Patchwork is Personal: History and Quilts.

Photos: Library of Congress

The thing about old time patchwork is that its personal. By the time a quilt's binding is complete, every little piece of that old time fabric has been worn by a loved one, then washed, pressed, cut, arranged, and stitched, sandwiched, quilted and tied by someone's hands.

I have two quilts made by my great-grandmother that have been part of my life longer than any other thing I own. I remember taking naps underneath the blue one during preschool and holding it up to the sun so I could see the light coming through all of the different fabric "envelopes." Much later in life, I learned that it was a variation on the "Flying Geese" pattern. My mother says that the patches were cut from dresses she remembers her grandmother wearing.

In her retirement, my grandmother volunteered with "Helping Hands"; a group that stitched lap and bed quilts for people in nursing homes. She brought my sister and I to one of her old lady quilting bees, down in the church basement in Indianola, Iowa. I was about 10 years old and I remember a bunch of women working together around a big frame. The quilt was yarn tied, and my grandma had us help tie the yarns in knots because we had small, nimble fingers.

There might have been lunch, but there was definitely church basement coffee.

Comments

[Rebecca]

I've always had a love for and fascination of old quilts, too. My mother has a red and white quilt that my great grandmother made many, many years ago. The red has faded to a rosy pink, but I think that gives it even more character. My mom recently made a quilt for my daughter and is now working on one for my son. Hopefully, they will become heirlooms for their families some day!

[Kim Taylor -- The Sassy Crafter]

Heidi, I was so tickled to see this post. The same topic has been on my mind as of late. I love seeing old quilts and wondering about all of the hands that have touched them throughout their lives.

And like you, I have fond memories of a quilt that was made by one of my relatives. It's a blue and white pattern (sorry, don't know it) that was hand-pieced and hand-quilted by my great great (great?) grandmother. It has always hung in my mother's living room, and I hope one day it will hang in mine.

Right now I'm working out some ideas for repurposing old quilts that are too beat up for using on beds. I'll let you know what I come up with!