Quilt begun in 1940s. Almost finished 2019!

I received a stack of completed 12” X 12” appliquéd quilt squares a few years ago.
They were begun during WWII or shortly thereafter by my aunt. She died in 1951 and another relative put them away in a closet....there they stayed until they were passed on to me.

I’ve received other pieces of this aunt’s lovely needlework and quilting and treasure them all!
I recently posted another of her quilts that I finished in her honor many years after her death.

These squares are made of unbleached muslin, a cotton fabric. On the squares, she appliqued flower designs joined with a wreath of embroidered vine and appliquéd green leaves.
All the appliquéd designs are hand stitched in black cotton embroidery floss.

I carefully hand washed each square because they were very yellowed, likely for being stored in the home of a smoker.
Thank Goodness, they came out clean without deteriorating!

I found a leaf-pattered cotton fabric to join the squares to make the quilt top and back.
I haven’t joined the top, batting and back yet but will get to that soon (I hope).

This quilt will have a finished size of about 78” X 63” after I add a border.

I love all the old dress fabrics from back in the 1940s and before. Most of my female ancestors sewed, as I’ve been told, because it was an economic necessity. Any scraps left over were used to make children’s clothes, aprons, items for the home or went into the scrap bag to be made into quilts.

Thanks for looking!
Hope you enjoyed!