Saving the 9 Patch baby quilt is my 3rd in a series challenges to use a Cutter quilt. So what’s a Cutter quilt? A quilt that has been so well loved and used and ultimately worn to a frazzle. A quilt that some consider only good to be cut up into smaller pieces and used for who knows what. This is definitely not about quilt restoration but about saving a piece potentially from the scissors or the trash.
After I removed wide pink binding the quilt measured 44×45.
The fabrics? The white seems to be a medium weight muslin cotton and the colors in the 9 Patches are a mix of feed sack and apparel fabrics such as shirting. Even though the colors are faded, they are still in relatively good condition. But what about the batting? There’s a single layer of the muslin as the middle layer of this quilt. And this muslin, if that’s what it is, is not a fine finish muslin, it seems more of a utility weave fabric not generally something one would readily choose to make a baby quilt.
So with the 2 previous “Save” projects on my blog, the first dealt with keeping the quilt block pattern true. The Double Wedding Ring project remained a double wedding ring even though lots of vintage linen pieces were added to the original quilt surface. The 2nd project began with the Grandmother’s Fan and through the use of doilies, fabrics, yo-yo’s, ribbons and buttons, the Fan quilt was transformed to the Butterfly quilt. This 3rd project of mine involves creating a new surface design that has nothing to do with the underlying quilt block pattern.
I began by cutting and laying out 3 long green stems placed in generally matching curves from the quilt top to bottom. I could have made each stem have exact/precise placement as the other 2 but I felt like this precision would not benefit the overall design in the long run. As the quilt is, there’s almost nothing precise about any of the blocks, the color placement and/or the remarkably random hand quilting. You can see that the stem curves are generally consistent and that was good enough for me.
Where things got precise was the 3 leaf sizes, the different flowers designs, the butterflies and the yo-yo’s. I used my Accuquilt cutter for the leaves, the flowers and the butterflies.
I was able to cut out everything in record time! 
I also used Heat ‘n Bond Lite on the back of all the motifs, another huge time saver! Above you’ll see I’ve begun ironing down the motifs to the quilt.
In the pictures below I’ll show you several things: first I’m using an applique or blanket stitch to secure the flower stems and leaves but can you also see I’m taken advantage of lots of the built in designs on my sewing machine and in each of the all white large blocks, using white thread, I’ve stitched decorative designs around all 4 edges. The picture also shows you the original minimal hand quilting. These machine decorative stitches serve a few purposes, they act as quilting in holding the 3 layers together and they add visual interest to this old well loved vintage quilt.
Carrying on with using those awesome Bernina built in decorative stitches, I stitched around each of the flowers with a variety of stitch patterns, varying the thread choices as the flower color changed. The new surface fabrics? They’re a mix of reproductions, most are from the Moda Aunt Grace line with a few stragglers from my stash thrown in.
So what’s the back looking like at this point? It’s taking on a whole new visual life of its own with each newly stitched piece. Can you see the sweet little child motifs in the backing fabric? Trains, jack-in-the-boxes, drums, balls, blocks and horns. Just darling!
Another wonderful eBay purchase, this block of 112 yo-yo’s are the perfect color and patina to complement the original quilt as well as the motifs I’m adding. I bought this yo-yo block for $18.00 plus $4.25 shipping and if my math is correct, that makes each piece 0.1986 cents per piece. Money well spent in my mind! I mean, just look at how all the fabrics in the yo-yo’s play so nicely with the colors of the quilt! Yes, I soaked the yo-yo’s as soon as they arrived in the post, they were initially a bit dingy but overall in very good condition.
After each stem, leaf, flower and butterfly was stitched in place I realized the 9 Patch blocks needed some serious attention and the built in machine feather stitch was the perfect solution. I stitched directly over each of the 9 Patch seams to provide both stability as well as a nice visual.
At this point I was ok happy with the results but not totally happy… I felt that the white blocks were boring. I loaded a soft yellow thread in my machine and chose a decorative stitch that looks something like cross-stitch. All the blocks are on point so this yellow horizontal and vertical stitching gives the quilt some very nice visual tension, a steady up/down and side to side place for the eye. You don’t readily pick out this yellow decorative stitch at first glance but it’s there, working in the background providing a sense of peace in this rather chaotic quilt top.
When it came time for the yo-yo flowers, again I used my sewing machine, chose the button stitch and I was off to the races. Buttons (holding down the yo-yo flowers) were stitched in place in record time. I’m using mostly mother-of-pearls from my button stash and I’m also adding light ivory 1/4th” ribbon tied in bows here and there.
