Monday, February 27, 2012

Log Cabin Antique

I love log cabin quilts. I purchased this antique last week from Diane Shink's collection. She bought it at a garage sale in Westmount years ago.

log cabin from 4th quarter of 19th century

It is fairly used. The silks are mostly threads. It's made using a foundation which is preventing the batting from showing through the used strips of silk. I think it is beautiful.



I want to hang it at my house on the second floor landing. It is a wall area that is above a window and sees no sunlight, which would further damage the fibres. You would be able to enjoy it from the first floor and the second.



It would be far enough away not to notice the silk fabrics that are in threads and to highlight the furrows of light and dark. It has a great impact from far.

The back is cotton sateen and (shock) it is hand quilted!
Usually log cabin quilts are tied because of the many layers,
(seams and foundation).

The only thing is, it is very heavy and the weight will further damage the stitches. I'll sew two sleeves at the back, one at the top and one along the bottom. That way I will be able to flip it upside down every few months to relieve some stress on the stitches due to the weight pulling it down.


I will bring it to show my students when I talk about fabric values, lights and darks, and when I teach the log cabin block. They will find it inspiring!

Here is another log cabin (quilt published in one of Diane's books), circa 1900, unfinished, in much better shape but was not for sale. It was purchased in Nova Scotia by Diane.

The back, unfinished.
Notice it is machine pieced on foundation

The patchwork side

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