Last year I wrote a post about a quilt my friend Eileen made for her husband Ken (to read that post click here). It was a traditional bear’s paw pattern done with a fun, new technique.
This past week she came to class with a vintage family quilt top and it’s story:
“Ken grew up in Kentucky and his mom was a quilter. In her later life she became ill with cancer and moved in with Ken and Eileen in Wisconsin so they could take care of her. While she was with them she continued to make quilts. After she died, another relative was allowed to live in her house in Kentucky (for 15 years after her passing!). Recently, Ken took ownership of his mother’s home and, as he and Eileen went through they found a quilt top they didn’t know existed, buried in a bag of material in a closet.”
What a coincidence – it’s another bears paw!
Eileen was quite excited to find this treasure and brought it back to Wisconsin to wash it – and now she wants to finish it.
She brought it to Open Lab this past week and we were all intrigued by the “fussy cut” stripe used in the sashing and border.
Then we noticed that all three of the fabrics used for the paws was the same print in a different color way. It’s quite an interesting print and I was wondering if anyone out there has an idea of what decade this fabric is from. If you have any information to share, please comment to this post.
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And thanks to everyone who left a comment on last week’s post about the cutter quilts. I found your stories such fun to read!
If you missed those comments – click here – and then scroll down to the bottom of last week’s post!
Gladys Sachse says
Wow, what a treasure for them to find, from Mom.
Phyllis Rosenwinkel says
I recognized these fabrics immediately. I have/had some yardage of these fabrics. Likely, I purchased this fabric sometime in the 1990s as Depression Era reproduction fabric in a “JoAnns” type store.
-Phyllis
clkquilt says
Hi Phyllis, Thanks so much for your comment! The fabrics looked older to me, but Eileen felt her mother-in-law would have used more modern fabrics – available locally. Your answer ties together the loose ends :-).
Vanessa M Stevens says
Hi Chris did u teach at the matc in oak creek wis. My mom was the bookstore manager at that campus. Her name was Diane Badzinski. Did u know her. When I heard your name at are guilt meeting. I thought the name sounded like I known it. I’m her daughter vanessa. Your lecture was just wonderful. I total enjoy it very much. Thank u have a blessed day. Vanessa