Discombobulated

I am discombobulated. Is that a colloquialism or do folks from all over use this term, too? I am using it to describe myself, as I have been quite 'out of it' - to use a more common phrase - to the point that I've even got my days mixed up. This is my Way-Back Wednesday for this week, and I'm a day late. Here's my brief but pathetic story.

Yesterday, when I posted about the progress (or lack thereof) on Carson's Courtyard, I hit the publish button and felt right smug in making something out of nothing. Then almost instantly, I looked at the date, and realized it was Wednesday, and I should have been posting the Way-Back Wednesday installment. Good grief, Charlie Brown.

Two and half months ago, there was some concern on my part when I decided to do the weekly feature I've called Way-Back Wednesday. Knowing myself as I do, I knew that nothing is more troublesome for me than giving me a schedule to follow. Consequently, I feel pretty darn proud that I managed to get 8 weeks in a row done without messing up.

Now here we come to the 9th week - the final week, too, by the way - and I missed the date. Good grief, indeed.

For my last Way-Back Quilt, I share this c.1890 Double Nine Patch made with a solid cheddar yellow. I love that it is a 2-color quilt. For some reason, I think that seems like a rarity for those times. The background fabric is a very rough-looking muslin, and it is yellow-tinted, whether from the influence of the yellow patchwork, or just an aging fabric thing; it's hard to say. The backing is even rougher-looking muslin and looks more like a tightly woven cheesecloth than quilting fabric.

I date this beauty based on information gleaned once again from my grandmother, who gave me the quilt. She said she is fairly certain that it came from her mother's side of the family, and that very likely her grandmother made it. Perhaps, she thinks, her mother (my great-grandmother) helped with it as a girl. Think of that! If her hunch is correct, and I have no way whatsoever of proving or disproving it, this has made it's way through 6 generations!

It is in the best shape of any of my antique quilts. It shows very little wear, and is mostly stain- and dirt-free.

The little spot in the lower right is the only stain of note. Can you see the amazing quilting? Back in those days, the battings were much inferior to what we use today, as I am sure you all know. The quilting that went into these quilts is far superior, in my opinion!

I tried to take a picture that would show you some of the quilting. It also looks like the tracing lines still show after all this time.  Here are a couple more to give you a good look.

I think, if antique quilting is something you like to study, you can get a fair assessment from these pictures. I wonder: did the setting block have an ironed-on design that didn't wash out? Or did the quilter use a pencil (or pen!) that has still not faded? You can definitely see the markings in a few places.

The small nine-patch blocks finish out at 2.25-inches. That means the tiny pieces in each of those finish at 3/4-inch! Wow. The large blocks finish at 7-inches. The border is made of the same fabrics, yellow-neutral-yellow, all measuring 1.25-inches.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my old quilts. Even with their flaws and stains, I still treasure them - family heirlooms that I hope many more generations of our family will revere as I do!

Happy Quilting, Friends!