Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Retreat Project #3, Grandma's Embroidered Blocks

I found 25 embroidered blocks in my mother's stash after she died in 2006 . They were old blocks that I had never seen before. They didn't look like the type of embroidery mother did, they were traced onto the background fabric then embroidered with at least 4 strands of thread, maybe more.



I have no way of knowing for sure, but I think my maternal grandmother, Sylvia Jane Miller, embroidered them. One of the ladies at the retreat told me the embroidery patterns were from a newspaper series back in the 1930's. That fits with grandma's time frame.

I've wondered for years what to do with them, how to set them, what fabrics to use; I decided earlier this year that 2019 was the year something was going to happen with them.




Originally they would have finished at 12" but I trimmed them to 9-1/2" so they will finish at 9". This is going to be a wallhanging, the blocks are too special to be a bed quilt. 

Friday morning, after finishing the quick & easy crib quilt, I started working. First I bordered each block with 1-1/2" blue sashing (1" finished). Then I figured how many of the rectangles I needed in between each block, cut the rectangles, then cut 4 times that many 1" squares and did flippy corners on the rectangles.

The sashing rectangles are ready to go. Next step is to decide how to arrange the blocks. I won't have this project finished in 2019 but I've made a good start and will see a finish in 2020.

Just in case someone wants to know, Yoder Department Store in Shipshewana, Indiana has quite an assortment of white fabrics, including a white that is an 'old' white'. 

Linking to Midweek MakersNeedle & Thread Thursday

10 comments:

  1. always nice to have things that belonged to grandparents - it sounds like it most likely was your grandmother's embroidery and your mother never knew what to do with them so had saved them for one day. I love your idea for them.

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  2. Great sashing idea. Perfect for those blocks.

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  3. You are sew blessed to have these and to have the creativity to do something with these blocks that leaves me yearning to see more of this project! I love the blocks... can you show some of that embroidery closer up next showing of this project? I love hand embroidery :) Tis the season for sure for embroidery too!!!
    How special to have your grandma's embroidery too! <3 Kathi

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    1. I'll be glad to show the embroidery close up whenever I get back these blocks.

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  4. It is going to be lovely. I am so glad you are able to finish it for her. She would be proud.

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  5. Oh what neat vintage blocks! I like what you decided to do with the sashing seems to fit the time period well!

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  6. Sorry for being late Gretchen - I absolutely love your sashing! It will make this such a beauty to have hanging on the wall! Great for a 2020 project! Hugs

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  7. The sashing really sets these off nicely - your going to have a beautiful wall hanging, along with a great memento.

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  8. You are really making these cherished blocks pop! What a treasure you already have, and will make them into something that others will treasure as well! Memories are made of this!

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  9. What a special project this will be Gretchen!

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