in them.A couple years ago I found these vintage shirting fabric samples in a box of linens purchased at an auction. A tiny tag indicated they were samples of fabric sold by Davidson Brothers Company, a department store established in Sioux City, Iowa in 1884. The potential buyer (who probably sewed nearly every shirt and dress worn by her family) could thumb through the samples and choose which ones she would purchase. These samples probably date to about 1900 or thereabouts.
The samples in this little bundle were perfect for a postage stamp quilt. I carefully washed, pressed and trimmed them to a uniform size. From old quilt blocks and scraps I selected other fabrics including indigo blues, black fabrics, and the burgundy or magenta reds from the same era. Then I stitched them together usi
ng my treadle sewing machine (I have multiple old sewing machines and love using them!)In keeping with the vintage theme I decided the backing should be vintage also, so I dug down into my stash of strange items and found an old cotton flour sack. The binding was pieced from vintage scraps, too, some of which were only a few inches in size. The batting is 100 percent cotton.
I'm not a doll collector but this American Girl doll was such a bargain at a yard sale that I couldn't resist bringing her home. She has two more dresses in the basket.
The blanket looks as if it were made for her, don't you think?
Don't forget that you can click on photos for a closeup view.
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2 comments:
I love todays post! The quilt is adorable. I also love the history behind the fabrics.
I have always wanted to make a postage stamp quilt. Thank you for the inspiration!
The scraps were soooo tiny. I think I cut the pieces at 1 and 1/8 inch square and stitched a 1/8 inch seam using the narrow antique pressure foot on the treadle as a guide.
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