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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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
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.
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.”
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…….
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LOL!! Im going to write that down!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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Oh no!!!
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!!
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.
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