Treasured Quilts

I’m very sentimental about the quilts I have. My grandmother and my husband’s grandmother were extremely talented seamstresses.  Sometimes I wonder if the talent stemmed from creativity or necessity.  I know that sewing, quilting and embroidery are now forms of artistic expression, but when our grandmas were growing up they made everything by hand because they had to.  My grandparents and my husband's grandparents lived on farms in rural Texas.  They were farmers and sharecroppers who picked cotton and knew firsthand what it meant to work hard.  They made practical items, such as quilts, into things of beauty in the midst of hard times and that makes them even more precious and beautiful.  Quilts were a thing of beauty but they were always used for the practical purpose of keeping warm. To this day, handmade quilts are the only bedding that my grandparents feel comfortable sleeping under. My grandparents never liked any store-bought blankets or comforters because they always seemed too bulky or fussy.  It never felt right to them. Only the layer and warmth of a handmade quilt is what felt right.

I am lucky to have a double wedding ring quilt that my husband’s grandma, Mamaw Morrow, made. We have a Dutch doll, pinwheel, patchwork and fan quilt made by my grandma, Mama Winnie. My great-grandma made my grandma a graduation quilt when she graduated from high school in 1940 with an individual quilt block that had each classmates name embroidered on it. My grandpa still uses it on his bed at his assisted living home. I don't have any photographs of it to share.  My grandma made each of her grandchildren a graduation quilt when they graduated from high school.  My graduation quilt was made with my school colors, blue and white.  She wrote the name of each student on an individual quilt square using a fabric marker.  My grandma also made me a butterfly quilt in the 90s.  I used it on my bed when I was a teenager.  I remember her letting me help pick out the fabric.

 I have a nine patch quilt that I bought at an estate sale about 8 years ago.  It has the most wonderful, muted colors, but I'm not really sentimental about it. 

I brought my quilts down from the attic so I could photograph them and share them with you.  I'm going to have a difficult time putting them back in boxes and storing them in the attic.  I may just try to find a place to keep them in the house.  Seeing them again after they have been stored away has evoked such happy memories.

Mamaw Morrow's Double Wedding Ring Quilt

I love the colors, especially the red.

The scalloped edges are such a beautiful and unique detail. 

Mama Winnie's Dutch Doll Quilt

Each doll has different fabric.

The embroidery detail on each bonnet is different. 

Mama Winnie's Pinwheel Quilt 

I like the mix of vibrant colors in this quilt.  It reminds me of something I'd see in Anthropologie.

Mama Winnie's Fan Quilt 

This quilt looks like it was pieced together in the middle.  It has muted colors with a pop of red.

Mama Winnie's Pinwheel and Nine Square Patchwork Quilts 

These quilts are old and tattered.  My grandmother had them between her mattress and box springs.

Graduation Quilt made by Mama Winnie 

The quilt has the name of each student in my graduating class of 1996.

Mama Winnie's Butterfly Quilt

This was a quilt that my grandma made for me in the 90s.

Nine Patch Quilt from Estate Sale

I'll be sharing my treasured quilts at Sit Relax and Read.