Reaching back....

for an old quilt top to show you today. Nothing much is stirring regarding work on Orphan Block quilts right now. Haven't heard from any of our challengee's for quite a while. So....some old instead. And this top probably should be called "bottom" instead. It's one of the lowest of the low. Not only is it a real true "orphan blocks" top, it had been a quilt before it became a top again *VBS*
It's rescued orphans. The quilt was rotting away in the bottom of an old trunk in an old falling down barn. Part of the trunk was open to the elements, and mice were very happy with that arrangement! Luckily there were odds and ends of old clothing and fabric also, and the quilt didn't take ALL the damage. I lugged it home, soaked it outdoors in a wash tub(several times for several days!)and then spread it out on the grass to dry. Much of the pieced top could be selvedged, and so I did. It had been a tied quilt and they are easy to reclaim. Most of the binding was rotted off, and what wasn't, I simply cut away. I may have had to remove a block or two to even up a row.
Over a number of years, the top lanquished in my vintage box..it needed careful pressing out, even to see what comes next. I never got that far. When I began preparation for my Blog-a-versary(2 yrs),back in June...I offered the rescued orphan top to anyone who would email me and say they wanted it. Only one person did, Sue from W. Washington state. And so it became hers. The picture was taken by Sue. If you link to From The Magpie's Nest(on my sidebar) you will find her post about this quilt top back in late June or early July. I know it's got a good home with Sue *VBS*