Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Road Trip....

and what could be better on a lovely June day? Part of being a quilter is the search for inspiration. Most of us have bought quilt magazines at one time or another. Perhaps we make a quilt or two from them, perhaps not. Either is acceptable *VBS* Like many, I tend to keep my quilt magazines until my storage space hollars "uncle", and begs for mercy! Even then, it's hard to part with them. I tend to be a quilter who rarely makes a quilt I saw in a magazine, but am often inspired enough to follow an idea "my way"...scrappy. This old beauty has hung around since 1981. I recieved it in my Christmas basket from Betsy. I'm sure she picked it up in some thrift store. We often share quilting things back and forth.
 Just recently it surfaced again, and I sat down for a "look-see". This is the quilt and blocks that gave my mojo a kick in the behind! It has a fair amount of history in the first couple of paragraphs. It was featured in a Nancy Page column by Florence LaGanke in 1933. The block, at the top right, is called the "Road To ------". Fill in the name of your choice. It was sent to Ms. LaGanke from Mrs.A.E. Maslin of Cleveland, Ohio. She called it Road to Chicago because of the 1933 Worlds Fair being held there that year. She made hers in plain blue, dark blue and white. and felt that was the traditional choice. Enter Susie Ennis who updated the setting, as seen in the big picture. The use of sashing and setting posts really changes the outcome.
 From looking at the bigger picture of the quilt, you could figure out how to piece it. I was thinking blocks and half blocks until I looked at the follow up page. I was surprised to see its made from a combination of units. The quilt in the big picture is 80.5" X 80.5". She works with increments of 2 1/4"....really ackward in my opinion. If it's a quilt you might like to make, in a traditional manner, email me and I'll give you the yardage amounts. I'm going to do mine scrappy, of course, so no yard amounts needed. Figure out how many of what "parts" and I'm good to go. I have a number of 4 patches already made(from Tobacco Road) and I will begin with those.
 I've done the best I can to enlarge and sharpen the "unit" images. Nothing in old issues of QNL scans very clearly. The only trick to this one is to decide what size the 4 patches will be, the rest is easy-peasy! You can ignore the small dark picture under the parts, on that parts page. It's an alternative way to set the blocks and not needed for the quilt in the bigger picture.
Posted by Picasa

11 comments:

Scrappy quilter said...

Don't you just love quilting magazines. I like the older ones so much better because they usually tell a bit of history with the quilt. Can't wait to see how your quilt turns out. I just might try this come fall. Hugs...

jovaliquilts said...

I love looking at old quilting magazines and always pick some up at our guild auction every year. As you say, the inspiration is incredible!

Dolores said...

LOL 1981, eh? I have it in my cupboard. I know because I come across it every once in a while when I am searching for something. Time sure is travelling by...

Barbara C said...

I love those old magazines too, and have only now started thinning out my collection. I like the black and white drawings of the patterns, it seems like you can visualize you own color options better that way. Enjoy making up this quilt.

Rosalyn Manesse said...

It's fun to look in the old magazines. I used to write articles for them sometimes--and that was before the rotary cutter!

julieQ said...

I have quite a few old magazines, and always gain inspiration from them. I am glad you do too! It is exciting to think about a new quilt.

*karendianne. said...

Wow, this is a great post. Interesting to read. This was fun: The block, at the top right, is called the "Road To ------". Fill in the name of your choice. I like that.

meggie said...

Love looking at magazines for inspitation. LIke you, I rarely use a pattern, but admit to being inspired.

Libby said...

I haven't yet reached the point where I've needed to get rid of quilting magazines . . . . but I may have to pay the piper soon *s* My shelf is starting to runneth over.

Chris Daly said...

that is a stunning quilt pattern

Vivian said...

I love old quilt magazines, especially old issues of QNM. I have a complete collection through 1985 (I started subscribing in 2002). Thank god for Ebay!

I've heard people say they throw out their old magazines or just cut out the patterns they like. I find I can't do that because when I look back at them, patterns that didn't interest me (or I didn't pay attention to) the first time I looked at them I now appreciate because I've become familiar with elements of them I wasn't attuned to before or my quilt skills have improved to where a quilt is now "doable" where it once was not or I find tips that are still useful today.