When I was in high school, I had to do a senior project. I decided to learn how to sew. I chose my grandmother as a mentor for the project. I learned a lot, but one of the best things she did was give me a beautiful quilt that was unfinished. It was a grandmother’s garden quilt. The quilt was in various stages when I got it, and I was only able to work on it a tiny bit at the time. When I went off to college I packed the quilt away and it has moved from place to place with me for the last 10 years. I finally pulled it out a few weeks ago to look at it again.
There are a few parts to this quilt. First I have the parts that are already sewn together.
Then there are the flowers that are done, but not attached yet.
And finally the small shapes that will eventually make up more flowers, but are not sewn to anything yet.
The fabrics are beautiful.
I asked for some help dating these fabrics on a quilting board I am on. Most people seem to think the fabrics are from the 30s. I pulled a few of the newspaper centers out of the parts that didn’t need them anymore to look for a date. I found a 1931 date that looked like an advertisement for farm equipment. This tells me that it was put together right around that time, so it would make sense that the fabrics are from that time too.
I love this quilt though it has to be pieced by hand, so I don’t know how much of it I will get done any time soon. But if I do a little bit here and there, hopefully one day I can finish what was started in 1930.
Happy Quilting!
Rachel
love it!! I hope you do get to finish it some day and you will have such a fab story to go with it.
Love it too. I have a quilt squares and cut out fabric pieces to be finished in much the same fabric's. It was my mother-in-laws from when she was a young woman..and some of her squares were from her mother. I have no idea how old any of the fabrics are. I have pics of the fabs, just need to dl and post! Hopefully one day I will get my act together to make something for all the grandchildren out of these pieces. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks ladies!! This is a “forever” project I feel. I can only stand to work on it in spurts as I have a hard time working on a project that I see no end to LOL
Sew Here We Are – That sounds wonderful! I would love to see pics if you can get them up on Flickr or something. I am enamored with history and quilts from the past are simply wonderful.
Cheers!
Rachel
Hi it is Elly from the quilt board! I wanted to add you to my google reader.
Is the quilt English Paper peiced?
I want to do one with 30's repos.
I just love yours!!!
Yes this is English PP. All the pieces were cut when the quilt was originally started for me. This makes it all the more work since it can only be put together by hand this way. 🙂 Thanks for adding me to your reader!!
Rachel
Hi, That’s a big project! I hope you can finish it. I’d love to see the pictures when it is done. Susette
Thanks!! It is a lot of work, so many project so little time!! 🙂 I will post my progress as I make it, but I tend to bounce from one project to another so I don’t get bored!! 🙂
Cheers!
Rachel