Today I’m pulling a quilt from the cupboard. Or should I say a “ghost of a quilt”? The pattern is called a Double X, or is also known as Goose and Goslings, Crosses and Losses, or Fox and Geese. It’s an old pattern dating back into the 1800’s.
The blocks are just over 5″ square. They are set on point with alternating plain white blocks.
The date of this quilt is a puzzle due to it’s poor condition. It’s hard to see what the fabrics were. What fabric remains has been bleached to shades of lavender.
The fabrics may have been brown at one time..or a darker purple? This quilt has been bleached by chemicals, or sun…or both?
In some places the fabric is intact, but just bleached out. In other places it has disintegrated. What I find odd though, is that the white fabric is in wonderful condition with no signs of damage.
The quilting on this quilt is quite heavy, done in diagonal lines across the quilt and across the blocks with no regard to the piecing. It’s rows of stitching are spaced at just over a 1/4″ apart. It appears the quilter did her stitching with no marking, because the lines are not exact. It looks like it was done “by eye”.
I found this quilt at a garage sale and happily paid the $1 they were asking. I know it’s “shot” and not really good for anything…but I know how long it must have taken to do all of that tight quilting and I couldn’t just let it sit there…alone…and unloved. I hugged it to my chest as I carried it back to my car. I carefully placed it on the passenger seat and couldn’t help running my hand over the stitching as I drove home. 
Isn’t it funny how some things tug at our heart strings and beg to be rescued?
Aren’t we the lucky ones, who can hear quilts calling out?
It’s lovely despite the condition issues. I am by no means an expert, but did read somewhere that some of the dyes used actually eat away at the fabric so maybe that’s why the white muslin has held up better than the purples.
$1? Are you kidding me….I would have bought this for sure. It’s a pretty pattern and the quilting is amazing. If I were going to stitch such heavy quilting in a design with a white alternate block, I think I would want to use a more elaborate pattern. Anyway, it’s a good thing to be a quilt rescuer.
It’s a lovely pattern, the quilting alone needs to be appreciated like you say. I think it’s earned a showing.
Ann, you warm my heart with your loving comments. I can’t think of anyone who more deserves to have the beautiful stash of quilts that you own. This one, despite its condition, is as beautiful as the others you have shown. The quilting is so tight it almost looks like smocking. Thanks again for sharing this beautiful piece of work.
Ann I love the last couple of quilts you have shared, thanks again for taking the time to photograph and write about each one, its wonderful. Love this one, worn out or not, so much work went into it, it earned a home where someone would treasure it
Good save!
The pattern is lovely in its simplicity. It has found the right home to be appreciated. Thanks for letting us appreciate it, too!
So glad you saved it.
Another good save. And what a deal at $1.00. “The woods would be silent if no birds sang there except those that sang the best”-H. Van Dyke. Glad this quilt will sing in your stash and thank you for showing it to all who love old quilts.