Monday, June 20, 2016

crazy rails quilt-the beginning

I've been careful to avoid starting too many quilts lately, but sometimes, after much consideration, it's absolutely necessary. I'm sure you know what I mean! :)
A few months ago, Rebecca brought this vintage quilt to guild for show and tell. Someone in her family was on the verge of throwing it away, but Rebecca's dad stepped in a saved it. What a good save! This quilt is a beauty!
This is the kind of quilt that I could sit under and admire all day long. Some of the fabrics are funky and some of the fabrics are super cute, but both are equally important! After seeing the quilt, I couldn't get it out of my mind. Rebecca was kind enough to bring it back to guild so we could admire it again. (Thanks, Rebecca!) Even though photos don't do this quilt justice, I'm glad I snapped a few of them.
Last week, I broke down and started my own version of that quilt. (Don't you love the reality of my chaotic design wall? Ha!)
The strips are cut at 1 1/2" wide, so each of the rails will finish at 1" x 3". That means that almost 1/3 of this quilt will be seam allowances! For some reason, that tickles me. I don't love the quilt at this point, but I am sure that after I add a few hundred more fabrics, it will be quite lovely. Thankfully, I have overflowing scrap bins to help me out with that!

Do you have a quilt that you've been itching to try? If you do, I'd love to hear about it!

Also, thank you so much for your kind comments on my scrapalicious quilt. I appreciate your kind words very much! xoxo

Happy Monday to you!

27 comments:

Tami Von Zalez said...

I have one of those that I salvaged from a thrift store parking lot. It must have been a piece someone was donating and just fell out of the truck. It was not in good shape with rips and tears but I rehabilitated it and it hangs in my sewing room now.

I love it.

Janet Green said...

I have read your blog for awhile now but never commented now I feel compelled! I saw a quilt that was just scrappy little stars on a white background and it didn't speak to me, it screamed at me. All I saw was a picture, I can't even remember where i saw it! SO...... I started one I am sure it isn't the same or even the same size blocks, but I am going to persevere and do one star out of every scrap I have thats big enough! I have an impression of lots of sparkly stars floating on white, each star is only 3 inches. Im using the friendship star! so wish me luck!

Cut&Alter said...

Oh my imagine if the quilt had been thrown away ...... Such a beauty of vintage quilt and your 2016 version will be wonderful I am sure!

MissesStitches said...

I think that I, too, would be anxious to make a quilt like this if I had seen it at your guild! Good work!

carol fun said...

I love the idea of a scrappy rail quilt ...And I have a healthy stash of scraps ...Think I'll go a into my sewing room and make a few blocks ...thanks for the inspiration !!

Little Quiltsong said...

I'm almost ready to do another log cabin block quilt - but need to 'clean' a few projects off of my 'to do' list first :)! I've really come to enjoy cleaning my scrap baskets this way. The Rail Fence blocks are another favorite. Love your design wall and how you can place your blocks up while you keep sewing the next ones.

Karen said...

I have a few blocks of Dresden Plate that were "willed" to me. Not sure how to finish the quilt because they are pretty old.
I love working with jelly roll and strings. Presently doing up new cushion covers for my ancient sofa with strings.

Melissa Corry said...

I love how you always do such adorable tiny piecing!! 1 x 3 , so cute!!!!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Lovely vintage quilt! I can see why you started your own version, I too am tempted! It's a great scrap buster after all, yes?

farmhousequilter8 said...

I love everything u do! Paula in KY

Noblequilts@gmail.com said...

Looking gorgeous but yes variety is the key for this kind of quilt. Have fun. I can't wait to see the end result.

DDD said...

When I lived in an orphanage from 1954 to 1964. There were ~ 100 children. We all had quilts made from scraps of fabric by kind people. The quilt was very warm, not fancy.

Unknown said...

I've started a scrappy rail fence too! I have been wanting to make one, and I started putting blocks together at the beginning of the year. My goal is to have all the little 3 inch finished blocks done to take up to a Quilt Guild Retreat in November and put them together there. This post is making me want to dig further into my scrap bin and put some more together!

Mary Marcotte said...

Rail Fence is such a timeless block that looks great in any fabric. Now you've shown me that even tiny scraps can make it sparkle! I've not seen it in scraps but, like everyone else, I have it itch to make one and the scrappier the better!

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Love your rail fence. I'm inspired to start one myself. Thank you!

Kris Quilts said...

I love this vintage rail quilt, and yours will come together, too.
I recently finished 2 quilts, and am trying SO hard not to start more until I knock a few more off my UFO list of 15 or so. OK, 15 is a very conservative number, but when I finish a quilt or two, I really want to start 4 more! I've been receiving the MSQC's Block magazine/books for almost a year now, and have about 20 quilts marked. Chances are, though, I'll find a pattern at a shop and decide to make that...

Thanks for sharing your quilt world with us.

Suzanne said...

That's so wild. I was just thinking of some little scraps I have and thought about making a rail quilt with them. Your post just gave me further pause. I have another idea to stretch those scraps further. Stand by!! And THANK YOU!!!

Whitney M said...

It took me 3 years to get the confidence to be able to try to make a swoon (pattern) quilt and I finally did and can't wait for it to get back from my quilter! Now I need to do something with my scraps and all my bonus half square triangles!

Sam said...

I have made three American Girl doll quilts with the Railroad pattern. Great way to use up scraps. Right now I am obessed with finishing my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt #3. First was lap quilt size, 2nd was 3'x6' and this one will be twin size. Then maybe I can get back to my cross stitch and tatting...unless you post another yummy quilt....

Needled Mom said...

There is nothing quite as lovely as a really scrappy quilt with all of the delicious fabrics.

piecefulwendy said...

I'm itching to get going on a scrappy New York Beauty mini quilt. However, I have some projects with deadlines, so I need to finish those first. At least it's good impetus to get the projects done so I can play with the scrappy!

Chris K. said...

I like yours better than the completed one. The yellow is really nice. Just me, I guess, but I always think these blocks would look better separated by sashing.

Tracybug Creative said...

I saved a vintage feedback quilt from my moms patio table, she was using it as a table cloth and lots of family and friends in that part of the country gather there to smoke outside. I want to try your scrapilicious quilt... But not today!

Tracybug Creative said...

Oh and I don't think you love it yet due to its lack of Aqua! I'm sure you'll remedy that soon enough though!

PinkGranny said...

So glad someone had the foresight to save this beauty! Thanks for sharing!

Samantha D said...

I love how you used the vintage quilt for your inspiration and that its story continues. I'm sure your interpretation will be amazing!!

patty a. said...

So glad the quilt was saved! I recognize many of those fabrics as I have several bins of vintage fabric scraps. Some of them look like they could be feedsack fabrics too. Maybe I should get my own version of this rail fence quilt made from those scraps! One more thing to add to the to do list!