Good Morning, Quilters!
Last year I rescued a quilt from a painter.
He was using a hand-made quilt as a drop cloth.
My heart sank as I watched him unfurl it under his ladder and prepared to paint.
“Excuse me….I’ll trade you a real drop cloth for that quilt?”
He looked at me like I was a little strange….(Quilters—we’re used to that.)
The quilt had a few holes (but fortunately no paint– yet) So I repaired it and gave it to one of my daughters.
My friend said she rescued a quilt at a tailgate-a young couple was using it to wrap their grill.
Oh dear….
What about YOU?
Have you ever rescued a quilt?
We’d LOVE to HATE to hear!
Lori
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105 comments
Donna Sofokles
My brother found some cheddar quilt blocks in his late wife’s belongings and asked if I wanted them. I “finished” them, communing with their unknown maker during the process, and called it “Aged Cheddar.” They were 1870’s vintage and it’s my favorite quilt. I hope the maker is pleased.
Becky Shaffer
I have a friend who made a quilt for a nephew and his wife. A few weeks later she visited them and saw her quilt in the dog’s bed as she was leaving. She just picked it up and took it back with her! She now only makes quilts for those she is sure will appreciate them.
Christina in FL
Oh Becky, I am SOOOO glad your friend took the quilt back! Balderdash on such peeps who don’t appreciate hand made goodness!!
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Oh no!!!
Pat V
I made a quilt for our new grandson. Several years later I found the quilt in the bottom of the dog kennel. Like your friend,mI snatched it out of the kennel and took it home. Maybe one day the baby will grow up to appreciate quilts and I’ll give it back.
Susan Ramsayworldpresscom986
Good for her. That takes courage. My mom crocheted and was heartsick many times when my nieces and nephews mistreated her
lovely work.
Erica
Wow, this is crazy. Once you gift something, it is the recipient’s to use as they please. Most of the quilts I have made and kept have been “ruined” by my dogs, but what I see is them being used and enjoyed. Once I give a quilt away, I want it USED, not folded away in a closet somewhere.
lilquilter
Erica is absolutely correct with her response to Susan Ramsey. Yes, once you give a gift, it is up to the recipient what to do with it. I think we “makers” all agree that our efforts and feelings deserve respect, so we need to either gain that respect from the knowledge that we stitched the gift with love for the recipient and we took great pleasure in creating the piece, or hope the recipient appreciates the gift, grow a thick skin in case they don’t and rescue it if necessary and possible! One more thing…we need to make sure we make wonderful quilts for ourselves, too!
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I agree!
MARJORIE
Fourth plus years ago, I was newly married to first husband. We were visiting in-laws. My father-in-law was going camping with his brother and had a quilt his mother had made in 1900. It was hand pieced with the smallest stitches I ever seen. Hand quilted, the pattern was the pie and crust (forgot real name). Damage on one corner where dogs had torn it. I wanted to cry. It was the first quilt I ever seen and I loved it. So many hours, such bueatiful handwork and callus treatment by its owner. In a rare bold move I grabbed the quilt and proclaimed that it was mine. Fast forward, better husband but I still have that antique quilt stored safely in a cedar chest. Plan to give to granddaughter when she marries.
Sharon Scott
This does make me want to cry, I cannot believe that people miss the history and workmanship of these treasures. I am so glad you proclaimed it yours!
Marta
Please do some research on storing in cedar. A South East USA quilt appraiser was horrified to hear from me that I stored my grandmothers quilts in mama’s cedar chest. She told me get them out asap, that it is common old wives tale to store that way. She said cedar is acid and will break down the fabric and thread over time. Her suggestion was wrap them in acid-free paper such as used for wedding dresses or 100% cotton with no fabric softeners in the fabric..such as a sheet. Sorry, don’t mean to step on any toes… just that I believed the professional appraiser. She’s been doing that for 30+ years. Sigh, I changed all my storage items… moving dresses from my girls saved from their infancy.
Christina in FL
Lori, I have yet to rescue a quilt from such horrors. Some people don’t get it at all. It’s just “an old blanket” to them.
