Image: sxc.hu

When you restore family quilts, you’re restoring memories, too.  I recall sitting at Nanny’s side when I was about eight-years old, selecting fabrics, cutting them, and then hand stitching the blocks together.  While we worked in the farmhouse kitchen, Auntie bustled around with housework and cooking.  Ah! What delicious aromas came from her many dishes simmering or baking.

Do you have quilting memories?

Susan Lazear shares her memories of quilting with her grandmother in Repairing Family Heirlooms. She also shows photos of one of her grandmother’s quilts she and her mother have repaired.

Also, if you’re at a loss about repairing an heirloom quilt, Susan describes and shows in pictures how she and her mother did this one.  It may help give you some ideas and get you started.

Post from: Blisstree

Restoring Family Quilts & Memories

Tea time was a sign of hospitality in my family.  My grandmother, with whom I did my first quilting, always had a cup of tea at 3 PM in the afternooon.  Whenever I visited my mom, we’d enjoy tea and catch up on family affairs before we took care of any business.

Later when Mother, afflicted with Alzheimer’s, resided in a nursing home, my grandchildren and I enjoyed tea parties with her.  Even after she no longer could participate, she seemed to enjoy our company and the occasion.  These parties also created memories for the children.

So, I’m starting a Tea Time here at Quilting and Patchwork, when we can share our stories, our accomplishments, our hopes and dreams.  I’ll start by sharing some of your delightful comments when you entered the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival for the copy of the quilting novel.

So many mentioned their quilting heritage and projects they’re currently working on. 

Jean Marie said:

I love to quilt and have many of my own, although I give away most of them. I like to do everything by hand. We have my husband’s grandmother’s quilt, which is very special to us.

[Isn't it special to have quilts that have been made by someone in the family and handed down through the generations?]

Renee G:

I’m not a quilter yet. However, I just keep buying fabric, pattern books, etc. I’m just a little intimidated about starting a project– but I love to shop
We have quilts in my family that were my grandmother and grandfather’s families. I’d love to be able to make at least 2 (one for each of my children.)

[You have the habits of a quilter...you're intrigued by fabrics and keep buying them!  Start with a simple quilt, random 5-inch or 7-inch squares from various fabrics and sew them together in strips.  How nice, too, that you have quilts from your families.]

If you’d like to share in future Tea Time occasions at Quilting and Patchwork, leave your comments below.

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(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Tea Time at Quilting and Patchwork