I’m in NYC and just visited the Folk Art Museum where a wide variety of old and new quilts are on display. Loved seeing Paula Nadelstern‘s kaleidoscope quilt in the exhibit… I wanted to tell those around me that I know her and how wonderful she is, but I just smiled and kept that inside because it is a museum, after all 🤣.

I spent time with this quilt top by an unknown maker. I love both the structure and the freedom of the design. Notice the way the applique fills most blocks, going right up to the seam lines. There isn’t sashing and there doesn’t need to be. And the leaves and stems are cut from only two fabrics. I wonder if she ran out of one green and had to switch in the middle of making the quilt?

The applique stitches are invisible but if it were judged today, some might find faults…

It is subtle, but you can see the vines and leaves shadowing through the white flowers, outer points on the ostriches are blunt. I like that the hand of the maker can be felt and I think she was enjoying her stitching. 

Hanging next to the quilt were some of the original templates which I find to be illuminating.

First, she drew on printed paper that was probably not stiff. She did not require “special” paper. I will say right here that I am happy that I can use heavier paper and I like that I can cover it with peel and stick laminate 🤣.

Second, it looks like she she drew at least some of the shapes by hand and then cut them out. Notice how she adjusted the outer edges to make the shape easier to sew.

The beak is blunt on purpose and the funky toes on the feet of the ostrich are the way she intended them to be. Now look at the block again.

So what are the lessons this quilt teaches?

• One big lesson to be learned here is that we are way too judgmental of our own stitching.
• We might be too judgy when it comes to other peoples’ stitching as well.
• I am reminded once again there can be a lot of freedom in a design that has a tight structure.
• While I love working with lots and lots of different fabrics, it’s good to be reminded that you can do a lot with just a few.

I hope you enjoy this quilt as much as I do. Happy stitching!