I have learned to not try to “educate” such people…. it reminds me of an old saying: “Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and it annoys the pig.”
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LOL!! Im going to write that down!
Teresa T.
I think the never wrestle with a pig comes from Mark Twain actually. I love that………..
I took back a quilt I gave my Mother. Her cat was clawing it to bits….told her I would take it home and wash it for her. Sigh…….
Ann Thompson
I saw a lovely old handmade quilt top last night. The topstitching was varied and beautiful. Some of the fabrics had frayed, but the quilt was fascinating and well worth saving.
Terri
Recently I stopped into a yard sale. Spotting treasure, I casually asked the lady if she would take “five dollars for that old quilt over there”. She said, “oh I’m glad to get rid of that thing”. It is an original Civil War quilt in very good condition. I knew it the second I saw it. They had no idea what they were selling. What a treasure.
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Good for you!!! You deserve the treasure!
Ann Thompson
One of my life regrets is not labeling a family’s quilts. Years ago I sat with my half-sister as she went through her chest of quilts and shared the stories of how they were made. I longed to record her stories and deeply regret that I didn’t. My sister died unexpectedly and I seriously doubt that anyone appreciated the quilts or preserved them.
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A resolution we should all make today!!!
Vivian
And anyone interested in making that resolution should go right over to the Quilt Alliance website (http://quiltalliance.org/labelingpledge/).
They’re asking quilters to pledge to label all of their quilts so we preserve our quilt history and insure that there are no “anonymous” quilts in the future. Not to mention the possibility of winning prizes from sponsors for doing so!
Denice
On a lark I purchased some blocks on ebay. What I received was a half finished signature quilt with blocks from all over the country. I contacted the seller, who told me her late mother-in–law started the quilt many years ago. I finished the quilt and added a final block with the originator’s name. I take it out now and again and think of all the ladies who contributed blocks and wonder what their connection was.
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What a cool project!
Pat Lloyd
yes, went to a garage sale in my neighborhood and saw a plastic chest of drawers for only $10….said they would only sell it me if I took everything inside…was his grandmother’s…it was full of various quilting thread, scissors, needles, pins and nick nacks but also had a large drawer full of quilt blocks…some sewn together some just cut out in bags. Really old time fabrics. I rescued and have made at least 5 small quilts…gave some blocks to a quilter friend and still have some. Felt good about salvaging this since the couple did not seem to want it or care about it.
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Im so glad you did!
Ness
Blink blink. Blinking back tears. My coffee can’t get passed the lump in my throat. Some people don’t get it. A few of them will realize too late. And one thing I know about makers … They give a piece of their heart with each handmade gift… unconditionally.
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Agree!
Meredy Mastrokalos
I have rescued 4 quilts, all from flea markets at different times. One was a hand pieced top, 2 with Dresden plates, hand pieced but not pieced together, and a beautiful embroidered square, which I put borders on and quilted. I treasure these quilts so much. I’ll never know who put the work and love into these pieces, but am so thankful that they were not just thrown away.
Linda Thompson
I love to look at old quilts. We were cleaning out my aunts home, and in the bottom of the closet was a lovely old woolen quilt. My brother spied it first, so it was his prize. The sad thing….I don’t know if I have seen it since in their home. I don’t understand stowing things away in a closet for any reason. I have made up my mind that if I gift someone with a quilt, I hope it is used. And, if it is the dog laying on it on the bed, so be it…lucky dog!
Mary B
I’ve never rescued a quilt. But, I did rescue an afghan from a thrift shop. It was a pale yellow and beautiful. It had a label that said “Made with Love….From Grandma”. I was sad to see it in the thrift store.
mblittle5
I haven’t rescued a quilt, but I did become the owner of an exquisitely crocheted bed coverlet. I bought it at auction for one dollar!! Someone put so much love and time into making this coverlet — it’s cotton thread and queen sized. I’m sure it was done using a VERY small steel crochet hook, something my arthritis prevents me from using. I was thrilled to bring this home (it’s on my spare room bed) but so saddened than not one member of this woman’s family appreciated what went into the making of this amazing piece.
