Monday, July 27, 2009

Scrapped Out and Hot

If you're throwing dice (playing craps) and you toss a 2,3, or 12, that's a losing throw and you 'crap out.' But in the dictionary of American slang, 'crapped out' also means to abandon something because you're tired of it.

When I comes across really complex or nutzo old quilt tops, I wonder if the maker "scrapped out." Perhaps constructing the top tired them out and they never got around to quilting the thing. Or they gave it to someone who was supposed to finish the quilt top but who never learned to sew. I'm thinking this might be the case here. My apologies-I can't remember where I got this picture--I'd filed it under 'inspirations' but hadn't noted the source. If it's yours-email me for credit.

When someone had access to lots of the same sort of scrap fabric, interesting compositions happened. Like this quilt top likely made from 'cut-aways' from a shirt factory. The close-up picture shows how involved the maker got when dealing with these subtle stripes. Not to everyone's taste but I think an altogether engaging piece.



This quilt top below going great guns and then...the quiltmaker put it away and forgot about it? Or her fiance was lost at sea and she hadn't the heart to finish? Who knows! We could write volumes of fiction about the "what if" of our UFO's -unfinished objects to the non-quilters.




Plus, it's too hot to quilt right now here at the North Carolina coast. This is what I'd do if I could find a bucket to fit me!





3 comments:

Carol Sc said...

I love the "scrappiness" of that last quilt pictured --- may use that for inspiration for my next block exchange. We are having a nice cool summer here in Michigan --- just the way I like it. I'd be looking for that bucket, if I was in North Carolina!

Miri said...

I too have always wondered why some quilt tops haven't ever been quilted...especially the ones I particularly like! The second quilt top is absolutely amazing!-stripes run wild creating a wonderful chop suey effect.

Lee D said...

Just found your blog and loved looking at the scrappy quilts you posted. I like the last one the best.
If you have a sec check out my great grandmother's quilts on my blog www.lalaslovelys.blogspot.com. look on the right side bar for Genevieve's work.
Love NC went to HPU back in the 80's