Quilts inspired by the Service Flags of World War I have become popular during the present wars in Afghanistan and Iraq…to send to the service men and women and to remind those at home of their patriotic family members.

Image: sxc.hu

We have one of these Service Flags, originally made to hand in a window.  My grandmother used it when her son Charles served in World War I.  Consisting of a blue star on a white background, surrounded by red border, it let everyone know her son was serving for their freedom.

Uncle Charles came home from the War.  However, if someone didn’t, a small gold star was added on top of the blue, thus the term “Gold Star Mothers” originated.  Siver stars were used when a service member was injured.

I don’t know if my grandmother made her flag or if someone did and gave it to her.  I’m proud that we still have it in our family.  To me it represents Uncle Charles and other members who served - Uncle Al during World War II and my husand during the Vietnam war.

Today, quilters are making many variations of these banners and quilts.  (An interesting article about Service Quilts appears in McCall’s America Loves Scrap Quilts, Spring 2008 issue.)

Many of the traditional quilt patterns of yesteryear carried names of  patriotic events or people.  As a celebration of the Fourth of July (sometimes called Independence Day), let’s discover these.

Image: sxc.hu

(From your knowledge of American history, do you recognize these patriots’ names or the event?)

1. Clay’s Choice
2. Lincoln’s Platform
3. Little Giant
4. Old Tippecanoe
5. Union Square
6. Union Star
7. Whig Rose
8. Democrat Rose
9. President’s Wreath
10. Alexander Hamilton’s Quilt
11. Burgoyne Surrounded
12. Yankee Pride
13. Fifty-Four-Forty-or-Fight

Do you have favorite patriotic quilt patterns…those of yesteryear or today?

Throughout the years, quilts and crafts have been used to raise funds for many causes.  This is a way quilters and crafters can come together and use their talents to create a piece of art for a worthy effort.

Quilts for Fund Raising - Image: sxc.hu

Some of these fund raisers include:

• Raffles
• Auctions
• Bond drives
• Silent auctions
• Craft fairs

In the article, Quilts on display tell history of Sarnia-Lambton, I learned about the “signature quilts” made by quilting groups to raise money for bond drives during World Wars I and II.  For these fund raising efforts, local residents paid to have their names stitched in the quilts.

It was interesting to learn that the curator of a  museum, where one of these quilts was displayed, found the name of his own relative.

What fund raising efforts have you participated in involving quilts or other crafts?

Have you ever wondered what to do with a worn and tattered old quilt?  It’s not worth repairing…there are too many worn and torn pieces.  However, you don’t want to throw it out.  Perhaps you decide to cut it up and convert whatever is usable into pillows, toys, or wall hangings.

Quilts within quilts Image:sxc.hu

Why not use it for the filling of another quilt?  It wouldn’t be a quilt you sell, but one for your own or family use.  The older quilt, even though it isn’t seen, would still have more years doing “undercover work.”

Lisa at her Lisa’s Sew Fun blog, tells about doing this in her post, Behold Old Things Become New. 

How have you used old quilts so that they don’t entirely disappear?

Quilters, fabric artists and seamstresses generally have a love of fabric.  That’s sometimes why they’ve gotten involved in these hobbies, then turned them into businesses to justify all the fabric they collect.

Image: sxc.hu

How to disguise the fabric as they bring it into the house and then where to store it once it’s there becomes a challenge.  What are your techniques and where do you store your fabrics?

My cousin uses some of her fabric (that which overflows the sewing room/office) in the living room as part of the decor.  When I walked into her home, my eyes immediately focused on the fabric and quilts stacked on shelves.  Even though she couldn’t display all of this so you saw the full design, the colorful fabrics were very appealing on shelves.

Penny Halgren, at How to Quilt, has some interesting suggestions about Storing Fabric for Quilting that might help you.  Most of these also would apply to storing fabric for any type of sewing. 

If you wonder how to sneak your fabric into the house, check out Penny’s Clever Fabric Hideaways.

Do you have any suggestions?

Beth, at Quilter Beth’s Blog, shares some unique quilting art she viewed at St. Meinrad by Denise Mucci Furnish.   Called a Surface and Yo-Yo Series, here you’ll see quilts that have been painted with acrylics.

Image: sxc.hu

The underlying textures show through, but the resulting art, as seen in photos at Beth’s blog, is something different from the traditional quilts of our grandmother’s era.

You’ll definitely want to see Beth’s photos, as well as her descriptions and reactions.

Have you ever tried painting over existing quilts rather than simply painting and decorating fabric?  If not, this is another technique to explore.

Although the quilt above  isn’t one of  Denise’s quilts, it’s another variation  that is distinct and eye catching.

Creating family history quilts takes many forms.  These have become popular for preserving memories, pictures, fabric and memorabilia.

Reproducing family photos on fabric, generally with the computer and printer nowadays, although some people still like to make sun prints and similar applications.

Gathering fabrics used in clothing worn by family members, either from many or just one person.  Among these are t-shirts that appeal to a particular family member.

Using designs that connect with a person’s interest, hobby or occupation.  My daughter made a quilt for her young son with blocks of different trucks during his truck stage.

Tracing each family member’s hand and appliquing it to a quilt.  Each person might sign his/her hand.  My daughter did this for her family and added birth dates to the hands.

For a wall quilt, attach three dimensional objects associated with the person or family’s life.

What do you do for family memory quilts?

(Personal History image at Amazon)

Recently I read, in the McKenzie River Reflections (Oregon) about 5th grade students, who raised $1,300 with a Sunflower quilt they made to benefit the McKenzie Outdoor School.

Image: sxc.hu

Although the photo wasn’t in color, the sunflower designs looked lovely and very individual.

Sunflowers seem to be a theme in other schools this year.  In New Hampshire, students planted sunflowers on the front lawn to beautify their school and to promote its “green” theme.

In browsing through my quilting books, I’ve come across three patterns with the sunflower’s name.  Do you know of any more?

• Kansas Sunflower
• Sunflower
• Basket of Sunflowers

Do you ever use a sunflower theme in your crafts?

(My“Country Kitchen” column appears in the print edition of River Reflections. I’ll be writing about sunflowers there soon.)

I look at the old quilt I made with my grandmother more than 50 years ago and note some of the small repairs I must make so that the fabrics don’t deteriorate further.  For a quilt that’s well used, it’s in surprisingly good condition.  Those feed sack fabrics have endured the years well.

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.

Utilizing scraps and old garments for quilts and even for clothing was a popular practice among the pioneers.  In the early days of our country, homemakers usually either made their own fabric or recycled what they had on hand.  Rarely did they have the money to purchase new fabric from the general store.

Image: sxc.hu

Nowadays, in our stressed economy,  recycling garments has become popular once again.  Not because fabric is scarce, but because people can’t afford to purchase new.

I used fabric from old garments for quilts and for my daughter’s clothing many years ago.  It was fun to pour over the quilts and find scraps from sewing projects and family garments.

Nowadays, women are rediscovering this art of making quilts and clothing from old garments.  In addition to fabric shops being popuplar places to shop, quilters and dressmakers are pulling out the old fabrics and garments from their stashes.  They are finding these items also at thrift shops and rummage sales.

Have you utilized old garments for your sewing?

Related Posts:

Aprons in Art, Business & Memories mentions recycling clothing as aprons.

Penny Halgren’s Cutting Up Garments for Fabric gives a tutorial.