A Glimpse Back and a Story

Because March is 

National Quilting Month,

I thought I'd share one of my

quilts that has had

 an interesting history

and story.

"Broken Star"

Completed in 1987

It all began in 1980 when Blanche and Helen Young 

published their book 

The Lone Star Quilt Handbook

Their method was revolutionary.

It was strip piecing yet using a template

to accurately mark the points of intersection.

It was faster than sewing individual diamonds,

 but seems slower than today

 because of the inclusion of the markings, yet, 

it was very precise.

I made several Lone Star quilts

using their method

Lone Star

1983

****

Chapter One

After making four lone star quilts

I decided it was time to make the ultimate...

the Broken Star.

You can tell by the colors and fabrics,

smaller calico prints,

how tends come and go.

I wanted the quilt to have an antique look

so I decided to use a 100% cotton batting.

Big mistake.

It was miserable to hand quilt.

Finally, I began using a platinum coated needle

and then was able to get two stitches at a time!

It was drudgery. 

My stitches were pretty even,

but not too small.

It took me two years to finally finish it

That's why there isn't as much quilting

as I probably should have done or

what would have been done today.

***

Happy Chapter

Biannually, The Colorado Quilting Council

used to  have a spectacular quilt show 

held in the Denver state capitol building.

So in the summer of 1988,

my quilt was displayed.

It was a few month later,

I received a letter from the Denver Art Museum

asking if I would be willing to have my quilt

be included in a quilt show they were putting

together to be sent to Japan called, 

"American Patchwork Quilt Colorado."

I was over the moon!!

A book was published and

I was thrilled to see my quilt in print.

A bigger thrill came when I found out

my quilt had been used as the poster quilt for 

advertising the show.

1989

Later in 1990 it was shown at the AQS show

in Paducah, Ky 

and also at Quilt America,

a show held on Kokomo, IN.

***

Sad Chapter

Well, that's where the joyful part of my story ends.

After receiving my quilt back,

I thought I would give it a quick and gently wash,

no soap, nothing added to the water.

When I opened the washer

I was horrified to see all of the

maroon/red fabrics had run!!!

What I didn't understand was why.

All the fabrics had  been prewashed 

and I had washed the quilt when I had 

finished it in 1987.

Back in the washer.  This was all

pre-Color Catcher days.

I ended up washing the quilt 

about 5 times.  Each time trying something new,

a little spray and wash,  more spray and wash,

a little Biz, a lot of Biz...

You get the picture.

*I had a friend who worked for the water 

dept. in Fort Collins and his thought was

that the chemical composition that particular

day was such that it reacted to the dyes of the fabrics

causing them to run.  

I know no other explanation and

will use that as the reason.

The good news: most of the bleeding disappeared.

The bad news: the fabrics are terribly faded

and dulled.

They actually look petty beat up.

The original binding was destroyed.  

 I do remember 

it was a Jeffrey Gutcheon fabric and I had loved

the slight texture it had.  

But look at it now.

My goal since then was to replace the binding

and enjoy the quilt.

But that binding still remains on the quilt.

I still love this quilt very much

and it has definitely achieved the antique look I was going for!!

I've had it tucked away for almost 30 years.

Maybe it's time to

move on and replace the binding. 

Every quilt has a story. 

Is it finally time for me to add a new chapter?

Until Next Time-

Kyle