Memory Fabrics for Quilts & Clothing
April 12, 2009 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Home & Living
As I look at this picture, the red fabric with larger floral design reminds me of the first apron and skirt I made when I was 7-years old. My 4-H Club leader was teaching me to sew on her treadle sewing machine and chose easy patterns.
Image: sxc.hu
The fabric came from feed sacks my aunt had given me. There was enough to make a drawstring apron as well as a skirt with a casing and drawstring to gather it around my waist. I was so proud of these and wore the skirt in the Dutchess County 4-H fashion show our club participated in.
In fact, I still have the skirt. I must get it out of the box of memorabilia and compare the fabric to that in this photo.
Do you have memory fabrics from earlier quilts and clothing?
I have every patten I ever sewed (40+ years). I WISH I had every pattern that my mother had ever used to sew for me. But what I really regret is that I did not save a fabric swatch to go along with the pattern. That would have been a great memory. But I can describe the fabrics
Thanks, Deborah, for stopping by Blisstree and leaving a comment on my post about Memory Fabrics. I like your suggestion about saving a fabric swatch to go along with a pattern. How interesting that you’ve saved all your patterns.
Yes, describe your fabrics and attach that to your patterns. Or start a memory journal with photo copy or sketch of the pattern cover and description of the fabric, why you made the item, and when you wore or used it.
I LOVED the Duchess County fair! The first place where I feel in lives with quilts(and cows)
My first quilts were memory quilts as I didn’t have any other fabric to use but pieces of material my Mother left me or old clothes. The quilt shown is lovely and bright…a wonderful keepsake.
I remember making aprons and tablecloths from old fabrics of my grandmother. I wish I had kept them.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. It’s interesting that we both have Dutchess County Fair memories. (I assume that’s Dutchess County as in Rhinebeck, NY.) I lived in the Town of Beekman and each year our 4-H club exhibited at the fair, about 45 miles away. My family and I visited at least one day. A couple of years I had 4-H commitments, like giving a demonstration. So my sister and I stayed with relatives who lived in Milan, near Red Hook. Some of our friends stayed in the 4-H dorms.
Hi Shirley,
I’m pleased you stopped by and shared your memory quilt memories. Your quilts are of the tradition of the pioneers, who also only had leftover fabric and old clothes. You’re probably glad you have those quilts of memory now.
Thanks, Jean, for stopping by. Your mention of tablecloths reminds me of those I have of 40s and 50s vintage. Some are ones my mom used;others I collected. They’re getting worn now so my daughter and I thought they should be relegated to the rag bag. However, maybe I should at least cut some of the good pieces from them for making memory fabric art.
We are in the quilting business and although our core business has been to finish quilt tops for clients using our longarm machine, we have recently been asked to make memory and memorial quilts from clothing. This is usually done as a way of preserving the memory of a deceased loved one as well as providing comfort to those left behind. It has become almost a ‘calling’ since our clients are so grateful for the love and care we take to preserve thir memories.
We have made quilts from old T-shirts and baby clothing, which preserves memories of good times in a child’s life. we have made quilts from the full rnage of fabrics, from polyester, to lace, to velvert and cotton. We are in the process of making a pictorial quilt, depicting our interpretation of a specfic story of someone’s life.
Go to http://www.overthetopquilting.com/T-ShirtQuiltSVCs.html and see a gallery of some of out ‘mission.