Chinese Coins Quilt

Hi! I wanted to share this antique/ vintage quilt. It's a flea market find, but not a ''rescue'' as it is in very good condition.

I had it out for my red and white Xmas decor and took some time to photograph it. With  help of course!

I call this pattern Chinese Coins, which may or may not be right but makes it a fun ''good fortune'' themed piece for the new year and upcoming Chinese New Year. Other than in my imagination it is in no way an Asian textile. Instead it's an interesting collection of what I estimate to be late 1800s  dress/ shirt/ apron prints.

I find this quilt interesting because it truly seems to have been made from someone's scrap bag. The prints all have a similar style [and are not exactly beautiful! Utilitarian would be a better word.]

Lots of checks and plaids, and the occasional part of a Nine Patch or sawtooth strip is thrown in.

Paisley, indigo:

A lace print, ticking stripe, ''moon'' or circle prints, turkey red solid:

I'm very fond of little sprig prints, especially warm brown with pink or red leaves or buds:

The scraps form strips, alternating with a cranberry calico that is also used on the back. [This is the type of quilt that is sometimes taken apart, and the antique yardage sold on eBay. I'd never disassemble a good piece though.]

It is actually not a quilt, but a summer coverlet, despite its dark winter-y look. There is a pieced front and a solid back but no batting or quilting. It's held together with simple string tacked knots here and there. It has never been washed so the fabrics look  pristine and pretty.

I always have fun poring over old scrap quilts, wishing, wishing---"Oh that one would be perfect, for...!" And then I find repros, of course---but too often they are modernized and miss the mark, especially color-wise. Do you notice that? Anyway, according to Barbara Brackman, if I understand her recent blog writings correctly, repro fabrics are ''going out of style', and will soon be much less available.
OMG, girls, let's stock up! 
Like Heidi Klum says on Project Runway, ''One day you're in, and the next day--you're out!'' And so it goes with any commodity that is based on the whims of fashion or fad. Once upon a time, circa 1895 these prints were, perhaps, the height of fashion!?

++++

We've had a few beautiful days, the snow has melted! Mo is back in his chair on the deck. He was pretty upset that I didn't want to join him. He does a "Lassie'' thing, comes and gets me and leads me where he wants me, lol.

The blue fabric is out there still. I'm trying to age it so it works better for my favorite blue rescue quilt's someday repairs. So far the blue cotton from Kona  has withstood six months of weather, still looks brand new.

Have a good weekend! Stay in stay cozy... I found these old pictures of pot pie I made! Doesn't that look delish?

And I'm going to make potato soup. How about you?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....