A warm, beautiful how-to for an oft-unexplored aspect of quilting: what to do with old, unfinished quilt tops. This guide is a must-have for quilters who want to turn vintage quilt tops into stunning finished pieces, or who simply want to apply Teresa’s inspiring tips and wisdom to their own quilting practice. Owning the philosophy that “every quilt deserves a story,” Teresa takes readers through more than 20 quilt tops she has finished on a modern longarm machine. Perfectly in tune with the no-waste craft approach, each quilt helps you learn: • the technical and creative considerations involved in the process, teaching you to think about quilt design more broadly; • how to preserve their personal stories by "conversing" with the vintage tops to inform your naming of them and respect for the past they carry; • in-depth detail giving you ideas to carry forward in your own projects: the quilts' block pattern name and number, estimated date the quilt top was made, the price Teresa paid, fabric details, and technical information about how each top was quilted; and • tips on longarm quilting with vintage fabric, adding labels, washing, and adding interesting backings—plus four simple patterns/motifs to try if you’re exploring free motion quilting for the first time. Adding to the conversation, Heidi Parkes, David Owen Hastings, Kelly Spell, Terrie Hancock Mangat, Sarah Hibbert, and other prominent quilters share their treasured family quilt memories. The stories these heirloom quilts tell are priceless.
