Lessons from an Old Northern Lights Quilt
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About This Old Quilt
I would love to know more about this one! Here’s what I can figure out: This old quilt has been well-loved. Or maybe it wasn’t loved at all and just set aside? Either way, it deserves a better life than what it has had in the last few years. Who is going to save it? Me, of course!
The block used in this old quilt is called Northern Lights. While researching this block, I couldn’t find much information about it. I did, however, find many examples of this quilt block in much older antique quilts.
Details About This Quilt
Size: Approx. 68” x 68”
Age: Judging by the fabrics, my best guess is that the quilt tops was made in the 1950s. Even though there are many older fabrics in the quilt top including some from the 1920s, there are also some newer fabrics represented as well. My philosophy is that the quilt is only as old as the newest fabric, dating the quilt top around 1950. This quilt, however, was finished (in my opinion) later than that, probably in the 1970s. The backing appears to be from this time period. It is a striped (Christmas?) print that is pieced together to make the back. The batting layer is a striped blanket.
Acquired: My parents found this gem at a privately-own thrift shop in North Eastern Pennsylvania. They paid $19.99 for it. Worth it!
Quilt History: The thrift shop owners stock their show with items found at auctions and at house clean-outs, making it a fair guess that it came from a home in Pennsylvania. I do not know any other details about its history, unfortunately.
Blocks Size: Each block is approx. 4.5” finished.
Number of Blocks: 81 Blocks (9 rows of 9)
Number of Pieces: Each block is made up of (2) four-patches and (2) half-square triangles. There are 12 pieces of fabric in each block, making the total of fabrics in the blocks 972. This doesn’t count the sashing strips.
Sashing Strips: One of the most unique components of this quilt is the extra-wide sashing strips between the blocks and between the rows. The strips measure 4”, almost as big as the block. It adds to the quilt. making the busy quilt blocks stand out by framing them. The sashing is a green solid fabric.
Construction Technique: This is another reason I believe the quilt was finished at a later date. The quilt top is completely pieced by hand, including those wonderful sashing strips, but the backing was sewing by machine. The quilt is also hand tied.
Quilting/Tying: This quilt is hand tied with what looks like embroidery floss. There aren’t enough ties in this, however, which could account for some of the wear and tear.
Fabric: Those bright 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s is the star of these blocks! I love all the bright colors! The green solid sashing gives the eye a place to rest. Let’s talk about that backing! I love this, too! All of it makes me happy!
Batting: Striped Blanket
Binding: This quilt is finished using the envelope fold technique, which means there isn’t a binding.
Condition: Fair. It has a lot of tears and wear, especially on the edges. This is a quilt that I will be taking apart in order to save it, if I can even save. A lot of the fabric is dry rotted, unfortunately, but you know me! I am going to try to save this one, or, at the very least, save the wonderful blocks.
Blocks
I just can’t get enough of these quilt blocks. They are all so pretty and different! Each of the 81 blocks are made up of (2) four-patches and (2) half-square triangles. Most of the blocks are laid out in the same configuration with the dark portion of the half-square triangles facing towards the middle of the block, and the dark units of the four-patches set diagonally, making a line down the block. However, some of the blocks are turned and don’t follow this rule. Also, some of the blocks are inside the seams of the edges.
Sashing
Although there aren’t any borders on this quilt, the sashing makes up for it! This quilt has super wide solid green sashing pieces between the blocks and between the rows. The sashing strips measure 4” finished, almost the same size as the blocks. This makes me wonder—did the maker get tired of making the blocks? Did they realize they were going to need a ton of blocks to make a quilt this size and decided to make the borders bigger because of that? What happened here? This is the stuff I spend a bit too much time thinking about!
Batting
The center of this quilt is a blanket. I am tempted to call it an old blanket, but I am sure it was at least new-ish when it was put together. Right now, it is in terrible shape. It is filthy and stained. Was that from the years of use or was it always an old blanket? I have so many questions about this quilt!
Backing
Okay. I will admit it. I may be a bit more excited about the backing than anything else in this quilt. Well, other than those adorable Northern Lights blocks. Just look at this amazing backing! I love the Christmas-y stripe. I can just see this in another project!
What’s Next?
Well, I can’t leave this as is or it will end up in a dumpster after I leave this wonderful world. What does that mean for this quilt? I am going to take it apart and try to save it in some capacity. I really do love this one! It deserves a better life.
Lessons We Can Learn
Although there are many lessons we can learn as modern-day quilters from this quilt, here are a few I chose. Let me know if you can think of others.
Extra Wide Sashing: I am not usually a fan of extra-wide sashing. In fact, I usually prefer skinning sashing. This quilt has made me rethink this because in this one, it really works! I just love it! It allows for those blocks to shine and adds a dramatic feature to the overall look of this quilt.
Ties: I say bring back tying quilts, especially if it makes sure the quilts are finished. Who is with me? The lesson we can learn from this particular quilt is that if you are going to tie a quilt, make sure you put enough ties in the quilt to support it well. If you don’t, the ties will cut through because of the weight of the quilt, which is what happened here. Even thought there aren’t many holes from the ties per se, the bulk of the quilt wasn’t sufficiently supported resulting in tears.
Envelope Finishing: Just like tying a quilt should become more popular again, so should finishing a quilt without using binding. Many quilters are either intimidated by binding, don’t have the time or energy, or simply don’t want to do it. Finishing with an envelope fold (layering the batting, the quilt top face up, and the backing face down and sewing around the perimeter leaving an opening. Turning and closing the opening) is a great way to finish a quilt, especially if you are going to tie the quilt. The maker finished this quilt using this technique.
Fun Backings: Imagine my surprise when I turned this quilt over for the first time and saw the wonderful print on the back! What a great lesson! Add that wild and crazy backing to the back of your quilts.
Know When To Take It Apart: This is always a dilemma for me: What should I do when the quilt is damaged? Do I try to repair it? Repurpose it? Do I take it apart and save what I can? For me, it all comes down to this question: How can I best honor the maker? For this quilt, I know I cannot save it as is. It needs to be deconstructed. What does that entail? I will know more as I start to deconstruct this quilt.
Thank you so much for reading about this beautiful old quilt.
Kris