These butterfly wings and bodies were purchased on ebay in 2002, along with the Crazy Baseball blocks used to make this quilt. I assume they were made by the same quilter, since several of the fabrics are the same. The newspapers on the back of the Baseball blocks were dated 1943, so I guess that’s about the age of the fabrics in these butterflies.
The quilter did not tack or pin the 2-pieced wings to the bodies, so I matched them up for her. I didn’t have to re-cut them — just basted, pinned and appliqued the wings & bodies onto plain muslin, then embroidered the outlines and antennaes. There weren’t enough blocks in the group for my bed — to make it larger, the blocks were zig-zag set with a reproduction print. Quilting was done around each butterfly, with details added in the wings and a floral pattern in the muslin. Vertical lines were quilted in the setting triangles which form the zig-zag. I added prairie points in a grayish-blue solid.
I don’t often use this much reproduction fabric in my quilts, but I do like the look of it — in fact, I just pulled this quilt out to use on my bed because the sun is shining and it’s feeling very springy outside today.
Appliqued Butterfly Quilt
Martha Dellasega Gray, 2003
hand appliqued, hand embroidered
machine pieced, hand quilted
84″ x 84″
It does look very Spring-y! Almost like a garden of little butterfly flowers! So pretty!
What a wonderful collection of fabrics! I love the zig zag setting..and those prairie points are the perfect finish. This quilt is really a beauty. 🙂
I love it!
Your butterfly quilt just made me smile! (We had 6 inches of snow last night here in Utah!) It makes me want to throw open the windows and let the sunshine in….your work is inspirational!
Martha, your butterfly quilt is so beautiful! I love the zig zag setting you chose to set the blocks. The background print is very pretty!
The quilter who did the blocks would be so delighted if she saw this quilt 🙂
I love how you think in terms of ‘matching them up for the original piecer’. Beautiful quilt!
This is really beautiful, Martha! Love the setting, the colors, the quilting, just beautiful.
There’s something about butterfly blocks that always fascinates me. I love what you did with these! Gorgeous quilt!
Your butterfly quilt looks very old fashioned. You did a great job.