Pale Blue Whig Rose Coverlet

Pale Blue (maybe even light gray) Whig Rose Coverlet - wool and cotton

I saw this coverlet on eBay a few weeks ago.  It's very similar to the other whig rose reproduction coverlets I have from the 20th century.  (They are softer than the older ones.)   I thought they were probably all made by The Goodwin Guild,  but maybe not?  Not all of them have tags to prove their provenance.

What makes this listing so interesting is the paperwork and the history of the coverlet and the weavers who made it (although not included in the purchase):

 There is a Wisconsin connection, too!

Viola did the fringe treatment on the edges.  I don't think I have another one quite like this.  

Interesting to have it up close to study!

  

Art and Viola's Weave Shop in California.  I think this might be more about them?

The fact that this coverlet was made within my own lifetime (I was a teenager in the 80s, and in no position to weave myself back then, although I already had a huge fascination for Gramma Medo and her spinning wheel), I still had an appreciation for those who did weave.  It makes me feel closer to them somehow, in that long line of weavers before me.  Sigh!  And now I am making cloth too!  ;-)

It makes me wonder if some of my other reproduction coverlets (without tags) were made by this couple instead of The Goodwin Guild?    Star of Bethlehem is featured in the paperwork above-- I purchased the "Pumpkin Spice" coverlet last fall in the Star of Bethlehem pattern.  Maybe it was made by this couple?

Meanwhile, I am contemplating my next weaving project.  I know it will be difficult to make the circles of a whig rose even and true circles.  So perhaps it's better if I continue to collect whig roses, instead of attempting to make them as misshapen coverlets?  Or try a smaller scale like a scarf or table runner?  Or go for a more square design?

I was the only one to put in a bid on this one, and I won!

Inspiration from an Antique Crazy Quilt Block

Antique Quilt Block

I picked up this bit of loveliness on esty for just over $7 delivered.   It's a block cut from a larger antique crazy quilt.  I wanted to see it up close and study it ... WOW!

1. The fabrics used are all silks, velvets, taffetas ...  
2. The stitches appear to use a nice thick silky thread with a lovely luster to it.  Also neat to see the stitches on the back.
   
3. Even the back is some kind of fancier fabric with a silky finish.
   
4. Crazy Quilts traditionally had no batting layer.  Just the top and the back, which probably made it easier to do the fancy stitches and embroidery work.

The little crumb / crazy quilt blocks I've been doing with scraps are a different animal entirely!

I am planning to frame it and hang it on the wall for safe-keeping -- out of direct sunlight of course.   

My Collector Friend Karla said that there was a time you could get crazy quilts cheap.  I've only ever seen them starting at $300, no matter the condition.  I was speculating that this etsy seller might have cut up the quilt because parts of it may have been in tatters?  Who knows?  This particular square looks to be in excellent condition -- not worn or deteriorating fabrics.  

If you want to learn more, read The History of the Crazy Quilt from American Patchwork & Quilting or this short piece on Crazy Quilt History: A Vicotorian Fad by Womenfolk..