Kathy
I rescued a baby quilt from a moving company about 25 years ago. They were using it to pad furniture in their vans. It has 9 rows of 6 hand appliqued butterflies in bright scraps. No idea how old it it is. It’s tied with yarn and has cotton batting. I washed it but was unable to get out the stains but I still treasure it. .Embroidered on one of the butterflies is ” Go to sleep my darling”. Can’t help but wonder about the young mother that so lovingly made it for her baby girl.
Floy
Yes, I rescued a quilt from a thrift store (2 actually). The first one was so dirty; the dirt seemed to be embedded and I thought at first maybe it was the only thing holding it together. What drew me to the quilt was the pattern and the fabrics. I recognized the fabrics possibly being from the late 1800’s and the pattern was Kings Crown. I purchased it for $45 and took it home hoping I hadn’t made a mistake.
For three days it soaked in my bathtub as I continually drained the water and added new. After letting it air dry on some sheets on my floor, I am happy to say it all held together. I have had a quilt historian/appraiser look at it and confirm I was correct in the dating of the quilt and the pattern. It is from the Queen Victoria era and has several “mourning” fabrics in it. This is around the time her husband passed away, so I am guessing the Kings Crown pattern was done to honor him.
Sharon Scott
Wow! Just Wow!
quiltedpixel
I rescued “gramma’s old quilt” that was being used as a table cover at a garage sale. It was machine pieced and quilted from the 30’s…it is draped over the wall to the lower level, out of the light, and i love it. On the other hand, i made a flannel quilt for my daughter when she went to college, and everytime i go to her house, it’s smooshed in the corner of the couch because her husband uses it as a pillow. I made her a wedding quilt, but won’t make anymore quilts for her. My son, on the other hand, takes care of his quilts, so it’s a joy to make them for him.
Marta
Sew son-in-law a pillow? his choice of fabrics? Sounds like he likes flannel. 2017 – Year of making peace…Bless your son…
Louann
My mother-in-law had just passed away, and my husband was helping his dad clean out a few of her things. I had driven into my garage, and the lights from my car hit something in the give away pile that looked like a quilt! I got out of my car and picked up this item and it was a filthy, but a gorgeous red and white quilt! My husband said it was so dirty that he didn’t think it was any good—I told him never to do that again!! I washed it several times in the utility sink, praying that the red wouldn’t bleed into the white, but it had to be washed. No bleeding!! I had it looked at by a textile expert and it was from the 1860s and quite valuable! It now lives in my guest bedroom so everyone can enjoy it!
Nicole F. Benallick
I just was at the Martingale site and saw your book. How exciting! I put it on my wish list.
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Hurray! Comes out sometime in March!
Karen Flanigan
I rescued a quilt from the “dog blanket box” at a thrift store – hand pieced and quilted. It now is displayed in my home and at Christmas is under the tree. I have also rescued tops. The first is a blue and white pineapple that was lumpy and out of square. It became a big learning journey as I flattened and squared it up and added a border. I had it machine quilted and it’s gorgeous. My latest is a Dresden plate (flat and square!) that has a most unusual setting from a 1930’s newspaper pattern. I, too, think about that long ago woman who patiently stitched with love.
Maureen B. in B.C.
I’ve never rescued a quilt, but some of the comments by other bloggers (blog-adders … not sure what we are considered, us who comment on your blog Lori) have given me pause to reflect on quilts I’ve given to friends. No matter if it were a quick pattern or one that took weeks, I’d still be horrified to find it in someone’s dog bed or balled up for a pillow. The world is full of Philistines!
Sara Rose-Pegan
Wow, thinking about it, I have rescued quite a few… there was a hand sewn Drunkards Path Quilt from the 20’s that just needed repair in the binding. I found it really cheap at an antique mall. At that same antique mall I found 2 sets of beautiful antique blocks that I plan to put into a quilt soon. Also I found a real treasure of a king size Ohio Star summer quilt that was expertly hand quilted with the most perfect stitches sold in a resale shop for $40! It now resides on my bed and is one of my most treasured quilts. The amount of hard work that had gone into making it is unfathomable. I also have five other tops rescued from various sources in line to be finished. Does anyone else feel like if it’s an antique it needs to be hand quilted? Perhaps the most surprising rescue I made was at a quilt guild meeting! There was a Grandmother’s Flower Garden hexagon top in an argyle type pattern from the 40’s that no one wanted. It was all crumpled up into a paper bag and marked “scraps” .Once I opened it up and laid everything out I realized it had been cut into and was probably at one point a twin sized top. I assume it was cut up to make a stuffed animal or something, and I took it apart and re pieced it to make a baby sized quilt using all the original fabric. So cool. I definitely have a soft spot for orphan quilts and feel the need to see if I can help them reach their potential or fulfill their original purpose.
