It's a flimsy!
Gallimaufry
56 x 80
It was inspired by this c1890 quilt top I saw at Rocky Mountain Quilts described as follows:
"This is a whimsical original rendition of an Irish Chain, which to follow the pattern needs to be viewed from a distance. How amazing would this be in a great room over a fireplace? this quilt was obviously pieced by someone who loved calicoes. No solid colors here. The fabrics date from 1860 to 1890, giving us the creation date of this piece. This is a quilt top for a fabric junkie. There are many patterns pieced on this top. Variation of diamond in a square, old maids puzzle, bow tie, broken dishes, four patch, all combined together creating the most unusual Irish Chain I have ever seen. All pieced by hand, and ready to quilt."
I made my version completely from scraps found in the 1.5 and 2.5 scrap bins. In addition the little 1.5 inch HST pieces were cut with the Easy Angle ruler off the end of strips used to make QSTs (cut with Companion Angle Ruler)) for my Vintage Thingamajigs quilt.
Blocks finished at 4 inches.
I love all those secondary patterns!
I have a question. Does the word "flimsy" used to describe a quilt top bother you? I had a comment from someone who was highly offended that flimsy was used to describe a quilt top because to her flimsy meant it was not made well, not sturdy, not worth much.
I'm not offended by much. What about you? Flimsy or quilt top? I'm curious.
30 comments:
That is an amazing flimsy!! all that color and fabric goodness!!
Her feelings on the word flimsy says more about her then it dose the quilts.
I like the word as a descriptive term in the quilt process.
Flimsy: comparatively light and insubstantial; easily damaged....just look at what the washing machine can do to the best made quilt top! I'm fine with flimsy especially since it is the widely used term for a finished quilt top!
What I call a Buckeye Beauty, others call Jewel Box. I call 'em quilt tops, you call 'em flimsies and we both know we're talking about the same thing. I can find plenty of things to be offended by if I go looking but why waste the energy? lol
This quilt has everything a beautiful scrap quilt should. Love it!
I thought I was the only one bothered by the term flimsy for a quilt top. I use quilt top or top for that stage. To me flimsy sounds insubstantial or lightweight. But I'm not going to criticize anyone who wants to use that term. To each his/her own!
Your flimsy/quilt top is incredibly beautiful. It makes me itch to get out my scraps and start sewing itty bitty squares together. Alas I'm at work on my lunch right now and that's not a possibility.
Flimsy/top it really doesn't matter to me. I get why someone might feel flimsy is a negative term but seriously to get offended? Over something so small?
Like every single other quilt you've ever made, this one is my favorite!
I tend to call them tops because that's the old way of referring to them, and I'm old. Flimsy is a newer term and I admit to liking it - mostly because my brain conflates it with 'whimsy' and we all could use more of that!
That's a LOT of scraps! I wish I could pull mine together in such a beautiful way. I'm a rhyme fanatic, and flimsy whimsy sounds pretty cute to me.
I have too much to do to be offended by much of anything. Great flimsy by the way!
Love the quilt top & NO not the least offended by the word flimsy.
all in with the flimsy! This a great scrap qilt, bravo!
I like the term "flimsy." As far as quilts go, it's a flimsy stage. Not ready for prime time, so to speak. Gallimaufry is poised on the cusp of greatness, though. Wonderful to see the dance patterns in all the scrappiness!
A wonderful true scrap quilt Cathy! I love the secondary patterns being created with those tiny pieces.
Flimsy - where I grew up this always meant something which was not substantial, but that doesn't mean to say when I hear a quilt top referred to as a flimsy that I think less of it, not at all! I usually refer to mine as a 'top', doesn't worry me either way and Louise has a great comment 'not ready for prime time', definitely in the waiting stage to be quilted.
I'm not offended by much when it comes to quilting, either! Whether called a flimsy or a quilt top, Gallimaufry is wonderfully colorful and a fun design!
I'm not offended at all. I'm impressed by both the inspiration quilt and yours. Making all the old fasion bloks come together and making something new is more the i could imagine.
Love your work
Wow! There's so much to look at in this; which is what I like best in a quilt. I say top, but don't give a hoot which word others use - I know what they mean which is all that matters.
Your use of small scraps and how you look at quilts and work out how to make the blocks never ceases to amaze me. Another great “flimsy”.
I came across this way of describing a quilt top before it was quilted only through reading lots of quilt blogs. Like most non-quilting people flimsy meant not very robust, would fall apart easily. However, I’m now happy to use that term.... flimsy/quilt top, happy with both!
Ad always, I like your quilt better than the inspiration quilt. Congratulations.
Wonderful flimsy! Flimsy is of light weight materials, meaning it is not supported by batting and backing as well as quilting to make the quilt sturdy. I personally love the term as it is quaint! What a great topic!
I am always just a little bit in awe of your quilt making style. One block at a time pulled from bags of scraps and wallah! Another fabulous quilt!:)
Wow! This quilt is just so interesting. I feel like it would take days of looking to see all that is going on here. Fabulous!
Seems people are easily offended these days...nothing wrong with using the term flimsy...many words have multiple meanings...truthfully, quilt tops are "flimsy" until they are enforced with batting and backing. I love your quilt--gosh, lots of piecing but so beautiful!
I totally agree with Gayle. Especially "this is my favorite"
"Flimsy"...."quilt top"....both work for me. Your quilt is beyond fabulous. The patterns, the fabric and all that piecing together of such little pieces of fabric is truly amazing! Gosh, I can only imagine the love and work that has gone into this beauty.
Your flimsies are always gorgeous, and no, it doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, I really like the term as it sounds whimsical. The only question that I have is: which plural term is correct, flimsies or flimsys?
Wonderfully scrappy fun. Love it! I prefer "Quilt top". Maybe because it tells what it will become. Flimsy doesn't.
I prefer the term quilt top but certainly would not discount them because they are called a flimsy. The work you put into them and your imagination are truly gifts and I so enjoy seeing your creations and reading your blog. Keep it up.
I invariably write (or say) "flimsy (unquilted top)" in one phrase because flimsy isn't that commonly known. The other quilt term I wish we could settle on is one to differentiate between being a quilter (=one who makes flimsies) and a quilter (=one who does the quilting). For example, "I took my quilt to the quilter last Saturday." Makes sense to some but not to those who do not make quilts, let alone quilt them.
All that said, I am pleased to have contributed to the naming of this bright and cheerful flimsy (unquilted top).
Fun!! I love the inspiration quilt -- interesting that she called it an Irish Chain variation -- I would have said a Bowtie variation.
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