For the month of February's Throwback Thursday, I thought I would go way back to the beginning of my quilting life.
When I started 1st grade my mother went to work in town; so during vacations and after school, my grandmothers stepped in doing child care.
The question was always what are we going to do to keep Sally busy. We tried crocheting, tatting, embroidery, cooking; but nothing really took until they got out the sewing machine. Sewing and quilting was the answer.
Below is my first project doing patchwork -- not really a quilt, because it was tied and not quilted. I made it for my favorite doll, Jerry. There are some pretty wonky four-patches and a few tucks in the sashing, but not bad for the first try of an 11-year old!
I remember I was not happy embroidering my name, age, and date on it; but my grandmother insisted that I label my quilt.
When I started 1st grade my mother went to work in town; so during vacations and after school, my grandmothers stepped in doing child care.
The question was always what are we going to do to keep Sally busy. We tried crocheting, tatting, embroidery, cooking; but nothing really took until they got out the sewing machine. Sewing and quilting was the answer.
Below is my first project doing patchwork -- not really a quilt, because it was tied and not quilted. I made it for my favorite doll, Jerry. There are some pretty wonky four-patches and a few tucks in the sashing, but not bad for the first try of an 11-year old!
I remember I was not happy embroidering my name, age, and date on it; but my grandmother insisted that I label my quilt.
I'm so happy she made me do it, because I now know when I first fell in love with quilting.
When I wrote my first book, "Keepsake Signature Quilts"; I dedicated it to my grandmothers -- they taught me so much.
When I wrote my first book, "Keepsake Signature Quilts"; I dedicated it to my grandmothers -- they taught me so much.
The child's rocking chair was a Christmas gift to my grandmother Billingslea when she was 2 years old in 1901. She gave it to me in the 1980s -- a treasure I love along with my first quilt.
I'm joining the following:
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Quarter Inch from the Edge for Throwback Thursday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
A Quilted Passion for Whoomp There It is! Saturday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday
15 comments:
I love seeing this quilt. So precious and lovely. I bet there are lots of memories, even beyond what you have shared here.
Oh what a beautiful post. And what a legacy of quilting! I love the quilt, and that your grandmother insisted that you sign and date it, but most special to me is the picture of you with all of your grandmothers to remember all they meant to you. How lovely!
And you still have the quilt! That is the best part of all. Lovely story - thank you for sharing it.
You win...hands down! What a beautiful throwback quilt! The story, memories and the fact that it is still around...holy cow! Your Grandmother was right in making you date it!
Your grandmother was ahead of her time in ensuring that you labeled your quilt. I wish I had quilting grandmother to have taught me. :) Thank you for sharing your quilt's story and for linking up with Throwback Thursday @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge!
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing.
I'm pretty sure tied quilts are still called quilts. It's about three layers secured together at intervals, not so much about how. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure about that. Those are all so lovely. Thank you for sharing.
I so love that you still have your very first quilt! What a wonderful story!
Wow, your first quilt is wonderful, and I loved hearing the story of it. I don't have those memories because I learned quilting as an adult, but my mother shared her love of handwork--embroidery, crewel work, knitting and crocheting with me. None of that really stuck except maybe embroidery, but I'm glad she tried. I've taught my daughter quilting and her first quilt looks similar to yours--very simple. Love that your grandmother made you label it! If only all quilters would do the same and save our history.
You have such wonderful memories of your grandmothers that will live in your heart forever.
Hi! This is a lovely post! Your first quilt is beautiful and the rocking chair real treasure! Thank you for reminding that the label is very important. I wish I had found quilting in age of 11 and not 45. x Teje
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That is so lovely! :)
Greetings from Finland!
Hugs, Ulla
Nice keepsake!
I think it is so wonderful you have your first quilt and memories of your grandmothers teaching you to sew and quilt. It's a beautiful keepsake! Thanks for sharing on MCM. :)
What a delightful memory and story! It certainly IS called a quilt. keep in mind the era you speak of - it was either tying or hand quilting. Our now standard long arms were certainly futuristic. My maternal Grandmother taught me so many handwork arts. She was a fabulous garment seamstress and passed that to me early on. I drew and colored a pattern on paper for my first quilt (a trip around the world), and then drew lines on my fabric with a pencil and 12" ruler and then cutting with shears. We have come so far in our quilting, but such a treasure to remember our humble beginnings. Thanks for sharing!
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