Sharon Scott
We purchased an old house to remodel and the previous tenant had left their garbage behind when they left. The home had sat empty for over 6 years. We knew it would be in bad shape and need to be gutted after the debris was removed. In the debris was an old cottage roses quilt. I took it home and laundered it and now snuggle under it every evening as I work on my quilts. I just love it…
Della
Wishing, one day, I’ll be so lucky to find an old quilt!!!!
Karla J Barry
I found a Dresden quilt that had embroidered crazy quilt stitching around each plate in my mother-in-law’s cupboard after she passed away. It was very dirty and rolled up in a plastic bag……I almost threw it away not knowing what it was!! I restored all the blocks and re-stitched them onto new backgrounds. We figured it was made by my husband’s Great grandmother because of the embroidery……..it was truly a labor of love to restore and I too thought about the person who spent so much time making this piece of art!
Margaret
I have seen too many quilts used for dog beds or to wrap an old engine block or thrown in the back of a pickup. I think that the quilts of valor movement is well meant, but I’m afraid that many of those quilts get rough treatment. Most people have no idea of the work it takes to make a quilt. They see the cheap ones in Walmart and other stores and think that’s what all of them are worth. Sad but true!
BJ
When my paternal grandmother died in the 70’s, the relatives cleaning out the house discovered a cedar chest full of quilt tops. They assumed the tops were made from children’s clothing, as there were a few piles of slightly cut up shirts, pajamas, and dresses in with the tops. I happened to see them on what looked like a pile of rubbish, and, even then – before I started quilting – just knew that they should be salvaged. I showed them to my father, one of 8 children, 6 still living at the time, and asked if he recognized any of the fabric in the quilts. He immediately pointed out a Christmas print from a pair of his pj’s and was able to do the same for 3 other tops. It seems Nana tried to use the clothing worn by each child in “their” quilt. What a shame that she didn’t finish them! I kept his and handed the identified tops to their rightful owners, along with the unknowns. My cousins promised to try to match tops to siblings, but I’m not sure how successful they were. I found some appropriate repro fabric for the backing, had it professionally quilted, and gave it to him for Christmas one year. When he died, it was left to me, but I gave it to my sister instead, as she has children and grandchildren who knew “Pappy” and will cherish it for years to come. Thinking of this history lesson now, I’m inspired to start quilting my massive pile of tops, lest someone think of them as rubbish when I pass!
Norma Hamilton
My BIL took two quilts from MIL’s house, was going to use them as moving quilts around the furniture he was taking to his home. I rescued both thankfully. Still have and cherish them. His Great Grandmother had made them!
Marta
An artist friend spotted a quilt top in a thrift shop while he was on vacation in north Georgia. He got it for $14 and gave it to me to rescue. The pattern was appliqued small print baskets with bright red handles on beige backgrounds. The quilt was square and would cover half a twin bed. It was woefully puckered and would not lay flat. I took all the handles off and soaked them,,, yep, red dye galore! I treated them to not bleed. I had to take the blocks apart to sew a smooth top. It is resting now for awhile… LOL. I need to find some red to match the handles as one didn’t have a handle.. yet. It seems to me the fabrics are from the 30’s or 40’s. A red binding would be the crowning glory I think.
Pat
I love everyone’s stories – thank you for sharing!
