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November 20, 2020

Quilts from the Past

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Kitty in the Window
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The Girl is Here!

Every time we move, I come across these three things.

First is an old Christmas wall hanging that I made when I first began quilting, back in about 1983 probably. I’ve thought about finishing it . . maybe I’ll do that. As I recall, it was supposed to have a gold star on top but I can’t remember exactly how that went, nor do I have the pattern. I’ll figure something out.

Next are two tops pieced by my dad’s mom. She was born in 1893 and passed away in 1975. I was 5 or 6 when she was the age I am now. She was a tiny, little lady. She had eight kids and she was a character. Her husband passed away in 1950 so I never knew him but Granny was almost 40 when dad was born and his dad was 53. I can’t even think about raising kids when you’re that old.

Anyway, Granny always seemed old to me.

My mom’s mom was 42 when I was born so when I was 6 years old, she was 48. I can remember spending summers with them and I truly worried that, because they were so old, they might die while I was there. No phone, no neighbors, no traffic down the road. I had no idea what I would do at 6 years old with two old dead folks in the house. It didn’t happen. My grandma lived to be 77 and my grandpa lived to be 95.

Anyway, my mom’s mom sewed all the time and I remember spending hours and hours playing on her old Singer treadle machine. My dad’s mom, who made these quilt tops, I never remember seeing her touch anything sewing related but, by the time I can along, Granny had given up housekeeping and traveled on Greyhound or Continental Trailways buses to stay with her kids. On of my aunts lived in Corpus Christi, Texas. She worked so Granny spent a bit of time with her. My other aunt lived in Many, LA just a few miles from where Granny had grown up and raised her family so she spent a lot of time with Aunt Ruby. Two of her sons lived in Shreveport, LA and we lived in Lake Charles, LA. Granny had a tendency not to get along with her daughter-in-laws so she would spend a couple of weeks with us and then we’d either take her to Shreveport or Many or take her to the bus station.

The fabric on the quilts is pretty amazing. It has held up great. The workmanship is not good at all. Granny was not a seamstress! But, I have no idea how old she was when she made them and I hope no one is ever scrutinizing my work 100 years from now. At one time, I thought about hand quilting them but I’m not going to do it. I like having them just as they are . . the way she left them.

Some day I may get a little cabinet of some kind where I can display them and keep them safe, walk by them a hundred times a day and remember Granny.

I love finding those things and I love remembering my grandparents.

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Comments

  1. Sara Fridley says

    November 20, 2020 at 11:39 am

    Those old quilt tops are definitely treasures. Keeping them “as is” will still allow you to enjoy them.

  2. Joyce says

    November 20, 2020 at 1:21 pm

    Good memories in those quilt tops. To children, all adults are “old”. I had to laugh at your “old” 48 year old Grandmother. I too always thought my Grandma’s were old, but my paternal grandmother was only 54 when I was born, so she really wasn’t old either. For that matter, my maternal grandmother was 58 when I was born, so she wasn’t old either. LOL

  3. Ruth says

    November 20, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    That is a pretty log cabin Christmas Tree! Maybe there is a yellow star-shaped button you could sew on it…

  4. Dottie Newkirk says

    November 20, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    So many memories looking at quilts that our grandmothers made and somehow or other, brings them back to life for just a little bit.

  5. Nelle Coursey says

    November 20, 2020 at 7:44 pm

    I love your Christmas tree. Could you use Gold Lemay for the star? It would be shiny and very pretty. Or even some wide gold ribbon with sparkles in it. Like I said, it is very pretty and I think it would fold easily. I think you need to go ahead and quilt it and hang it up. It would look so pretty for Christmas!
    I like your Granny’s quilts too. I can’t see the workmanship but I can see the love she put in them. They look perfect to me.

  6. Kat in Tamale Land says

    November 20, 2020 at 7:56 pm

    I remember your Aunt Ruby. I did some quilting for her a number of years ago. She made Christmas panel quilts for all her great-grands. I was sorry to hear she passed a few months ago.

    • Judy Laquidara says

      November 20, 2020 at 8:58 pm

      She was tough like her mom but she was a sweetheart. Kind and giving! Did you ever know my Aunt Gail? She lives in west Texas and quilts and I remember her telling me that the same lady who quilted quilts or Aunt Ruby had done some for her.

      • Kat in Tamale Land says

        November 20, 2020 at 9:35 pm

        I don’t remember Gail. The quilts I did for Miss Ruby were probably about 10 years ago I think.

  7. Jo says

    November 20, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    Such a sweet treasure to have them regardless of the state of completion!

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2021 Knitting Plans

WIPS to Finish:

  • Ravencliff – Test knit currently working on.
  • Mi Casa Wrap – Not much done. Started November, 2017
  • Tabouli – 1/4 done – Started May, 2018
  • Persistence is Key – 1/3 done. Started March, 2019
  • Arkansas River Pullover – 1/3 done. Started November, 2019.
  • Gilda – 1/3 done. Started December, 2019
  • Stained Glass Cowl – Not much done. Started September, 2016
  • Leftovers Cowl – 1/4 done. Started February, 2015
  • Brickless – Not much done. Started December, 2019
  • Itatiaia Cocoon – Not much Done. Started September 15, 2020
  • Avalance – About 1/3 done. Started February 10, 2020
  • Match & Move – Over halfway done. Started October 10, 2020

New Projects:

  • Sugarcane Cardi – Using the purple Madelinetosh Work Sock.
  • Boulevardier – Using Baa Ram Ewe Winterburn DK.
  • Mariechen – Using Madelinetosh Longrider in Raspberry Cordial.
  • Magnolia – Using Madelinetosh Farm Twist Solid in Beautiful Liar.
  • Metropolis – Using Madelinetosh Chunky in Curiosity.
  • Superbloom Cowl – I made one of these as a Christmas gift but I’d like to make one for me. Miss Babs Yowza Mini Set, which I have.
  • Lizard Eyes – This look so interesting. Wollmeise – I already have it.
  • Rattlesnake – I need this to remind me that I survived living in the wilds of Texas for 9 years. Pretty sure I have yarn for this.
  • Lumber Jill Cowl – I have the yarn.
  • Heather Hoodie Vest – I’ll use Cascade Eco+ in Valentine.
  • The Weekender – Not sure about yarn for this one.
  • Homebody – I’ll probably use Kathmandu Aran 100 or Cascade Eco Wool.
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