This basket in our den holds various throws and shawls. I ignore it most of the summer. But the mornings are much cooler now and I find myself throwing on the shawl or grabbing a throw when I want to take a nap on the sofa. In that basket, you can see one of the quilts my grandmother made me.
Grandma grew up on a farm in Canada. She knew how to sew, to embroider, to tat, to crochet and to quilt. She carried those skills with her as she made a home in Michigan. Every winter, she made one quilt. Maybe two. I had a Sunbonnet Sue quilt when I was very young and I have no idea where that one ended up. I suspect it was passed on to one of my sisters and where it went from there…I have no idea. This particular quilt covered my twin sized bed.
Hand appliqued, hand quilted and made from her fabric scraps. Those same scraps were used to make clothes for my dolls. Don’t you love these fabrics? I wish I had her scrap bag. I used to spend hours sorting through the material, loving all the various patterns.
Grandma’s quilts were heavy, much heavier than any of the quilts I’ve made. I think she used heavy cotton blankets as the center of the quilt sandwich. Whatever she used, the weight is substantial – perfect for Michigan winters and, now, for New York winters.
It needs some repair. I wonder if those green flowers were once much brighter? Take a peek at the backing fabric:
It’s a fairly bright green. And oh, those perfect, even stitches.
I vaguely remember Grandma sitting in a chair, quilting. But only vaguely. Certainly I had no interest in it myself until much later in my life, long after Grandma had left us. I often think she would have been so happy to see me quilting. She would have loved the fact that Meredith knits, crochets and weaves. And that I knit, crochet, embroider and quilt.
It’s so important to pass these skills on to the next generation. Meredith taught my niece Elizabeth how to knit. Perhaps Elizabeth will teach her daughters to wield a knitting needle. I remember Grandma trying to teach me how to crochet with white thread, the kind she used in her pillowcase edgings. My mom taught me how to knit – a skill I promptly forgot until Meredith reintroduced it to me in 2001. (We had moved to a town on the Hudson River, just north of Manhattan, two months before 9-11. I needed the comfort that knitting can give.)
I love this generational sharing. My grandmother, my mother, my sister, my niece, me.
Did someone in your life pass a creative art on to you?
Linking to Elaine’s Sunny Simple Sundays.
Happy Sunday.
It is LOVELY! :) I too have a Dresden from MY grandma and I cherish it.
Hi Claudia! Finally made it over for a visit since you switched over. Everything looks beautiful, including the etsy shop!
The quilt your grandmother made is so pretty. I bet she would be proud that your using it and tell her story on your blog. My grandmother also grew up on a farm in Canada (Manitoba), and I have a few of her quilts, quite faded and worn beyond repair, but I keep them around anyway. Hopefully someone will be still using the things we make years from now! Take care : )
Lynne
I have a “grandmas quilt”..Old, stained..knows lots of family stories…:)
Oh Claudia, you’re speaking to my heart here! No one passed any quilts down to me, but I made plenty of my own and for my daughters. They seem to have no interest in learning the art of quilting however, sadly enough. That Dresden Plate is so lovely. I made one Dresden Plate quilt myself. Hardest one I ever made. I know you cherish the memories, and the softness must seem like her putting her arms around you. Lovely post.
Brenda
What a lovely memento you have from your grandmother Claudia. It brought a tear to my eye. My great grandmother was a very talented seamstress and artist unfortunately her daughter, my grandmother, could not paint a stroke or thread a needle. She was a fabulous business woman and antiques dealer so she may not have made me a quilt but she did give me a lovely yellow one with a butterfly pattern when I got married. My great grandmother did have someone who embraced her talents though…..me. Of every woman in the family I was the only one who loved to sit with her and watch her sew and go to the Woman’s Art League with her, which she was a lifetime member.
Thanks for the lovely Sunday memory, I needed it.
hugs,
Sue
Your post has warmed my heart. What a beloved treasure you have — I adore all of the different fabrics and colours. Most of the quilts I have made are with reproduction 30’s fabrics, but to see the real deal! Ooooh la la. I too feel a connection with my grandmothers, great grandmothers, aunts and my mom when I sew, crochet, embroider and quilt. My grandparents on my mom’s side were both born in the USA — it amazes me how much people travelled and ventured out way back then. What a journey it must have been. Thanks so much for this post… it’s a new favourite.
Such a pretty quilt, Claudia. I too have one from my Grandma. My Mom enjoys making small quilt for babies and our pet babies.
