My granddaughter spread a large quilt on the deck the other evening and proceeded to re-tie it.  This quilt that I’d made for her great grandmother several years ago had come into her possession when Grandma GG went into an assisted living home.
Now Kara is going to college and wants to take GG’s quilt with her.  Many of the ties had come out so it needed re-tying.  As she tied, and then her mom joined her, I thought, “The legacy of quilting goes on in our family.”
Beth, when she was Kara’s age, had helped me tie the original quilt for GG.  …read more

 The stories associated with the crafts your family enjoyed in past years or pursue today make a fascinating history and contribute to your family heritage.  I’ve particularly found it fun to trace my family’s connection with quiltmaking.  This is on my mother’s side.  I haven’t sound much connecting any of my dad’s family to crafts and handiwork, although I imagine they did these as part of their daily chores.
 For women of years ago didn’t need to find a hobby.  They had all the handiwork they could manage as they made quilts for beds, crocheted and hooked rugs for their floors, …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com

In recognition of Grandparents Day, this Sunday, September 7, we’re writing tributes to our grandmothers and grandfathers.  When it comes to quilting, I have to credit my mom’s mother, my Nanny, for my initial interest in quiltmaking.
When I was about 8-years old, I helped Nanny stitch by hand, quilts for my sister, brothers and myself.  I sat beside her in her farmhouse kitchen, she in her rocking chair and me beside her. 
“Take small stitches,” Nanny would tell me.  “We don’t want gaps in the quilt.”
We must have done well, Nanny and I, because the quilt stayed together through many years …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
Your response to my giveaways (Bloggy Giveaway at Quilting & Patchwork , ends 8/1 and Another Giveaway at Quilting & Patchwork, ends 7/31) has been wonderful.  I’m pleased so many of you wanted to share your involvement with  quilting whether you are a quilter/fabric artist or simply appreciate quilts.
I enjoyed hearing about your quiltmaking, your quilting heritage, and the stories of heirloom quilts.  I plan to share some of those stories in posts so more people will get inspired about quilting.  What wonderful stories you’ve shared!
Perhaps we can start a dialogue among Quilting and Patchwork readers.
By sharing, you can help one another find encouragement and …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
I had the pleasure of writing a guest post, Do You Have a Heritage of Needlework, for Chloe at Tangled Thread. 
I think you’ll enjoy reading it.  Share with me, in the comments below, the needlework in your family or how needlework has influenced your life.
Also, why not journal about this…in a notebook, scrapbook, or online blog?  Then your family heritage will be preserved for future generations. 
(Amazon image)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
 Children have been connected with quilts and quiltmaking since pioneering days.  Either they were involved in making them (often learning at the early age of 6 or younger) or using them. 
I recall, at 8-years old, sitting beside my grandmother and helping stitch the quilt she made for my bed.  My mom tells about making quilts when she was 6-years old.
 This seems an appropriate topic to write about in summer when youngsters may have time to become involved in quilting and fabric art activities with you.  You can develop a quilting heritage as we have in our family.
Here are 5 of …read more

QultingAndPatchwork.com
Tales of the Trails End Quilters blog consists of stories about my quilting heritage. 

My quilting heritage began at Trails End Farm in Milan, New York. There I often sat beside my grandmother cutting squares and sewing them by hand. Eventually I realized that my mother and her sister, their grandmother, and others made quilts here, too. Now my daughter, granddaughter, and I carry on this Trails End quilting tradition from our New Hampshire home.

 I delve into the genrations of quiltmakers in my family, going back to my great grandmother.  I know she quilted and attended quilting bees at neighbors’ homes because …read more

QultingAndPatchwork.com
 Making quilts and coverlets for children and grandchildren has been a legacy from mothers and grandmothers for decades.  My grandmother hand stitched quilts for my three siblings and me. In fact, I still have that bed size quilt I helped her make although it’s quite worn and loved.
I made Rail Fence quilts for my grandchildren.  In fact, my then 4-year old granddaughter helped me make the one for her brother.  He toted that around with him for years, and his mom had to repair it with patch over patch over patch.
Tracee Sioux of Blog Fabulous has a delightful post, Blankie = Matriarchial Hug, …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
 As I read my grandfather’s writings, Fifty Years Ago, Rural Life from 1876, I was delighted to realize he had included information about his mother’s quilting at Trails End Farm, in Dutchess County, NY.  I know from this that my quilting heritage definitely traced back to my great grandmother, Mary Barker Coon.
 Papa Coon, as our family referred to Burton Barker Coon, writer and farmer, mentioned the women getting together for afternoon tea and cutting out pieces for quilt blocks. 
“They would take their sewing along and have a very pleasant time.  All the girls were brought up to piece quiltsk, bake …read more