Many years ago I took my first quilting class. My grandmother told me that she had an unfinished quilt and that she had a dream (nightmare) that someone discarded the quilt into the alley after she was gone. I suggested that we pull it out and work on it together. So my mom, grandmother and I got together once a week – I was home from work with my newborn- so that counts as 4 generations “working” on it! I know why she stopped working on it – the top and bottom had gotten distorted as she hand quilted it. So we unsewed some of the quilting, put it on a frame, and completed the quilting of a beautiful “Trip Around the World” where each piece as 1″. My grandmother passed away about a year later so it is a wonderful memory for me. The quilt has been stored away – to protect it. I am now making a resolution to get that quilt onto a bed this weekend!
Pat
lilquilter
I bought a baby blocks UFO from the bazaar room at a local quilt guild show several years back. It was hand-pieced, likely by more than one person, and was grossly misshapen (giant bulge in the middle) to the point that it would not ever lie flat, no matter how heavily quilted it could be. I eventually trimmed it square and made it into a “Hoito” bag to use to transport the “Scrap Bag” to my quilt guild meetings. The bulge is unnoticeable! Yay – another successful rescue!
Barbara J Hauck
Great post, Lori. I rescued a quilt–from myself! Years ago, my MIL gave me a hand appliqued quilt top she’d found in her mother’s house. The top was beautifully stitched, but was missing 2 of the borders. I took a look at it and decided it was nice but not to my taste. I kept the top for 10 or 15 years, taking it out occasionally to have a look, and I never liked it. but for some reason, I didn’t toss it out. After I began making quilts myself, I was able to fully appreciate the beauty of that quilt top, and I had it professionally finished and quilted. I learned from family members that it had been made by my husband’s great grandmother who died very suddenly in the early 1940’s. The fabrics in the appliqued top are from the 20’s and 30’s and include some silks. I think Great Grandmother was working on it when she died, and that’s why it was never finished. Now, it has a place of honor on display in my home. And I added a label that tells the entire story of the quilt. I can’t say how glad I am that I didn’t throw out that old top!
lilquilter
Lori, your timing is ironic – yesterday’s (1/5/17) Dear Abby column included a letter from someone who suffered “gift abuse” – a family member’s dog was sleeping on a pillow she had made. Knowing how unknowledgeable many non-quilters are about the use and care of special hand-sewn gifts, when I gave my brother and sister-in-law their wedding present, a hand-quilted queen-sized double wedding ring quilt I’d made using many of my mother’s fabrics, I asked them to use it with care and noted same on the back of the quilt where I signed it. My suggestion to anyone giving such a gift to a friend or family member is to provide storage and care instructions and gently let them know how much love was stitched into it, and if they are ever thinking of using it for a furniture blanket, to please consider finding it a new loving home instead so as not to hurt the poor quilt’s feelings. 😉
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This is great advice!
Amy
I give a quilt documentation form with every quilt I give as a gift. It includes the name of the recipient, my name, why the quilt was made/given, quilt name, pattern it’s based on, fabrics used (in particular any specific lines used), type of fabric, type of quilt (pieced, paper-pieced, etc), whether it was machine or hand quilted, type of thread, and location of the label. I include pictures of the quilt, including close-ups of the quilting and the label. On the back, besides pictures, are care instructions. All of my quilts are washed before given away to remove any soil picked up while I was making it AND to ensure that there won’t be any surprises when the recipient eventually launders it.
lilquilter
Amy, those are great ideas! Thank you for sharing!
doni boyd
30 years ago I was a girl scout leader and my troop was chosen to help carry the banners in the Nebraska Star City December parade. It was cold and slushy. Walking the parade route with the girls was like an antique quilt show. I couldn’t even count the number of people sitting on the curb wrapped in well loved quilts. When I was complaining about that use later, someone told me, “We love to use grandma’s quilt. We think of her every time we’re on a picnic!” At least they’re thinking of her!?!? doni @ Oregon coast
Betty Shaw
I found an unfinished quilt at a yard sale in North Dakota while traveling. Bought it for $ 5.00.
Steffani McChesney
I went to an antique shop with a friend many years ago. There was a beautiful silk and velvet crazy quit. The shop owner said she was going to cut it up and make a jacket. I offered to buy it. She sold it to me for $90.00. It lives in my cedar chest and will be donated to the textile museum at the Colorado State University. Shame on people, especially an antique shop owner. She should have known better.
