What Was On the Bed - Again

Here's what was on the bed last week:

 This is a very simple Double Nine Patch--in the traditional sense of the title.  This one is set with alternating plain blocks.
Beginning quilters need to be aware that we can make really nice quilts from simple designs.  Furthermore, if we love the quilting part,  those simple quilts can become truly spectacular!

 Yes, it says it was finished in 1990....but it was begun several years earlier.

 One of the fun things about making this quilt was all the color changes in the quilting.

I also enjoyed the double diagonal lines in the background--inspired by quilting in antique quilts. 

 Also signed with a monogram...used to replace the hearts that are the other blocks.

 I also changed the color of the hand quilting thread from block to block. 

 Back then I used Mettler 100% cotton hand quilting thread.

These are a couple of vintage pillowcases with hand crocheted lace.  I found them somewhere as singles.

I'm thinking there are two main reasons for so many single pillow cases that have survived.  One is that sometimes women started making a pair and just never finished the second. The other reason is that one wore out faster than the other.  I know that on the farm, my dad's pillowcase always wore out faster than my mom's.  She said it was because  he did so much welding that there were always chemicals left in his hair, and over time they caused the fibers to deteriorate faster....I'm guessing there may well have been a lot of truth in that!

Happy quiltmaking....