Save an old heirloom quilt

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   kprinceposted 15 years ago

   Here is an idea to save a quilt heirloom. I started with an old quilt created by my Mother, Aunt, and Grandmother.   I was a little girl watching them.   I cut all the sections that were still intact, including pieces from the back of the quilt.  Then I re-cut the pieces into squares or hearts.  On the back materical I sewed a small pocket.  One pocket I made out of the front quilt material.  Then, I sewed the front quilt and the back piece together and made a pillow.   I left a section open to turn the pieces inside out to hide the seams and filled with some stuffing.  Stitch the opening closed and you have a display pillow.   You can be creative.   In the pocket, I made on the back of the pillow, I placed a small paper detailing the owners and creaters of the quilt and any little story I can remember.   Three generations….

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      nadpposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      How nice!  I love things that keep family history alive.

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   Ohmaposted 15 years ago

   What a novel idea! most people do not think to add documented history of such things. I have so many things in my home that came down through the family over the years but no one remembers from where or who. Good job!

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   DonnaCSmithposted 15 years ago

   That's a great idea. My daughter made Christmas stockings from an old quilt and gave one to all her family members. I still hang them up during the holidays.

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   AdeleCosgroveBrayposted 15 years ago

   Another way of preserving a fragile quilt could be to add a new backing cloth, leaving the old one in situ.  Attach the new cloth to the existing quilt with spaced knots - a traditional form of quilting in itself - then turn the new hem over and stitch to the pre-existing hem.
   
   This would probably be best displayed as a wall hanging rather than used as a quilt, depending on the condition of the original fabrics.

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   nadpposted 15 years ago

   I don't have any old quilts in my family.  I was the one that started quilting - so one day my quilts will be old quilts. lol
   When my oldest daughter (now 31) was an infant I made a small patchwork receiving blanket for her.  I didn't use any batting - just the patches and a soft flannel back.  She loved it.  When she started to talk she called it her "comfortable blanket".  Anyway, the patches were made from leftover fabric that I had used to make my maternity clothes.  So it's a nice reminder of that whole period in her life and in mine.  She still has it - and we're all hoping there'll be a new baby soon who can use it too.

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   creativelyccposted 15 years ago

   That is so nice, it's a great way to keep a quilt with such meaning alive.

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