Scrappy Chris
I found and rescued a quilt top from an antique store in Bisbee, AZ. Cost about $35. It is smallish fan blocks with lots of white. Slowly working on some of the blades as they need replacing and then plan to quilt it. It lays flat and in good condition other than a few of the blades. It looks to be from the 1930’s . I call it a tribute to my paternal grandmother as I found out she quilted in the 1930’s. when she died none of her quilts survived. I looked up Quilt Alliance as mentioned in a previous post. I teach quilting and always emphasize the importance of labeling quilts. The last class I taught I gave out to all the students a pre- printed quilt label so they would start to labeling their quilts!
Paula
Such wonderful stories! I love old quilts and have several in my closet from deceased family members. My regret is that I don’t know who made which quilt. I vaguely remember making a trip to East Texas with my mom and aunt to visit relatives during which time they bought one of the quilts their aunt had made. I was so young I don’t remember the aunt. Sad isn’t it? I really need to make the effort to label the quilts I make. By the way, I make dog and cat size quilts for my friends with cherished pets. They have places of honor on couches and chairs. Some are even generously shared by the pets with their doting “owners”.?
Susan Therrien
My mother had 4 quilt tops my great grandmother pieced. As a teenager I thought they were ugly. But, as the family keepsake keeper, I took the tops after my mother died. About 4 years ago I had a neighbor who has won awards for her quilts. She showed me how to prepare the tops for quilting and introduced me to a long arm quilter. As I ironed the tops I could see that one was probably a beginners quilt. It was half hand pieced and half machine pieced. Two of the quilts were all machine pieced. The last was all hand pieced. I had them quilted for each of my sisters. Sadly, one of the quilts was part of a theft from a moving company just last summer. We suspect it wound up in the dump, but hope someday it will reappear. I did label each quilt. So, maybe someone will try to contact the family or the long arm quilter.
Aleeda
I am frequently rescuing quilts from trunks and attics. My partner’s grandmother left a number of tops, as did the mother of my aunt’s best friend. Fortunately, when these were found, they knew EXACTLY who to contact! 🙂 More UFOs for me unfortunately…but also more quilting practice!
Nancy
I have rescued 2 quilts. One I found on the road, (must have been used to wrap some furniture I suspect) while I was bike riding. I did my ride, as I couldn’t carry it with me, and jumped in the car and raced to see if it was still there. Of course it was, I took it home and washed it up…it was definitely a funky 60’s quilt, made with wild colors and some polyester fabrics even, but it became our picnic quilt. Another was given to a friend from our older neighbor, and was a lovely grandmother’s flower garden quilt top. My friend who is an art quilter didn’t want it, as it had some holes and worn fabrics. I had another friend who graciously repaired the holes, and I found a church group that I paid to hand quilt it…it is still one of my favorite quilts.
Liz Blois
What fun hearing about all these rescued quilts, I hope if my quilts find their way to a charity shop when I’m gone then someone will rescue them. Its better they are bought by someone who loves them than kept by people who don’t really want them but feel they should. When I first saw my grandchildren’s quilts being used as rugs on the floor or spread out on the ground in the garden something in me jarred but then I realised that the quilts were being used by the people I love, they are dragged around, made into tents and dens, provide comfortable seating at picnics, get a bit muddy at firework parties, keep watching siblings warm at football matches, in fact they are part of family life. They get thrown in the washing machine and they might be a bit faded but they are used and loved, what more could I ask for. That’s much better than being hidden away in a drawer wrapped in tissue paper. I’m proud that my family prefer my quilts to the mass produced blankets they could be using. The frst encounter I had with this sort of quilt was on a holiday to the States where we were watching a Rodeo in Tucson, it had turned cold and a lady sitting near us went to her car and returned with an armfull of wonderful quilts to wrap us all up in. I thought that was such fantastic hospitality and it inspired me to take up quilting and have my quilts used in this way. I might draw the line at providing a bed for the dog though.