I have wonderful memories of my grandmother showing me how to hold the knitting needles and telling me to keep the tension loose. I was always knitting so tightly that it was a struggle to get the needles into my stitches. Her knitting basket was full of bits and bobs, stitch markers, measuring tape and, most especially, a pair of gold “stork” scissors, which fascinated me ( I have them today ). She was a gentle woman with a kind heart and a warmth I will never forget. Many happy memories are shared between my brother and my sisters this many years later. I still struggle with “too tight” stitches but I am happy to say that both my daughters have now learned to crochet, sew and both want to start knitting :)
P.S…
I love your quilt !!! It looks right at home in your cheerful cottage !
Claudia, that quilt is just too perfect for words. How blessed you are to have such a thing and all the memories that go with it.
Hugs,
Meri
Claudia – Beautiful post and beautiful quilt filled with memories. I am the oldest (as my sisters love to remind me) of four girls. As each girl turned seven, Mom and my Nana spent that year teaching you to sew and embroider. For my birthday, I was given a Betsey McCall doll in a red metal suitcase filled with doll patterns and tons of fabric scraps. For the entire year, if you were in the sewing room with Mom or Nana, the other girls could not interrupt. So, that was done four times and as a result, I have always had a love of sewing. One other sister still sews a little – the other two not so much. They didn’t like as a seven year old and still don’t.
Thanks for the memories.
Judy
PS I still have my suitcase, patterns and my doll.
Your quilt is so lovely Claudia. As I am writing this comment I too have pulled an old quilt over me to chase away the morning chill. Nothing can be better than wrapping up in a grandmother’s love. I read somewhere recently that there is a small movement to bring back home economics classes to schools. While women are now a viable force in the workplace, the skills of creating a warm and welcoming home should never be diminished. I am a big fan of Mary Jane Butters for encouraging the art of quilting, sewing, knitting, crochet and embroidery. It is so satisfying in so many ways. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Beautiful quilt! One day my quilts will be “Grandma’s” quilts hopefully. :-)
I love quilts and this one is lovely. Hold so much love and memories. My Grandmother was an artist and painted and crafted all her life. My Mom sews and made quilts until a few years ago. I don’t sew much but I do find a creative outlet in photography and scrapbooks. Now my youngest daughter, she sews, knits and crochets. Maybe it just skipped a generation! Hugs, Linda
I love your little quilt. I too think it’s important to pass down skills. I taught my daughter how to embroidery and hope she will want to do it at some point. I’m a quilt lover and have an abundance of quilts handed down from ancestors. My mom is an amazing quilt designer and pieces beautiful tops. I don’t think I will ever take up that art, but I did learn to crochet and sew a tiny bit.
I love the old fabrics in quilts. My grandmother made quilts, but had stopped by the time I was born. I taught myself to sew, embroider, and crochet and handed those skills on down to my daughters.
hugs,
Laura
Claudia, what a beautiful quilt and special because of the history behind it. I am amazed at the fine needlework and the beautiful scrap fabrics. My mother taught me how to knit, but I lost interest when we moved to Florida. She was an avid knitter. She learned from her brother, my uncle, interestingly enough. He learned while in a German POW Camp during WWII, it helped to pass the time.
I did learn what few cooking and baking skills I have from my mother and for that I am grateful.
Ann
Claudia,
Your quilt is beautiful and even better that it was lovingly hand crafted by your Grandmother.
Your Grandma quilts are wonderful. I have Grandma quilts from both sides of the family. One side of the family did very fine embroidery on the quilt and it is on a thinner cotton fabric. The other side of the family used various quilt block patterns and used nice even hand stitches but on much sturdier cotton. I have two baby quilts and a regular bed sized quilt from that side. I love them they are so full of memories. I’ve had them ever since I can remember. I doubt if my daughter or son will cherish them as I do, but I hope that they keep them in the family always
I wish someone had taught me how to wield a needle. I have no talent when it comes to any type of needlework, and both of my grandmothers were quite talented. I did not grow up near them, but I do have quite a few of the “pretties” they made. Your quilt is a beauty, and it is quite a treasure.
My sweet “Ma” crocheted, made patterns for all. her children’s clothing, quilted and did beautiful embroidery. I learned cooking from her and by osmosis absorbed much of my love of sewing and “making do” (crafting) from her. How blessed we are to have had such role models! I have a quilt she made and it is one of my most priceless treasures. If I can be but half the grandmother she was, I will be glorious. Thanks for the memories. Your quilt is lovely and precious. Thank you for making it so easy to leave a comment.
That quilt is so beautiful, Claudia. What a treasure! I love all those pretty floral scraps. My grandmother and mother taught me all I know about sewing, embroidery, knitting and crocheting and I’m so grateful to them for doing so. It’s such a pleasure to be able to make things by hand that way, to use myself or give away to family and friends.