I would have been happiest if I could have squared up this piece as I was coming to a finish, but that just couldn’t happen what with the overall condition of the quilt. I just had to accept that this project would have to be a bit wonky on all 4 sides. There were places where the outer edges were torn and frayed and here’s where the vintage crochet trim came to the rescue. Besides giving the quilt a nice finished looking edge, it hides a multitude of “really bad” edge areas. The binding? Bleached muslin cut 2″, finishing at approximately 3/8″ front and back.
Each one of these 3 “Save” projects has been both fun and educational and with each one I was always hoping the original quilt maker was 1. forgiving me for changing her work and 2. happy with the transformation that took place allowing her work to shine on!
Next time you see a very worn out sad looking quilt, don’t just carry on without a thought, take a minute to see if you can visualize a transformation to honor where this piece as been, who loved it and what it might become with a few days of fun on your part. Of course, I’m always here and available to answer your questions!
Blessings to all and happy quilting,
Rhonda
Rhonda Dort 
Big thank you, Rhonda. I have brought home many ‘sad’ quilts and abandoned tops but haven’t had the nerve to really rescue them the way you have. I feel the work you show gives me both permission and courage to tackle renewing them. I deeply your designs and how you use machine work to embellish and reforge the old seams and blocks.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Hi Rhonda,
I’ve been enjoying your amazing transformations/creations for awhile now and I have a question about a project I’m working on. I’m currently involved in a quilt project with my quilt group and decided to throw in a piece of an antique linen “tea cloth” table cover for one of my blocks. Im embellishing it with embroidery and applique. First I tea dyed the whole piece (it was pure white) & my quilt uses mostly reproduction fabrics so the creamy ecru looks right with the other fabrics. The linen is very fine and has some tiny holes in places. I’ve chosen the corner with the least damage for my block. I’ve even avoided using an embroidery hoop because it is very delicately hem-stitched around the edges and I’m afraid it will rip from the tension of the hoop. The white on white original embroidery is beautiful satin stitch leaves and perfect satin stitched eyelets. Simply gorgeous! My question is, should I stick with my plan of not using a hoop to do my hand embroidery (it’s very difficult without a hoop) or use the hoop? I’m embroidering an outline stitch around the eyelet motifs and each leaf area. Then I’ll add some small tulip appliques around the original, embellished design and maybe outline stitches around the appliques. And lastly, I’ll back the block with a medium purple fabric to show through the eyelets and stabilize it a bit.
Any advice you could give me will be greatly appreciated.
I hope you will keep on doing your beautiful work. Also, I really appreciate that you’ve shared your knowledge on how to launder vintage linens. It really helps to know how to clean them. I love them! My collection is not too large but I cherish each one & enjoy using them for things like this. You’ve enspired me Rhonda! Thank you!
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I must tell you I really have almost no experience with hand embroidery on vintage fabrics.
I can see where very fine thin linen would give you concerns.
Good luck as you work on your project!
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Miss Dort, seeing your rescue quilts come back to life has been an inspiration to me. I’ve picked up discarded blocks and quilts throughout the years to try and put them together and finish the quilts. I’m stomped on one, but looking at what you have posted has given me ideas. Thank you and blessings to you.
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Wonderful!! Keep us posted!! ❤️🙂❤️
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Hi Rhonda,
So pretty. I have a friend with a very ‘loved’ family quilt. I’m going to forward this blog entry to her for inspiration although she cannot sew. I’m wondering whether you take on projects like this for others?
Also a question here: how did you apply the ribbon? Did you thread it through the button holes? Attach some other way? I love the results but getting there seems like a challenge.
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Thank you so much for your kind words and for forwarding my blog onto your friend. I do not take on work for others but have a few friends who might be willing to tackle such a project. The ribbon, yes I did send it through the holes in the buttons, and then it is stitched down to the quilt using a tiny zigzag on my sewing machine.
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Wow again. This is wonderful. You have such a talent giving new life to old quilts. You just keep adding until this is just right. If you had stopped after just adding a few things it would have been nice. But the pom poms, buttons, ribbons and then the decorative stitching just upped this to fantastically amazing. You have such a good eye on what colors and items look great together. Thank you so much for sharing your talent. This brought joy and happiness to me during thisxhard time.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Terrific job, Rhonda. The quilt looks so pretty now with all your special touches. I like how you used the different stitches, very appealing and dimensional. I can just do basic sewing although my machine has the tools to do some of the stitches you used. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Thank you!
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Just lovely, it’s like a breath of fresh air! So colorful like a flower garden yet soft and vintage. Your little helper is sweet too🐱! Enjoy your day
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Thank you!
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Beautiful, and inspiring! Such a great solution! Love it!
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Thank you!
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A great save and a wonderful explanation, both written and visual.
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Thank you!
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BRAVO!! I love what you did to this quilt. I am on my phone so can’t see the detail very well. Can’t wait to see this on my laptop up front and close!! Thank you for sharing your experience!!
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Thank you!
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