A Very Unique Baltimore Garden Quilt

At the 2013 American Quilter's Society show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania ... First in line at the Exhibit Hall doors (with hundreds of other quilters) - yes, that's me back there in the crowd. After the countdown, the Exhibit Hall doors open and quilters stream in to see the beautiful quilts.

Always happy to reunite with long time quilty friends, the first person I see is my friend Phyllis Hatcher, diligently at work appraising the show quilts. Imagine my surprise to see that the quilt she is appraising is a reproduction of my Baltimore Garden Quilt!

Here is Phyllis, wearing gloves, showing the back of the quilt (Thanks, Phyllis!)

I am constantly amazed at the creative vision of quilters, and this one is no exception. Linda H. of Stockton, Missouri contacted me earlier to request the required permission to exhibit her quilt, so I knew the quilt would be there, but WOW! I had no idea how very different it would be.

Linda reproduced her Baltimore Garden Quilt using modern fabrics and techniques. She used a different color multi-print batik for each of the 25 blocks and the border. The blocks are replicated in silhouette on a black background! Her applique is raw edge, and each block is machine quilted in different color threads. Some are variegated threads. Each block was completed separately, and then assembled using double sided bias tape. Lastly, the dimensional flowers are hand made and attached to the quilt. Amazing....

I wonder what the original quiltmaker of the antique Baltimore Garden Quilt would think of Linda's version of this quilt!

Keep stitching!
Barbara M. Burnham

(c) 2015 Barbara M. Burnham. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any kind is expressly prohibited without prior written authorization.

Buttonhole or Blanket Stitch Flowers

On the original antique Baltimore Garden Quilt, flowers on two of the blocks were appliqued with a buttonhole or blanket stitch. The stitches were made along the raw edge of the red fabric (no turnunder).

This flower was made with two layers of red fabric - you can see where the top layer has worn.

I was able to make some photos using a loupe to see the fine detail on the antique.

Some of these little flowers would be difficult to applique with a turned under edge, but quite easy to buttonhole stitch.

On my reproduction Baltimore Garden Quilt, and to write instructions for the book, I tried my best to replicate the same effect. The top two layers of this flower were worked in hand, the bottom layer stitched directly to the quilt block.

 

The applique fabric pieces are raw edge, but there is a thin outer line of iron-on fusible underneath the edges to prevent fray.

My stitches are a single strand of DMC floss. However, you could use more strands, and space stitches farther apart -- it would be just as lovely, and just as secure with a bit of iron-on fusible. Complete step-by-step details, photos and graphics explain my methods in the the book, Baltimore Garden Quilt.

Happy Stitching!

Barbara M. Burnham

(c) 2013 Barbara M. Burnham. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any kind is expressly prohibited without prior written authorization.