilts made with my then new to me Pfaff Creative Designer 1473 sewing machine.

The first 6 dolls.

The second 6 dolls.

Here is one of my favorite dolls.

The quilt top is approximately 58 inches by 82 inches.

Here is the magazine that had the pattern.

And the article and sample quilt photo.

What I would like to know is how you would make this quilt top more modern or up to date? Would you take the top apart and use the blocks and add a different sashing set?? Since my daughter is long past being interested in having this quilt on her bed and I have grandsons and the youngest girl in our entire family is 16, is there anyone out there in my blog viewing area that would be interested in this quilt top as a project?? I would be open to any kind of trade, maybe some fabric or thread etc.??? Something that I can use to create a new work in progress <lol>. That way we both have something new to work on in the New Year?? I will throw in the magazine too, so if you would like to make this pattern differently or if you might be interested in the other quilts. That Mexican Star quilt on the front cover is beautiful.

I also found another quilt top needing to be quilted. I came up with this design myself. I was inspired by an antique red and white quilt I tried my darndest to win on Ebay as a gift for my sister, who loved, loved red and white quilts. I did not win the antique one. My husband would probably thank me for that. I got out the pencils, graph paper and calculator and came up with what I thought was the desired design.  I learned later the design is a version of Puss in the Corner.

It is made with a white on white print and a red with tiny white pindots. The top finished at approximately 69 inches by 90 inches.

I ended up making a top for my sister and a matching one for me. Hers got quilted, mine did not. I do still really like the graphic design of the quilt block. It just does not work to have a quilt with so, so much white in it at our house. I have two very large hairy dogs and two cats that love quilts. And now I have two grandsons who I have learned should not be around white fabric.

I am offering up this quilt top as well. It is well put together with solid 1/4 inch seams (before I was taught to use a scant 1/4″). This top could make a nice project quilt to do some elaborate fmq or hand quilting if that is what you like to do. Hey, this would be a wonderful Christmas quilt. You could be a step ahead on quilting for next year’s Christmas??? Give me an offer, I am open to suggestions. Both of these quilts deserve to be finished.

I will be linking up my oldest WIPs to various linky parties.

Many thanks to all the wonderful comments on my Sew Mama Sew’s Giveaway Day. You can still enter til Friday night at Midnight. I am giving away the Bali Batiks Layer Cake in Rum Raisin with 3 quilt pattern pdfs from Meadow Mist Designs. I will announce the winner on Sunday.