Linda Davidson
Years ago my mother-in-law made a cross-stitched summer quilt. (That’s what I call it. There is no batting.) She put the quilt on her guest room bed, and said the quilt would eventually become my son’s. She eventually showed signs of Alzhimers and had to move to a nursing home. When my husband and I packed up her belongings, I asked her about the quilt. She had given it to a neighbor! Because of her Alzhimers, she had been taken advantage of. My husband and another neighbor went to the neighbor and asked for the quilt. Fortunately, the neighbor gave it to them. My son told me to keep it for the time being. It is a lovely quilt, and I enjoy having it on my bed in the summer.
Karen H.
I am working on a hand embroidered cross stitch quilt my MIL made. When she died my husband got it. We have used it some, however she used cheap broadcloth for the setting, sashing and backing. Plus cheap poly batting, so I have taken the quilt apart and will do some small applique in the negative spaces on the top to reinforce the fabric and then layer with nice backing and cotton batting and quilt it on machine. She also only hand quilted all her quilts. The batting in it had fallen apart. She loved to hand piece and hand quilt, but could not afford to spent much for the materials.
Lee Young
In some of these rescue situations (ex: where a mover used a quilt as padding), I can’t help but wonder if it was originally a “lost quilt”. Has anyone considered checking the Lost Quilt (dot) com site? I know there are many folks out there who are heart-broken over the loss of a beloved treasure that may have ended up in yard sales or thrift shops. I haven’t rescued any quilts, but do have some old ones that are treasures.
catkiz
Back in the 1980’s, we moved my MIL out to Idaho where were were living at the time. My brother-in-law drove her car and pulled a U-Haul trailer full of her stuff. Everything was unpacked, then I noticed our outdoor trashcans were full – of quilts! He had used 3 vintage quilts as furniture pads. They had been handmade by my MIL’s mother in the early twentieth century. I rescued them. One quilt we donated to a museum here in Utah, one I cut up (too far gone) and repurposed, and the other one was used for awhile on our guest bed, but is now stored safely for passing down. It is a surprisingly modern-looking design of peachy tulips and pale blue foliage (was probably once orange tulips and green foliage) on a white background. I would love to re-create it.
LEANN MCCLAIN
My daughter’s mother-in-law picked up a 101″ x 111″ quilt top at a yard sale and decided she did not like it enough to keep after a few years. She told my daughter to give it to me to practice quilting on it. I did and added appliqué + lace to it. It was published in Machine Quilters Unlimited Magazine after I finished it. Now it resides on my bed.
Karen
I have been rescuing quilts, quilt tops and orphan blocks for many years. Everytime I go back home to Michigan I love to scour antique shops. I have found many discarded quilts during my travels and hunts! At the moment I have vintage fan pieces Im trying to put together. I cant help but wonder how they came to be in a plastic baggie marked $8.00!!!!
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I can only imagine…
Karyl McClellan
In 1977, my first husband’s grandmother hand pieced and hand quilted a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt as our wedding gift. So beautiful! I loved that quilt and took such good care of it, especially after she passed away. Fast forward a few decades and life changes and I asked him to give it to our daughter on her wedding. He sheepishly said I would need to “fix it in a couple.places” as he had used it for dog and cat beds for years. When he gave it to me I cried. It was in shreds in places. Most places. It would have been the work of a life time to repair and patch. I took it to 2 quilt shops for advice on repair but the overwhelming consensus was not to bother…I will salvage and repair a few blocks from it to frame and give to our daughter and son for gifts. In a gesture of good will I will give him one too but I’m keeping one for me in memory of the dear lady that thought enough of me to make it.
Jean
I was visiting our small local museum and saw an album quilt folded up in a case. When I asked about it the curator took it out and showed me. It was made in 1893 with 34 names written on it. “Who are they?” I asked. She said they didn’t know. So over the next 2 years I researched who they were and ended up writing a small book for them about the Native American Women from the Presbyterian Mission at Yankton Agency, SD whose names are on the quilt. Then I stabilized and mounted the quilt. It is now on display at the museum. In a way I feel I rescued it from obscurity and told it’s story. I also made a modern reproduction that can be shown outside the museum.
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Wow! Amazing story. Do you have a link for that on your blog?
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