Isn't it a lovely quilt?

CarGuy came home from the Pork Shop one day and told me that Junkyard Bob had a quilt top his grandma made and was interested in getting it quilted. I said that he needed to bring it over, not really expecting to see it, after all it is a quilt top and he is a guy. I was surprised one day when he actually showed up! And I asked CarGuy if the guys really sat around the garage discussing quilts. He said that I'd be surprised at what they talked about.

The story behind this quilt is unique. Bob's grandmother made five quilt top around the end of the Great Depression and before the start of World War II. She gave these five tops to Bob's mother and told her they were for "the grandchildren". Bob's mother only had one child at the time and subsequently had four more children. As each child came of age, Mom let him/her pick out a quilt top. When Bob's turn came there was only the one left.

Oh my. I wish I could see the other four tops. The workmanship on this quilt is exquisite. This is totally hand pieced using shirting fabrics and feedsacks. In a couple of places you can see traces of blue ink that did not wash out of the off-white feedsacks. Such a simple pattern, but such an unusual setting: making 9-patches from the blocks. I left the top exactly as it was: just had it quilted. I didn't think it needed borders as the borders would detract from the overall impact.

As a retired policeman, Bob could not afford to give this the hand quilting that it really deserved and I did not have the time. I talked to my LAer and she and I discussed and talked and drew patterns and we finally decided that a simple medium-sized meander would probably work the best. I am pleased with the results. The quilting is taking a backseat to the pattern.

Oh. Are you wondering why he is called Junkyard Bob? It's because if a guy needs a car part for his hot rod and can't find one, if Bob can't find it in a junkyard (both local and national) then the part is not to be found. Hence, Junkyard Bob.