Susan’s Little Women Quilt!

While in St Charles, Illinois last week I was talking to Susan about special quilts, as quilters always do and she started telling me about ... thumbnail 1 summary

tháng 5 28, 2013

While in St Charles, Illinois last week I was talking to Susan about special quilts, as quilters always do and she started telling me about a very special quilt her grandmother had started appliqueing for her back in the 1950s, using many of the fabrics from Susan’s own clothing.

All of the scenes, she said, were depicted from the book Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.

When she asked if she should bring the quilt in for show and share the next day, I of course said YES! Who wouldn’t want to see that!

The story goes on that her grandmother put the blocks away and didn’t join them until later in her life, perhaps in the 1970s, some 20 years later.

She quilted them quilt-as-you-go style, joining each quilted block to the next with very fine hand stitching.

I had to take photos of each scene, they are so precious!

Once home – I had the opportunity to search out the origin of this pattern online and this is what I found:

Marion Cheever Whiteside designed and sold through her company, Story Book Quilts, about 50 different designs for applique during the 1940s and 1950s. The applique designs were available as patterns, kits, and completed quilts.

The appearance of the “Little Women” design coincided with the 1949 release of one of several film versions of this story, which may have boosted the quilt’s popularity.

As found in Massachusetts Quilts.

The most famous heart wrenching scene of all….losing a sister.

I love the little bit of lace under the skirt!

True love always triumphs!

Aren’t these adorable?

Such detail!

Forever and Always..and let’s have cake!

Rocking the twins

At the writing desk

At the piano

Into the hope chest

Look at the embroidered snood! Precious!

Down by the lake

Knocking at the door

Is that money in her hand?!

I didn’t get a picture of the full quilt that Susan brought, but I was pleased to find this photo from Massachusetts Quilts of this version done in pink by Mildred Remsen:

Thank you, Susan for sharing such a treasure! Your grandmother was quite the lady!

It’s another Desk Day for me. Book orders out after a long holiday weekend…calendar to update and inbox to clear out with a gazillion things to reply to.

I’m thinking TOMORROW night for Quilt Cam – that will work for me! Look for me Wednesday May 29 at 9pm Eastern!

And it’s time to start pulling things together for Ireland!! I leave June 4th!