Today the top I’m pulling from the quilt top cupboard is an Ocean Waves pattern done in primary colors.
It dates from around 1880-1910, and is hand pieced.
I have several Ocean Waves tops. More than I knew I had. I guess I’m drawn to the design?
I like the way the maker placed her colors. The blues and purples lean to the left and the reds lean to the right. It sort of gives it a basket weave look?
The hand piecing is very nice with tiny stitches and narrow seams.
The weave of the fabric is very nice…almost a percale.
Once quilted I don’t think fraying would be a problem like it has been with some of my older tops with narrow seams?
There are two triangles that look out of place. The fabric may have been dyed with a fugitive dye, known as Congo red but it’s also possible that the quilter of yesteryear was “making do”?
When I see odd pieces like this it makes me think that the triangles have changed color, because if they were always that color it would have made more sense to place that section in an area where it wouldn’t be as noticeable?
The reds in this top are mostly cardinal reds, but there is some Turkey red too. Where the quilter ran out of red she used pinks.
There’s also a nice variety of indigo fabrics. There are purple fabrics too, and at least one of them may have been blue at one time? It looks like a fugitive dye was used.
Various white shirtings have been used throughout the top.
This top is in good condition with no age spots or stains, and could be quilted up with no problems. 
Tags: Antique Ocean Waves, cardinal red, hand pieced, indigos, shirting, turkey red
I love ocean wave quilts! thanks for sharing.
I love ocean waves quilts too. The yellow in this one is spectacular.
I think you are right about the rogue dye in the beige triangles. She put the three pink sections at the bottom, as if she wasn’t so happy about them.
Ocean waves is such an incredible pattern! I love the cools vs. warms and then the cheddar middles in this quilt.
Another beautiful quilt, Ann! I echo the previous comments,as I too happen to love the Ocean Waves pattern. ; ) The colors and fabrics of this one are really terrific! Lovely to see…sea!? ; ) Thanks for sharing wit us!
You have inspired me to buy an antique/vintage quilt top on e-bay. I am undecided about which batting to use. Do you use a cotton/polyester blend or 100% cotton? Do you think the polyester fibres could damage an old top? (the blend is easier to get where I live).
It is so sunny and wonderful with blues and reds. Lovely layout with the colors too
Alice..poly fibers in batting shouldn’t cause any harm to your vintage top, but the cotton or blend will give a more authentic vintage look once quilted because they’ll shrink a bit. I’ve used poly in my own quilts in the past and I don’t care for them.They are easy to needle and get small stitches, but the fibers migrate out over time leaving you a quilt with no batting.
It IS important that you not use poly thread though. It can cut the sometimes delicate fibers of vintage fabrics. That’s especially important if you will be using the quilt.
This is another great top, Ann. I love the fabrics the quilter selected and that she made it unique with the placement of the reds and blues. The cheddar squares are such a nice touch, and remind me of your little Cheddar and Crackers doll quilt. Do you think you would replace those two triangles?
Ann, I always admire your devotion to quilting and collection of antique quilts. The ocean waves is a lovely piece. Now, those two beige tones triangles, do you suppose the piecer put them there on purpose, leaving her mark on this quilt? I ask this, as a LA quilter, I often like to leave little hidden items, maybe a word, a butterfly, etc, just as a mark that I was there. I can’t help wondering if the beige triangles are there to make all of us talk about them and wonder about them, etc. I would never replace them, I’d leave them original.
Thanks for sharing, it’s always awesome to see what you have to inspire!
IMHO…the beige triangles were once red? When the quilter ran out of red she used pink. She placed those at the bottom of the quilt. At the very bottom left she filled in with a couple of peachy pinks and she placed them at the corner. I think that was so they weren’t as noticeable?
Will I change the two squares if I quilt this one? Hmm…I dunno? The perfectionist in me will want to…but I also think they add a bit of charm?
Ann, your quilts and the information you provide are amazing. I always learn something new. I have had streaks of batting leaving my hand-quilted quilts before and never understood why. I have now settled on cotton batting just because i like the feel and look after it is washed!
Thank you for sharing this quilt top. Beautiful as always!
I think this pattern is mesmerizing…maybe that’s why your drawn to it? I noticed the color placement too, deliberate and very effective. This is a beautiful piece, thank you for showing her stitches. I actually wondered if the pink sections at the bottom may have been an extra row added to make the quilt longer? It seems odd they were not mixed in w/ the reds. BTW, I like the two beige triangles, one would hate to change them if the quilter had intended them.
I always read all the comments, and it’s fun to see that these old quilts evoke so many different speculations. Thanks once again for sharing this quilt and for providing us w/ so much information and wonderful pics!
I love the idea of a quilt top cupboard! I have a quilt top chair…LOL! All the tops that need to be quilted are on this chair. The pile is about 2 feet tall.