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| Satin Crazy Patchwork Cushion Cover |
Crazy quilts were extremely popular during Victorian times. They were made with the luxury fabrics of the day - silk, satin, velvet, etc., and lavishly embroidered. They were statement pieces, meant to be on display in the parlor, evidence of the family's wealth (being able to afford all those luxury fabrics, having the leisure to sit and embroider for hours which meant they were able to afford household help) as well as the maker's skills. Made for show rather than warmth and utility, they were often smaller than bed quilts and not quilted. Bigger patches often had a motif embroidered on them and each seam was supposed to be covered with fancy embroidery stitches. Often, there were further embellishments of beads, etc. More was definitely better!
My effort was just a cushion cover! I don't think I would have had the patience to do a whole lap robe or quilt top! I used scrap pieces of satin, leftover from my mother's sewing. She bought satin for underskirts, or petticoats as we called them, to wear under her saris. Cotton petticoats for her daytime wear cotton saris, satin ones for her evening wear silk saris.
Every scrap was basted to a large square of cotton I used as the foundation, overlapping some pieces, as needed, then, embroidered (by hand) through all the layers of fabric.
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| Showing the back, foundation piece |
I used this cushion cover daily for several years, but now, it sits, folded up, in the linen closet. I am thinking that I should frame it and mount it on the wall, somewhere, to display it.
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| Close Up |
The flower motifs were traced from a book of embroidery patterns that I used to have. It is one of the books I've since given away.
Have you ever made a crazy quilt or a crazy patchwork cushion cover?
Bless,
ReplyDeleteThis is just lovely! I would definitely consider hanging it, much like a wall quilt. So many memories are a part of it.
Chris M
Thank you, Chris. :)
DeleteThat is such a lovely example of embroidered quilt work and certainly worth framing. I immediately remembered that my great aunt had an embroidered quilt throw in her living room, this would be 70 years ago. It was made of richly coloured velvet patches and I seem to remember the embroidery was in gold thread, possibly blanket stitch. I have made a crazy quilt but only with cotton fabric and not embroidered.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. Your great aunt's quilt throw sounds wonderful! I'm sure it was one of her treasured possessions. Your cotton crazy quilt is probably quite pretty, too. I think my "mile a minute" patchwork look a bit like crazy patchwork, too.
DeleteI think you should definitely frame it. It's too beautiful to keep in a linen closet. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nil. :)
DeleteThat is such a lovely heirloom piece. Get it out of the linen closet right away and hang it up; if not in the living room for others to admire, then at the very least, in your bedroom. That work of art represents a piece of who you are.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. Yes, I'll have to take the measurements and see if I can find the right sized frame for it. Actually, there are many "works of art" hiding in the linen closet! My grandmother's crochet, my mother's crochet, quilts I have made, etc.
DeleteI agree with the others. I would frame the cushion cover. It is a good size for that and it's very pretty with all of the custom embroidery work.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with crazy quilts but they were not fancy. I had a flannel one for the winter and a cotton one for the summer. My grandmother made them for me and my sisters mostly from scraps from old clothing that had worn out. I'm not sure that we had any blankets that were from the store. Crazy quilts were what you had to save money and to not let anything go to waste. I still have my cotton one and it is in decent shape. The flannel one was washed enough that it is falling apart.
Thank you, Live and Learn. Yes, I shall look for a frame for it, or, maybe, even have it custom framed. Michael's usually have coupons for custom framing.
DeleteYour crazy quilts, made by your grandmother, are the best type of quilts - made for everyday use! Maybe you can salvage a not too badly worn part of the flannel one to frame, as a memento of your grandmother's quilts?
That's a good idea. As I sort through my mother's (and grandmothers',and aunt's) things, I know that I can't keep or don't need much of the stuff. However, it's hard to let go. Many of the things, I'm taking pictures of and then sending the item on.
DeleteThat is the hardest part of going through our parents' stuff, isn't it? Deciding what to do with it all. I think, once you've asked family members if they want any of it, taking pictures and sending them on is all one can do.
DeleteBless this is so pretty. As the others have said, it's too nice to sit in a closet.
ReplyDeleteIt would look lovely on your table for springtime with a pretty vase of flowers sitting on it
How are the edges? Would it work as a scarf on the table with something sitting on it?
Thank you, Debra. It would work as a table mat. It is a cushion cover with a lilac gingham backing, and 3 of the 4 edges are sewn with the opening on the 4th side (to slide in a cushion). I'd have to sew the opening closed if I use it as a table mat, but that can be done in a matter of minutes. Thank you for the suggestion. :)
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